A great drill to work on cue ball angles off the rails for position.

Here’s another drill for players of all levels that will improve your patterns and shot selection in rotation games. This drill will enhance your cue ball precision because knowing exactly where the cue ball is coming off the rails is critical. It will also help you understand angles better and how to control the cue ball’s path.

This is a tough drill, so keep track of your score and track your progress. Keeping a journal of your practice session can help you identify strengths and areas that need improvement. Embrace the challenge and enjoy the journey.

This drill offers two versions (Diagram One). Placing the 9 ball on the short rail would be the amateur version, and the 9 in the center would be the pro version.

For this article, I’ll take you through the amateur version. Start with cue ball in hand, running the balls in rotation without bumping other balls.



Leading up to the 9, the goal is to always keep the cue ball around the center of the table. Start by cueing as low as possible with a touch of right english (Diagram Two). Don’t hit the 1 ball too hard. Nice and smooth, striking through the cue ball. Use the same shot on the 2 ball, but with a little less draw. The added distance will require a little more power on the shot. Same with the 3 ball, but use left english.

I was left with a little less angle on the 4, so I used a punch draw and a touch of right. The 5 ball is personal preference (Diagram Three). I use a little draw and no english, but some will play this with a touch of right. Don’t quit on the shot. Same with the 6 but left english.

The angle on the 7 is a little tricky. Don’t quit on this shot because you don’t want to land short on the 8. I punched the cue ball with a touch of left and just below center.

If I’m perfect on the 8, as I am here, I can play high right and float across the table. Even if I’m not perfect, there will be a number of options depending on the angle.