Play safeties into the corners with confidence

We all know the importance of safety play in rotation games, and many of them come up all the time. One thing you always have to avoid on safety shots is a cue ball path that threatens a pocket. A scratch is disastrous. But I like using some imagination and risking scratches in the corner. And you can play those shots with confidence if you practice with drills like this one.

This safety drill will improve your angles and help you understand the amount of spin needed. I will also help you understand your cue’s deflection.

The rules are simple, and you can play alone or against an opponent. The cue ball starts on the head string spot and the object ball on the foot spot. After contacting the object ball, the cue ball must pass the center line of the table and land in one of the four squares. If you are successful, you continue your run. An unsuccessful shots gives the opponent the option to replace the balls on the the spots. A foul results in -1 point and balls are replaced on the spots. If you have an opponent, play a race to 10.



Start out using lots of left spin to overcut the 9 (Diagram One). Let the cue ball do all the work.

Use low cue ball with lots of right english, around 4 o’clock (Diagram Two). Again, let the cue ball do all the work. The drag shot makes it easier to generate more spin and avoid the scratch. (If the angle is natural, 2 o’clock is good.)

This time, use high right, around 2 o’clock (Diagram Three). You have to hit it thin enough to avoid the double kiss. The cue ball will go four or five rails, making it a great shot for vision and imagination.

There are just examples. You should get the hang of this drill quickly. It’s a great practice game if you have an opponent to create that competitive edge. Work the angles and be confident in your execution and everything will improve.