Don’t play in traffic and you’ll be rewarded with great position.

Here’s another great 9-ball drill for all levels. And, as they often are, this one is great for playing the correct shape and finding your correct lines. We all know that if you cross your lines, your cue ball speed had better be perfect or you’ll be chasing that cue ball from one shot to the next. And that rarely ends well.

You’ll have to think during this drill about the importance of coming into the line of the shot, which in turn makes you think at least three shots ahead.

It’s an easy drill to set up and all variations of shots come into play. Here’s how it played for me.

Start with ball in hand and run the balls in rotation. As always, no bumping other balls. (If that’s too hard at the start, run the balls in any order but always save the 9 for last.)

There are plenty of options to start (Diagram One), but the goal is to stay on the correct line and avoid crossing it. After the 1, use high left for the 2, depending on the angle. Prioritize staying away from traffic and maintaining the correct path.



Making the 3 ball is easy. The challenge is getting shape on the 5. Go high with about half a tip of right, coming into the correct line without crossing it. Avoid getting on the wrong side of the 4 or too straight.

I’ve landed great on the 4 (Diagram Two), so I’ll kill the cue ball with low and a half-stroke. Don’t hit it hard; this is about feel and holding the cue ball for the 5. If you leave more angle, use the side rail with punch/draw and left.

A quarter-ball cut with left on the 5. Go just below center with about a tip of left and let the spin do the work. Then high with no side, or just a trace of left, for the 6. Good stroke, correct line, avoid traffic.

For the 7 (Diagram Three), around 10 o’clock on the cue ball. If the angle is smaller, use soft punch with a trace of left. Then punch/draw the 8 for an easy 9. That’s the reward for good position.