Direct Cannons
General Points
The key to direct cannons is to contact the red thick and the white thin. You need to kill the momentum of the cue ball and this way you will not move the white much.
A slow pace is used but you must be sure of making the cannon. It is better to hit the white too hard than not at all.
Standard shot
Play this standard shot with a bit of running side to hit the red thick and the white thin. Use a slow pace, but make sure that you get the shot. Practice it repeatedly until you can leave a good potting angle on the red.
Standard cannon with a bit more distance between the balls
There is a bit more distance between the red and white here, but play this cannon in the same way as the shot above. Note that the white is now ready for a cannon off the top cushion, to bring it back to the ideal position.
Check side run through
Use check side here to help the cue ball run through to the white. The red should be taken off the top cushion to leave a pot. Try to repeatedly play this shot without moving the white too near to the top cushion.
Slightly wide cannon
Although this is too wide for the cannon to leave the white in the ideal position, still play the shot with running side to leave the white as near as possible to the red. That way, when you get around to playing the cannon off the cushion, you will nudge the white close to the spot.
Practice Targets
| Beginner | 4/10 | Success rate for the standard shot should be measured on how far you move the white and the potting angle that you leave. You will find this tricky at first. |
| Club Player | 6/10 | An average player will move the white too far on a high percentage of these shots. |
| Professional | 9/10 | Top players are able to repeat this shot time after time. |
Remember
- Hit the red thick
- Normally use a touch of running side
- Make sure that you get the cannon
Common Mistakes
- Hitting the red far too thin
