Standard shot

The first step to playing a successful loser when the object ball is around the pyramid spot is to set the cue ball accurately for the natural angle. Set for the thick half-ball loser and take care to make small adjustments until you are happy that the angle you have set is correct. With practice you will gradually learn to recognize the angle more quickly, but even after you become quite confident of getting a high percentage of these shots, care still must be taken to position the cueball accurately in the D. As the table conditions change, the setting angle may need to be adjusted to allow for the nap on that particular table. Furthermore, the lighting conditions may alter the perspective.

As you generally do not wish to get side on the cue ball, slightly above centre striking is recommended. Once you are in a correct stance to play the shot and are lined up, forget the shot itself and simply push your cue through the line that you have chosen.

Between the Pyramid and Middle Spots

Normally medium pace is used, to bring the object ball off the top and side cushions to leave a middle pocket loser. The best position for the shot is when the object ball is around 9-12 inches below the pyramid spot (nearer the middle). In this case, playing a plain ball shot will take the object ball on a natural path into the middle of the table.

Close to or above the Pyramid Spot

You will notice that if the object ball is close to the pyramid spot that the path it takes is rather too near to the middle pocket and this gives you little margin for error. Despite this, this is the way that you should play to begin with. After you are confident with this shot you may decide to attempt to adjust the shot slightly as indicated below.

Playing with running side

It is much better if you can bring the object ball more into the middle of the table after contact with the side cushion. One way of doing this is to use running side. This will cause the object ball will to take a wider path and there is a throw effect. Use about half maximum side. Also, after contact with the top cushion the object ball will bounce slightly wider than the natural angle due to a small amount of transmitted side.

Playing a thin half-ball

Another method of bringing the object ball into the middle of the table is to play a thin half-ball (a true half-ball will usually suffice). The object ball will take a wider path.

Which method to use?

To begin with use neither! Until you are confident with the standard shot from anywhere around the pyramid spot, play the shot plain ball. However, most top players use either running side or a thin contact to bring the object ball more into the open, and individual players tend to prefer one method or the other. Never combine the two methods as the shot becomes far too risky. To some extent, table conditions dictate which one to use and even the top players revert to playing a basic thick half-ball without side if the conditions are difficult.