White to red Cannon close to the D
Setting the cue ball
It is normally better to set the cue ball close to the white as the closer you are to the balls (within reason) the easier the shot and the more accurate you will be with the first ball contact. However, if you are having difficulty judging the shot you will find that it is easier to set the cue ball in the correct position if you position the cue ball back in the D.
Contact
You want to avoid getting too thick a contact on the white so a true half-ball is better than a thick half-ball contact in this instance. The shot can even be played thinner than half-ball, because you are so close to the balls and there is quite a large margin for error. Try not to leave the white past the middle pocket.
Don't get ahead of the red
As you push the red to the pocket, try to leave a middle pocket loser, but in all cases do not get ahead of the red. If you leave a pot into the middle, that is fine, as long as you can leave a middle cross loser after this. However, if you end up ahead of the red so that you are cutting the red into the middle and going back towards the baulk area with the pot, you have played the cannon incorrectly.
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Standard shot
Place the cue ball on the middle spot in the D, the white in the centre of table approximately 9 inches (229 mm) from the cue ball and the red set for the half ball cannon. If you have a measure, set the red 20 inches (508 mm)from the baulk line and in line with the right spot in the D. Normally play a true half-ball although the contact may need to be altered with small changes in starting position. Make sure that you do not get ahead of the red and do not push the white past the middle pocket. After each cannon, play the next shot, (which should be a middle pocket loser or a pot red to leave a cross loser) to make sure that you achieved a good position and to get used to playing the sequence.
Variations
Adjust the position of the three balls as you wish, to try variations of the cannon. Set the white very close to the baulk line for each shot so you are as close as possible for the cannon. You will get different results from each shot but make sure that you do not get ahead of the red. The aim is always to leave a score off the red, heading up the table.
Some possible outcomes
Practice Targets
| Beginner | 3/10 | Success rate for the cannon and getting position for the middle pocket loser or the pot red to get the cross loser will be less than you expect. Although the cannon is easy, getting position takes practice. |
| Club Player | 5/10 | An average player will be able to make the cannon and get good position about half of the time. |
| Professional | 9/10 | Top players are able to repeat this shot time consistently, but even they get ahead of the red on some occasions. |
Remember
- Set the cue ball close to the white
- Play a true half-ball or a thin contact
- Do not get ahead of the red
- Do not push the white past the middle pocket
Common Mistakes
- Getting ahead of the red
- Playing the shot to thick
