How it works
From the System Library: the source's numbers, checked in this game's physics but not reviewed by a coach.
Side-around, red first: the cue ball takes the far long rail, the short rail and the near long rail. Its total — thickness in eighths plus tips of side — is the ball value plus the arrival: Thickness + Tips = Ball value + Arrival.
The ball value is the baseline the cue ball meets the red on: baseline N runs from the far rail's diamond N to the near rail's diamond 2N. The arrival counts 1 every half diamond from the corner by the short rail.
Reading the numbers
Aim On the far long rail, the baselines' top ends, 1 to 7: the ball value is the baseline through the point where the cue ball meets the red, read between them.
Arrival On the third cushion, the near long rail: 0 in the corner by the short rail, 1 every half diamond to 8 at the middle.
Step by step
- Read the ball value: the baseline through where the cue ball will meet the red.
- Choose the arrival on the near long rail and add the two: the total to play.
- Split it: below 4 all thickness; from 4, a half-ball hit and the rest in tips; past 8, keep 4 tips and hit thicker. Ball value 3 + arrival 2 = 5: a half-ball hit and 1 tip.
- Add the table correction. This drill keeps the cue ball straight below the red's edge, so there is no slope to add.
The stroke
Side towards the route, a high tip up to a half-ball hit and centre height beyond it, a soft rolling stroke.