How it works
From the System Library: the source's numbers, checked in this game's physics but not reviewed by a coach.
Long-short-long with plenty of running side, the classic Conti route: Start − Third rail = First rail. This numbering's third rail differs from the original Conti's, which is not published.
The start and the first rail are read on the wooden rail, the third rail on the cushion, and the third rail is not evenly spaced: 0 is 0.6 of a diamond from the corner, 40 is at 3.7.
Reading the numbers
Start On the long rail behind the cue ball, along the line it leaves the red on: 15 at the 7th diamond, 5 a diamond up to 50 in the corner, then up the short rail: 60, 70 at its middle, 80, and 90 at the 3rd diamond.
Aim On the first cushion, the far long rail: 0 in the corner diagonally across from the start's 50, 10 a diamond back to 50 at the 5th diamond, then 70 and 90 at the next two.
Arrival On the third cushion, back on the start rail at the cushion, counted from the corner by the second cushion: 0 at 0.6 of a diamond, 10 at 1.6, 20 at 2.3, 30 at 3, 40 at 3.7, then about 50 at 4.4, 60 at 5 and 10 every half diamond to 100 at 7.
Step by step
- Choose the arrival on the third rail: where the cue ball must come to make the second object ball.
- Read the start from the line the cue ball leaves the red on, traced back to the start rail.
- Aim = Start − Arrival. Start 50 to arrive at 30: aim at 20. If the line from start to aim misses the cue ball by less than 5 cm, move it across in parallel until it passes through the cue ball.
- Re-read the start along the new line, work it once more, then add the table correction.
The stroke
Plenty of running side, just below centre, a plain stroke — no follow-through, no punch — with pace to move the object balls at least 40 cm.