Billiard Instructional - Standard Routes

Nov 28, 2014

Here are some standard position route drills. I selected these shots because they all return the cue ball to the center of the table. This is a very useful skill to learn because when you play 8 ball or 9 ball, if you can make an object ball and return the cue ball to the center of the table, you will usually have other makeable shots. The objective of each of these drills is to pocket the object ball and make the cue ball stop within the target at the middle of the table. I’ve drawn these diagrams assuming you want to hit a precise 12 inch target, but you don’t have to be that stringent. Once you master stopping the cue ball within these targets, experiment with different stopping distances. If you hit the ball a little harder, you can aim for targets further down table. These drills accomplish two objectives: (1) they teach you standard routes to get to the middle of the table, and (2) they teach you how to control cue ball travel distance.
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Here are the 12 standard position route drills:
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Shot 1: Stroke with a left running english. Make the yellow ball in the corner pocket, bounce the cueball off two rails, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 1
Shot 2: Stroke with a left draw. Make the yellow ball in the corner pocket, bounce the cueball off two rails, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 2
Shot 3: Stroke with right running english. Make the yellow ball in the corner pocket, bounce the cueball off one rail, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 3
Shot 4: Stroke with follow and maybe a hair of running english. Make the yellow ball in the corner pocket, bounce the cueball off one rail, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 4
Shot 5: Stroke with right draw. Make the yellow ball in the corner pocket, bounce the cueball off one rail, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 5
Shot 6: Sroke with low left draw. Make the yellow ball in the corner pocket, bounce the cueball off one rail, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 6
Shot 7: Sroke with low left draw. Make the yellow ball in the corner pocket, bounce the cueball off one rail, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 7
Shot 8: Stroke with left running english. Make the yellow ball in the side pocket, bounce the cueball off three rails, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 8
Shot 9: Stroke with low left english. Make the yellow ball in the side pocket, bounce the cueball off two rails, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 9
Shot 10: Stroke with right english. Make the yellow ball in the corner pocket, bounce the cueball off three rails, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 10
Shot 11: Stroke with right running english. Make the yellow ball in the corner pocket, bounce the cueball off three rails, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.
Shot 11
Shot 12: Stroke with draw and right english. Make the yellow ball in the corner pocket, bounce the cueball off three rails, and make it come to a stop within the circle. The shot is not considered successful unless the cueball comes to a complete stop within the circle.

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