The Massé: Curve the Cue Ball Around a Ball

Trick shot #9 of 15Difficulty: ★★★Teaches: Spin, swerve and cue elevation

Elevate the cue and hit the side of the cue ball to make it curve around a blocking ball and into the target.

White dashes: cue ball path. Yellow dashes: object ball path.

Setup

1. Put a blocking ball directly between the cue ball and the object ball, a diamond or so from each.
2. Make it easy first: a short distance and a big, open target ball.

How to shoot it

1. Raise the cue to about 30 to 45 degrees and hit the cue ball off center on the side you want it to curve toward. With right spin, the cue ball first pushes out a little to the left, then bends back to the right.
2. Aim the cue out to the side of the blocker and use a soft, smooth stroke. Too much speed straightens the curve.

Why it works

An elevated cue puts side spin on a tilted axis. As the ball rolls, the spin grips the cloth and bends its path, like a curveball.

Common mistakes

• Hitting down too hard. You risk damaging the cloth and many rooms don't allow full massé shots on their tables. Ask first.
• Expecting a big curve on the first try. Start with a small swerve and work up.

In a real game

A small, controlled swerve to get around a ball is a real game shot. Big massé shots are mostly for show.