The 9-Ball Billiard: Carom Off the 1 for the Win

Trick shot #15 of 15Difficulty: ★★☆Teaches: The 90-degree rule and stun control

The 9 is hanging and the 1 is close by. Hit the 1 first (that makes it legal), let the cue ball glance off it, and carom straight into the 9 for the win.

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

Setup

1. Put the 9 in the jaws of a corner pocket and the 1 about two and a half diamonds out from it, a little off the line to the pocket.
2. Place the cue ball so it will hit the 1 at about a half-ball angle.

How to shoot it

1. Find the tangent line: the line from the cue ball's contact position to the 9. Where the cue ball touches the 1, the 1 should sit at a right angle to that line.
2. Hit the cue ball at center or slightly below with firm, smooth speed so it is sliding (stunning) when it hits the 1. It leaves along the tangent line into the 9.

Why it works

A sliding cue ball leaves the object ball at 90 degrees to the line between their centers. Know that line and you know where the cue ball goes, which is the whole secret of position play.

Common mistakes

• Hitting with follow. A rolling cue ball bends forward of the tangent line and misses the 9 on the pocket side.
• Too soft. The cue ball starts rolling before it reaches the 1 and curves off line.

In a real game

In 9-Ball any ball can win as long as you hit the lowest ball first, so a billiard on a hanging 9 is a real, match-winning shot. Learn the rules in 9-Ball rules and the spin behind it in English in pool.