Training Drills

The standard cut angles:

• Place one object ball on the foot spot as shown (fig. 12 & fig. 13).

• For a ½ ball cut from the spot, place the cue ball in line with the object ball and the corner pocket as shown by the cue stick in this picture. You can also place the cue ball two diamonds up from the end rail and one diamond in (less the width of one cue ball) as shown in (fig. 13).

• For a ¼ ball cut, place the cue ball two diamonds up and two diamonds inside from the end rail (fig. 13).
• For a ¾ ball cut, align your cue with the object ball and the point on the rail marking the 4th diamond. Anywhere along this line is a ¾ ball cut. You can also place the cue ball a distance of 3 ½ ball widths from the side pocket. A classic 1/8 cut is to place an object ball (orange), one diamond down and one diamond inside the top rail, and the cue ball three diamonds down and half a diamond inside the left rail. Again, you can use your cue to align this cut by placing it over the object ball and the point on the rail marking the 4th diamond. Any point along that line is a 1/8 ball cut (fig. 13).
• For each cue ball position, take the BAT and align it with the object ball paying special attention to the cut angle and its corresponding colored arrow on the “BAT Protractor ™.”
• You should also note the corresponding degree of each standard cut using the “BAT Degree Window ™.
• When you return to your cue ball and line up for the shot, you will also see that the arc lines on the “BAT Window ™” corresponds with the contact point and ball fraction shown on the “BAT Protractor ™”.

After practicing each of these fundamental cut shots repetitively, you will begin to see variations of the same shots in a real game, amounting to a huge advantage over your opponent!

Once you practice the above standard cut angles, it is easy to create your own individual training drills. For example, set an object ball up for a cut shot that you consistently have trouble with during a game. Now, using the BAT, discover what the actual cut angle is. (There is no more guessing now that you have the BAT.)

You might also like to create variations on the standard cut angles and amaze yourself with how these common shots crop up repeatedly in a game. For example, place an object ball anywhere on the table. Carefully place the BAT beside the object ball making sure the red center line is aligned with the center of the object ball and a pocket. Now rotate the BAT until you have the desired contact point of ¼, ½, or ¾. Now, using the “BAT Arrow ™” as your guide, place the cue ball on that line at various distances to familiarize yourself with that particular cut angle. With regular practice, your eyes will become trained to see these standard cut angles (14°, 30°, 49° and 61°) and also recognize if the shot is slightly more or less of these reference points.

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