This month, let’s take a look at some advanced position shots. Not only are they tough position shots, they are also tough shots to pocket. In Diagram 1, notice cue ball positions C-0 and C-1. The 8 ball is frozen by the diamond as shown. To pocket the 8 ball into pocket B, you should put maximum left English on the cue ball. You need to contact the cue ball at about 9 o’clock. The left English gives you some room for error on this shot. You can hit the rail slightly before the 8 ball, contact the 8 ball and the rail at the same time, or contact the 8 ball just before the rail. You are trying to pocket the 8 ball and avoid the scratch in pocket A. If position is not important, I try to catch the rail first. This will encourage the cue ball to land near Point 1 shown in Diagram 1, instead of falling into pocket A. Load the cue ball up with as much left English as you can.

     Now, try to pocket the 8 ball and follow around three rails for position on the 9 ball, landing at position C-2. This requires a much more precise hit on the 8 ball. You must contact the 8 ball first, and you must contact the cue ball at ten o’clock.

     If, instead, you’re starting from position C-0, if you hit the rail first, you can only hope to pocket the 8 ball without scratching. You won’t be able to get the cue ball to follow forward to hit end rail A and get to position C-2 if you hit the rail first or if you split the 8 ball and the rail. Besides, if you split the 8 ball and the rail, you’re probably in for a scratch. Having to contact the 8 ball first is risky, because if you overdo it you will miss the 8 ball entirely. But it is the only way to get the cue ball to go three rails from position C-0. You will definitely have to practice this shot to get the feel for aiming correctly. With practice, you will gain the confidence to execute this shot consistently.

     Next, in Diagram 2, move the 8 ball over one diamond as shown. From C-0, it helps to load up the cue with maximum left English (about 9 o’clock) to help pocket the 8 ball into pocket B. From this new position C-0, all you can do it try to pocket the 8 ball. From this angle, you won’t be able to follow forward and contact end rail A, no matter what you hit first. Instead, come across-table toward point 2. Remember, the thinner the angle, the more left English you need to use to pocket the ball. More left English gives you more margin of error to pocket the 8 ball. From position C-3, try to not only pocket the 8 ball but go four rails as shown and end up at C-4. Again, you must contact the 8 ball slightly first and contact the cue ball at about 10 o’clock (maximum left English, about one tip above center). Both contacting the 8 ball first and the 10 o’clock contact on the cue ball help the cue ball fall forward after contacting the 8 ball to hit the end rail A as shown. You must contact the end rail to get the cue ball to go around to C-4 for position on the 9 ball.

     A friend of mine, John Moody (the owner of Great Slates in Cambridge, Md.), told me he took a lesson from Ray Martin, who showed him how to make the 8 ball and play position on the 9 ball in Diagrams 1 and 2 from positions C-1 and C-3. John said he never knew you could make the 8 ball by contacting the 8 ball first or that you could play position on the 9 ball from either angle. He said Ray really opened his eyes on these two position shots.

     Notice the position of the 5 ball and the cue ball position at C-5 in Diagram 3. The 7 ball and 8 ball are blocking the position path to go around the table the way we did in Diagrams 1 and 2. Now, to play position on the 6 ball, you must contact the cue ball with low right English (about half past four o’clock). Also, contact the 5 ball before you hit the rail. The low right English makes it very easy to miss the 5 ball. But if you want to get the cue ball back to position C-6, it is your only option. Getting the right aim and English will require some practice. Practice will help you get the feel for where to aim. It will also help you gain the confidence to use thin shots in the game.

     Even though the shots in Diagrams 1, 2 and 3 will be very hard in the beginning, with practice you can become consistent. All three shots fall into the “advanced” category. Be careful to not give up too soon. If you have trouble, keep trying. You should end up with three new position shots to add to your game.