CueTips #27 By NYC Grind Contributor, Mark Finkelstein Here is a layout that came up right after the break in a recent 9 ball game I was playing in… This layout is instructive because it has a key position route that a lot of players avoid because they are afraid of scratching in the side pocket.  This rack was a race to the 5, with getting from the 3 to the 4 being the most difficult path. Here is how I played it.  Center ball stop shot to the center of the table off the one (note that the cue ball picks up a little English from the angle hit on the one), and then a center ball draw shot off the 3 to get to the long rail just below the side pocket and come down the line towards the 4.  I like to use a center ball on these shots and draw as it gives me more accuracy on the shot and I can control the direction of the cue ball better. Read on to view the CueTable diagram… CueTable Diagram This drill from Bert Kinister is a great way to practice this route.  Knowing where the side pocket is, and how to avoid it, is a key skill in moving your cue ball around.  For this drill, you can’t use the short rails to move the cue ball around.

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