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Nov 01, 2004 :: Trust Your Coach

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The Four Strokes of Pool

Stroke #2 - The Follow Stroke

Many of us shoot high on the cue ball and call it a follow stroke. The essence of any stroke is in how you deliver the cue tip to the cue ball. I want you to set up a shot straight in the side pocket.

The cue ball should be a couple of feet from the object ball. Place your cue tip one-sixteenth below center. Deliver a follow stroke and make the cue ball follow the object ball.

There is only one way you will see the cue ball follow the object ball and that is if you deliver a fine follow stroke. Flow through the cue ball. Your shooting hand should almost be limp. Float through and allow the cue ball to roll towards its target.

I can make the cue ball follow the object ball with one half cue tip below center. A follow stroke is vital to your game. There are many ways to use a follow stroke to gain favorable position and control the cue ball.

I illustrate many of them in The Lesson. If you are ever to become a consistent player you must master the four strokes of pool. In my workshops and clinics I show players that there is only one stroke that will get them position on certain balls. If you know the strokes you know how to play pool. If you do not have a copy of The Lesson, do yourself a favor, order it now. I give you a personal guarantee. If the book does not help you, I will refund your money.

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