Using the kiss on purposeBall 2 frozen to the cushion and the kiss-back shot

ScalesReference linePath

Reference position

Spinside −3 · center

1/1

Ball fraction1/1

Speed4/5

Ball 2 is frozen to the right long cushion, ball 3 is in front of the bottom short cushion. The cue ball hits ball 2 full (1/1), center hit, left spin 3, speed 4. Ball 2 comes back off the cushion and pushes the cue ball back (yellow area); the cue ball crosses the table and reaches ball 3 via the left long, right long and bottom short cushions. After the kiss ball 2 goes to the upper left part of the table.

The kiss is not always the enemy. If ball 2 is frozen to or very close to a cushion and is hit full, it comes straight back off the cushion and pushes the cue ball back: this is called the kiss-back shot. This push is predictable: on a full hit the cue ball comes back toward the direction it came from off ball 2, and the angle of the return is adjusted with the ball fraction, the height of the hit and the speed. When ball 3 is behind or beside the cue ball and the normal paths are blocked, this shot is the shortest way to reach three cushions and ball 3. In addition, ball 2 loses its speed after the kiss and stays close to its place; this can be used for the next position. In this lesson the yellow area shows the point where the cue ball and ball 2 collide on purpose, the green area the zone where ball 2 stays.

When? When ball 2 is frozen to a cushion or closer to it than one ball diameter, when ball 3 is behind or to the side of the cue ball, and when hitting ball 2 thin is difficult or risky.

Tips

1If ball 2 is frozen to the cushion and you hit it full, ball 2 comes back off the cushion and hits the cue ball a second time (kiss: the two balls colliding again). This second contact does not spoil the point; the cue ball comes back and can complete the three cushions afterwards.
2Set the direction of the return with the ball fraction: with a full ball (1/1) the cue ball comes back roughly along the line it came in on. As you go thinner, to 7/8 and then 3/4, the angle away from that line grows and the cue ball comes back more from the side.
3If the cue ball has to travel a longer path after the return, hit low (draw). A low hit brings the cue ball back after the kiss livelier and at a more open angle; a center hit gives a shorter, simpler return.
4Choose this shot when you want to keep ball 2 in place: in the kiss, ball 2 loses most of its speed. With 7/8 ball and a low hit ball 2 stays almost in place; with 3/4 ball it travels at most one to one and a half diamonds, so the next position does not fall apart.
5Hit one step harder than you normally would (speed 4 in the examples). In the kiss the cue ball loses part of its energy and comes back slower than you expect; the most common mistake is the cue ball stopping before it reaches ball 3.
6Show the return line with the cue: lay the cue on the line from the cue ball to ball 2; with a full ball the cue ball comes back along this line. Then, as much as you go thinner, open the cue away from this line to judge the real direction of the return.
7Practice: freeze ball 2 to the right long cushion and always put the cue ball in the same place. With the same speed and a low hit, play first 7/8 and then 3/4 ball; mark the point where the cue ball touches the opposite long cushion and compare the two ball fractions.

Voice coach

PRO

The voice coach is part of the Pro and Club plans.

See plans

Watch outThe return paths in the diagrams were found with an ideal collision and cushion model; on a real table the cloth and the cushions change the angle by a few degrees. Adjust the return angle by trying it on your own table.

Watch outIf ball 2 is not frozen to the cushion but slightly away from it, the kiss depends on the timing of the second contact and becomes less predictable; in that case it is safer to avoid the kiss as in the earlier lessons.