Ball fraction – risky: half-ballThe cue ball hits the right side of ball 2 at half-ball (left running spin 3, speed 3) and goes to ball 3 via the right long, top short and left long cushions. Ball 2 goes up to the top short cushion and comes back; while the cue ball is going from the right long cushion to the top cushion, the two balls meet in front of the top cushion.
Techniques for avoiding the kiss · Drill cards
Ball fraction – safe: 3/4 ball, ball 2 passes firstThe same position is played with 3/4 ball and speed 4. Ball 2 leaves much faster; it comes back off the top cushion, goes to the right long cushion and leaves the zone before the cue ball reaches the top cushion. To reach ball 3 with the same three cushions, the spin is taken to right (reverse) 2. The green area is the old kiss zone.
Thinner – risky: half-ballThe cue ball hits the right side of ball 2 at half-ball (right running spin 3, speed 3) and comes down to ball 3 via the top short, right long and bottom short cushions. Ball 2 goes from the left long cushion to the top short cushion. While the cue ball is coming back off the top cushion, ball 2 also reaches the top cushion: the kiss is in front of the middle of the top cushion.
Thinner – safe: 1/4 ball, the cue ball passes firstOnly the ball fraction changes: 1/4 ball; spin and speed are the same. Keeping its speed, the cue ball comes back quickly off the top cushion; ball 2 travels slowly, takes the left and right long cushions and only just rolls up to the top short cushion. At no moment do the two balls come closer than half a diamond to each other. The green area is the old kiss zone.
Height of the hit – risky: high hitThe cue ball hits the left side of ball 2 with 3/8 ball (high hit, left reverse spin 3, speed 3) and goes to ball 3 via the left long, right long and top short cushions. Ball 2 hits the top short cushion and heads for the right long cushion. While the cue ball is going from its second cushion (right long) to the top cushion, ball 2 also reaches the top right corner area: the kiss is in front of the corner.
Height of the hit – safe: low hitSame ball fraction and speed, low hit; the spin is increased to left (reverse) 4. The low hit separates the cue ball from ball 2 at a wider angle; the cue ball reaches ball 3 via the left, right and left long cushions and never goes to the top short cushion or the top right corner. The path of ball 2 does not change, but the two paths no longer meet in the corner.
Another path – risky: on the right of ball 2The cue ball hits the right side of ball 2 with 3/8 ball (right reverse spin 1, speed 3) and comes down to ball 3 via the right long, top short and left long cushions. Ball 2 goes from the top short cushion to the left long cushion and comes down from there. After their second cushions, both balls are in the middle of the left long cushion at almost the same time: a kiss.
Another path – safe: on the left of ball 2Same ball fraction, but ball 2 is hit on its left side (left running spin 1, speed 3). The cue ball goes to ball 3 via the top short, left long and bottom short cushions; ball 2 takes the right long, top short and left long cushions and stops on the left side of the table. Although the paths cross in the upper area, the balls pass there at very different times. The green area is the old kiss zone.