Typical kiss positionsClosing in the corner, parallel paths, close balls, ball on the cushion
Spinside +2 · high
Ball fraction3/8
Speed3/5
From the upper area the cue ball hits the right side of ball 2 with 3/8 ball (right reverse spin 2, speed 3) and goes to ball 3 via the left long, right long and bottom short cushions. Ball 2 goes down to the bottom short cushion and heads for the right long cushion. While the cue ball is coming down from its second cushion (right long) to the bottom corner, ball 2 reaches the same corner: the two balls close in on each other in front of the bottom right corner.
Most kisses appear in a few familiar patterns. If both balls are heading to the same corner, they close in on each other in the corner; if they travel along the same long cushion, they come side by side along a long strip; if the cue ball is very close to ball 2, both balls reach the same area at almost the same time; if ball 2 is near a cushion, a kiss-back happens. Recognizing these patterns lets you raise the alarm even before drawing the crossings.
When? In positions where, in the shot plan, ball 2 and the cue ball go to the same corner, the same long cushion or the same area, where the cue ball is closer than half a diamond to ball 2, or where ball 2 is closer than half a diamond to a cushion.
- 1Closing in the corner: if two balls come into the same corner off different cushions, they can meet in front of the corner, and their paths cross again on the way out of the corner. Check both points; the solution is often to make ball 2 reach the corner late with a thin hit (1/4 ball).
- 2Parallel paths: if two balls travel along the same long cushion, their paths cross at a narrow angle and the danger is not a single point but a long strip. A small timing difference is not enough; hit thin (1/4 ball) and stop ball 2 before it reaches that cushion.
- 3Close balls: if the cue ball is closer than half a diamond to ball 2, both balls reach the crossing by a very short path, almost at the same time. Change the ball fraction clearly; taking 1/4 ball to slow ball 2 down is usually the most effective solution.
- 4Ball 2 against the cushion: if ball 2 is near the cushion and you hit it full (5/8 or fuller), it comes straight back off the cushion; the cue ball is still beside it at that moment and they collide. Take 1/4 ball so that ball 2 leaves the cushion at a narrow angle.
- 5If ball 2 is frozen to the cushion, avoiding the kiss-back is almost impossible. Do not try to avoid it; choose a shot that builds the kiss into your plan: hit ball 2 full and bring the cue ball back (next lesson: Using the kiss on purpose).
- 6Avoid a shot that leaves ball 2 in the middle of the table: a ball 2 sitting in the middle cuts across most of the cue ball's cushion paths. Sending ball 2 to a corner or a short cushion reduces the number of crossings.
- 7When you recognize the pattern, first ask: which ball can more easily pass the crossing first? If ball 2 is to pass, hit fuller (3/4 ball); if the cue ball is to pass, go thinner (1/4 ball).
Voice coach
PROThe voice coach is part of the Pro and Club plans.
Watch outThe paths in the diagrams are ideal: the cushion rebounds of ball 2 are drawn without spin (angle of incidence = angle of reflection), those of the cue ball as an angle opened or closed by spin. On a real table the cloth, the cushions, the speed and the curve of the shot shift the path slightly; think of the red area as one ball diameter wider.
Watch outIn the risky examples the paths drawn are the planned paths. If a kiss happens, the cue ball is deflected in the red area and does not reach ball 3; ball 2 does not stop where drawn either.
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