This simple drill can have a dramatic impact on your game.

Here is an alternating pocket rotation drill that is perfect for moving the cue ball. It’s one of my favorites and I use it with my students because it’s a perfect practice drill.

The task is simple: Alternate shots into the two corner pockets. Odd numbers in bottom right, even numbers in bottom left.

What I love about this drill is that it forces you to stay in line and on the right side of the balls, otherwise you’re going to be in deep trouble. It’s not as easy as it looks. It is, however, easy to set up and it’s all on the same half of the table. It offers plenty of freedom with your stroke. Your touch doesn’t have to be perfect, but you still need to keep on the proper side of the ball.

Once you get this drill down, you’ll see the benefits and improvements in your game. Your pattern play will improve, as will your cue ball control. As always, if you don’t get perfect position, you’ll have to be creative. And you will get out of line every so often, so finding a way back in line is really important.

The setup and rules are simple enough: Rotation, 1-9, with odd numbered balls in the bottom left and even numbered balls in bottom right. Start with cue ball in hand. You’re not allowed to touch another ball.



Here’s how I played the drill:

I like to leave a simple angle on the 1 ball (Diagram One) and use follow with just a touch of right, sending the cue ball down off the bottom rail to leave a nice angle on the 2 ball.

The 2 is a tricky positional shot on which you need a good stroke and good feel for speed. Aim high on the cue ball with just a touch of right to come off the long rail and out above the balls.

Just to show you how to alter your plan, I came in a little short on the 3 ball (Diagram Two), so I need to play a high cue ball with a little right with very slow speed. Another way to play this shot would be to kill the cue ball with lots of bottom right, but that would be difficult to execute.

High cue ball with a fair amount of right is required on this shot on the 4, much like the shot on the 2 ball. Again, speed control is important. You need a confident stroke.

Use high right on both the 5 ball and 6 (Diagram Three), with an easy stroke on the 5 and good speed control on the 6.

Use a simple little punch shot on the 7 (Diagram Four) with a hair of left English to guarantee an angle on the 8. Then high right with a confident stroke to get two rails from the 8 to the 9. One rail is fine too, but I’ve always felt like you could hit the ball a little harder with the two-rail shot. You should have a pretty straight shot at the 9 ball.

Again, this drill will help you learn the importance of staying on the right side of the balls, using just enough spin and cue ball speed. Staying high above these balls also makes the drill easier. The beauty of this drills is that the balls are not difficult to pocket. You can work on your speed and control.