The Stroke
The straight, smooth pendulum swing that delivers the cue accurately.
A pendulum from the elbow
A good stroke swings from a still elbow so the forearm moves and the upper arm does not. This keeps the cue traveling in a straight line through the cue ball rather than steering across it. Picture your forearm as a pendulum and let it drop into the ball.
Warm-up strokes and a pause
Take a few smooth practice strokes to feel the line and rhythm, then pause briefly at the cue ball on your final backswing. That tiny pause separates aiming from delivery and stops you from rushing. Rushing the transition is one of the most common causes of missed shots.
Follow through
Accelerate smoothly through the cue ball and let the tip finish past where the ball was, rather than stabbing and stopping at it. A full follow-through transfers energy cleanly and keeps your aim honest. Freeze at the end of the stroke for a moment to check that your cue finished straight down the line.