Swerving a snooker ball is also referred to as spinning the ball. This ability can come in handy after a safety or to get better shape for the next snooker shot.

Go through your regular practice set up routine. Remember to stretch your muscles and back.

Place the cue ball in the centre of the snooker table with an object ball, to practice spinning and follow through.

Place the billiard cue tip in the centre of the cue ball, then move it one cue tip to the right or left.

  • Swerving a snooker ball is also referred to as spinning the ball.
  • Place the billiard cue tip in the centre of the cue ball, then move it one cue tip to the right or left.
None

Hit the ball slowly and watch the reaction of both balls. Notice the spinning. Practice following through on the shot to really make the balls spin. If you put right spin on the cue ball, you are putting left spin on the object ball. Every time the cue ball or object ball hit something the spin will reverse. That is the physics of billiards.

Now set an object ball about 6 inches from a rail, set the cue ball behind and slightly to one side or the other of the object ball.

  • Now set an object ball about 6 inches from a rail, set the cue ball behind and slightly to one side or the other of the object ball.

Jack the butt end of the billiard cue up to at least a 45 degree angle and place the tip to the right of centre. The higher you jack up the butt end of the cue, the more spin it will impart on the cue ball.

Strike down and all the way through the cue ball making contact with the snooker table. This is why the shot is illegal in most cases, trick shots are the usual exception.

Watch as the cue ball spins out and around the object ball then back in line. Practice until the cue ball clears the object ball without touching it.

Move the cue ball farther behind the object ball to practice spinning the cue ball more severely.

TIP

Practice following through on every pool stroke, the results will amaze you. Following through is pushing the tip of the pool cue all the way through the cue ball and beyond. The softer the stroke, the more spin will be imparted. More forceful strokes result in less spin, often referred to as killing the spin.

WARNING

If the cue ball is the snooker ball being swerved, it may be called a masse shot which is illegal. Snooker pockets are very small, trying to spin an object ball into a corner pocket is very difficult on a snooker table.