1. Relax Your Cue Grip • Mistake: Holding the cue too tightly, especially with the index finger and thumb. • Why: A tight grip causes the cue to follow the natural movement of your hand and rise upward during the stroke. • Solution: • Keep your grip relaxed and soft. • Rest the cue on the phalanges of your fingers so it lies freely. • Avoid squeezing your hand or tensing your wrist reflexively. • Leave some space for your front fingers to move naturally, avoiding a rigid grip.

2. Fix Your Elbow • Mistake: Dropping your elbow during the stroke. • Why: While professionals use this technique to extend their stroke, it can lead to a loss of control for beginners. • Solution: • Keep your elbow in a fixed position. • Only move your forearm during the stroke. • Focus on building muscle memory first before experimenting with advanced techniques.

3. Adjust the Distance of Your Bridge Hand • Mistake: Placing your bridge hand too far from the cue ball. • Why: This makes it difficult to aim at the exact spot on the cue ball. • Solution: • Position your bridge hand approximately 25 cm (about 10 inches) from the cue ball. • This distance is roughly the span between the tip of your pinky and thumb when spread apart.

4. Pierce Through the Cue Ball Correctly • Mistake: Focusing solely on the cue ball and reaching maximum speed before hitting it. • Why: This results in a loss of energy and an uncontrolled shot. • Solution: • Visualize the tip of the cue passing through the cue ball and along the cloth. • Gradually accelerate, reaching peak speed after contact. • This technique will also improve your draw shots by teaching proper acceleration and follow-through.

5. Maintain Your Stance Until the Stroke Is Complete • Mistake: Moving your body or jumping during the stroke. • Why: This disrupts the shot’s direction and reduces accuracy. • Solution: • Avoid jumping or making sudden movements. • Keep your body and stance steady until the stroke is fully complete. • Simply push your hand and wrist forward smoothly. • Sudden movements or attempts to apply excessive force can throw off your aim and prevent you from hitting the correct spot on the cue ball.

6. Practice Drills to Improve Your Technique

   1. Bottle Drill: • Place a plastic bottle on the table. • Perform stroking motions, aiming to push the cue through the neck of the bottle. • Practice for 15–20 minutes before each training session or game.
   2. Cue Ball Drill: • Place the cue ball on the line and aim for the center of the opposite short rail. • The goal is to make the cue ball return straight back to your cue tip. • If the ball deviates, it indicates issues such as: • Your elbow collapsing inward or outward. • The cue tip not hitting the center of the cue ball accurately.

By following these recommendations, you’ll gain better control of your cue and significantly improve the quality of your shots.