Stun 1
Subtle variations of the stun shot give the player such precise control over the
cue-ball that the importance of truly understanding the stroke cannot be overstated.
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Pure Stun - and the straight pot.
Diagram 1 shows this stroke in its simplest form.
A straight pot red to the corner leaving the cue-ball
in position for another straight pot on the black.
Diagram 2 gives an indication of where to strike the
cue-ball to achieve this result. The exact aiming
point will depend on the distance between the two
balls, and the strength that you play the shot.
So strike the cue-ball just below centre and use
plenty of power. Played in this way the cue-ball
skids across the surface of the cloth and won't
have time to acquire a natural rolling motion.
On impact, all the momentum put into the shot is
transferred to the red and the cue-ball stops dead.
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There will be many occasions when the positional requirements demand
a slight variation and an obvious example of this is shown in Diagram 3.
Stun with screw.
Played as above the blue would make cueing for the black
extremely difficult and allow the player only limited control
over the cue-ball. But by striking just a fraction lower the
cue-ball will be brought back slightly, allowing the player
to pot the black with full control over the cue-ball.
Diagram 4 once again only gives an indication of where to
strike the cue-ball, and here it is struck slightly lower than
it was before.
This lower striking has given the cue-ball a tiny amount of
back-spin, and it is this that pulls it away from the blue.
Even if the blue were not in the position shown the shot
should still be played this way owing to the red near the
cushion. The angle that has been created on the black
allows a better positional shot to be played on the red.
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5
6
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Stun run-through
Diagram 5 shows another variation in which the cue-ball
has now been made to run slightly beyond the blue.
By striking the cue-ball just above centre
(Diagram 6),
the tiny amount of top-spin that is applied will cause the
cue-ball to run through two or three inches and allow an
easy positional shot to be played from the black to the
second red.
Beginners should be wary of this shot if the red is much
closer to the pocket. It is so easy to strike the cue-ball
just slightly higher than intended, and cause the cue-ball
to follow the red straight into the pocket !
Practise these variations of the stun shot as they are
constantly needed, especially around the pink and black
spots where tight control of the cue-ball is so important.
Continued...
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