This page deals with CB control for rail cut shots where the OB is frozen to the rail. For cases where the OB is off the rail some, see non-frozen-OB rail-cue-shot CB control.

How do I get the desired cue ball position off a rail cut shot?

See the rail cut shot handout, “VEPS GEMS – Part III: English and Position Control” (BD, March, 2010), and “HAPS – Part VI: Rail Cut Shots” (BD, March, 2015). The following video from Vol. II of How to Aim Pool Shots (HAPS) covers the important basics:

And here’s a good video demonstrating lots of interesting game-situation examples:

Here are other good videos demonstrating basic CB control with rail cut shots:

Concerning CB direction with frozen rail cut shots, the following super-slow-motion video clips are listed in order based on how far down-table the CB travels. The OB is pocketed in all of the clips from two diamonds up from the corner pocket.

• HSV A.128 – Rail cut-shot hitting the ball first, with fast speed, slight draw, outside english
• HSV A.129 – Rail cut-shot hitting the ball first early with OE
• HSV A.130 – Rail cut-shot hitting the ball first, with more-than-gearing outside english
• HSV A.131 – Rail cut-shot hitting the ball first, with less-than-gearing outside english
• HSV A.132 – Rail cut-shot hitting the rail first, with natural (running) english
• HSV A.133 – Rail cut-shot hitting the rail first a little early, faster, with natural (running) english
• HSV A.134 – Rail cut-shot hitting the rail first, hitting the ball while compressing, with stun and no english
• HSV A.135 – Rail cut-shot hitting the rail first, hitting the ball during rebound, fast, with slight natural (running) english
• HSV A.136 – Rail cut-shot hitting the rail first, hitting the ball at maximum compression, very fast, with slight natural (running) english
• HSV A.137 – Rail cut-shot hitting the rail first, hitting the ball while compressing, fast, with draw and natural (running) english
• HSV A.138 – Rail cut-shot hitting the rail first, hitting the ball at maximum compression, with lots of natural (running) english
• HSV A.139 – Rail cut-shot hitting the rail first, hitting the ball while compressing, with natural (running) english
• HSV A.140 – Rail cut-shot hitting the rail first (barely), hitting the ball during initial compression, with lots of natural (running) english
• HSV A.141 – Rail cut-shot hitting the rail first (barely), hitting the ball during initial compression, slower, with stun and lots of natural (running) english

Here’s a good summary of the important points related to these clips: High-Speed Video Magic – Rail Cut Shots.

Here are some demonstrations from Vol. II of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots that shows some examples:

Here’s another good example from Vol. V of the Video Encyclopedia of Nine-ball and Ten-ball (VENT):

And here’s a related example (by Carlo Biado) where some sidespin can be retained with a ball-first hit at an angle into the cushion and slick conditions (new cloth and/or clean, non-humid conditions):

Here’s a great drill to work on frozen rail-cut-shot CB control:

Here’s a good example of how to kill CB motion with thin cuts close to a rail:

For many examples and explanations of how to judge fouls with rail cut shots, see:

How do I judge CB direction when the OB is off the rail slightly?

See non-frozen CB control and using the rails.

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