How To Curve A Pool Ball Like A Pro? 3 Steps To Make A Massé Shot

The pool is always an appealing game to young people since it is both enjoyable and challenging. You will be confronted with a variety of situations and must devise your strategies to overcome them to make a successful shot. If you know how to play pool, you’re probably aware that curving the ball, often known as the massé shot, is the most difficult shot in the game. This article will show you how to curve a pool ball with a massé shot in 3 steps.

In Pool, several distinct shots can be used in different scenarios, such as the massé shot, break shot, or drag shot. When you’re trying to hit a ball into a pocket but another ball is in the way, the massé shot, sometimes called a curved shot in Pool, is utilized to curve the cue ball. This is the most difficult shot to master and requires a lot of practice.

Before taking a closer look at how to curve a pool ball with the massé shot. You have to pay attention to the following points:

Preparation

Your pool cue tip can be in a good condition when it is new, but it will wear down over time. Chalk is normally suggested as a good option for you to give friction to the cue tip, allowing you to take a shot instead of having the cue slip off the ball too soon. To make a massé shot, you have to prepare good chalk.  Apply a fine layer of chalk on the tip of your cue stick. It is better if you can choose a high-quality cue stick that has a good cue tip and professional tools to improve your game.

Hand and body position

Massé pool shots are executed with downward strikes, you’ll need to grip the cue stick at a considerably steeper angle than usual. To make a successful curved shot in Pool, hold the cue stick at a 30, 35, or 40-degree angle.  Your grip hand at the tip of the cue must form an elevated bridge. When you’re gripping the cue stick and getting ready to strike the ball, create a ‘V’ with the tip of the cue in between your thumb and pointer finger to give yourself more control over your stroke. To increase your stability, your fingers should be touching the pool table.

Striking the ball

After things are in position, it is time to consider how you will strike to get a curved pool ball. It will depend on which position of the cue ball you hit and how the pool ball spins and moves. As mentioned above, you have to apply the massé shots to curve the cue ball. 

Masse shot

How to curve a ball in Pool with a massé shot? A massé shot is made by tilting the ball’s axis so that it spins inside the required curve and against the felt grain. The cue stick’s horizontal angle determines the ball’s forward movement. The vertical angle and the point of contact determine the quantity of spin and its direction. Another crucial aspect is force. The ball will jump or “squirt” if you put too much or too little pressure on it. The tip must be nicely chalked and the ball must be hit thickly enough to produce table resistance in order to grab the ball well.

There are 3 main ways to make a massé shot in Pool, based on the position that you hit the cue ball. Hit the left side of the cue ball at 9 o’clock to have it curve to the left. On the other hand, you have to hit down the right side of the cue ball at 3 o’clock if you want your cue ball to curve around a ball and to the right. And hit the ball at 6 o’clock to have it return straight. 

Spin the ball

Together with the massé shot, you have to spin the ball to achieve a curved path. So how to spin a pool ball? There are 3 different types of pool ball spin that lead to different results. Normally, Top Spin is supplied to the cue ball if it is hit at 12 o’clock, which is above the center point, bottom spin is given to the cue ball if it is hit at 6 o’clock, and side spin is given to the cue ball if it is hit between 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock. 

Top Spin

When you apply the cue tip above the center of the cue ball, you get Top Spin. The higher the strike, the more Top Spin applied. Because the curved pool ball will follow through the object ball after striking, Top Spin is frequently referred to as “follow.” The physics of this work is that you’re providing more forward spin than you would with a straight shot, forcing the cue ball to move further along the pool cloth after the shot instead of stopping down instantly. Applying Top Spin to the cue ball after striking a cushion or object ball changes the angle of departure, frequently expanding it.

Bottom Spin

The reverse of Top Spin is Bottom Spin. The bottom spin enables the cue ball to stop after transferring its energy to another ball, rather than allowing it to continue moving down the table after hitting another ball. The angle of deflection for the ball of bumpers will also be reduced with this stroke. Hit the cue ball between the center and the 6 o’clock position to give it a Bottom Spin.

Side Spin

The most sophisticated type of cue ball spin is Side Spin. This form is available in both left and right versions, and it can be combined with the top and bottom spins. English is a term that some people use to describe side spin. Hit the ball between the center and 9 o’clock to get a left spin. When you hit the ball between 3 o’clock and the middle, it spins right.

FAQs

Conclusion

In general, you will easily find some theories on how to curve a pool ball or make a massé shot on the internet. However, the reality will not always be the same since it depends on many other factors. Curving a pool ball may not come easy to you the first few times you try it. Continue to practice, remembering to raise your cue stick and strike the ball on the left or right side, depending on which way you want it to curve. You’ll learn how to do it well if you put in the time to work on it.