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Cueing Academy

Pool glossary · Cue Ball & Spin

Speed control

Also called: Touch, Pace

How do you control speed in pool?

Speed control is hitting the cue ball with exactly the pace needed so it stops in the planned position zone. It is the single most important cue-ball skill: most position errors are distance errors.

Step by step

  1. 1Shoot the cue ball from the head string to the far rail and back, stopping at a target diamond.
  2. 2Repeat the same speed five times and note the spread.
  3. 3Change targets every five shots — short, medium and long.
  4. 4Then add an object ball and repeat with stop, stun and follow.

In more detail

Train speed with center ball first and fixed references — diamonds and rail lengths. Players who can lag consistently to within a few inches of a rail usually position better than players with more spin.

People also ask

Is speed more important than spin?

For most players, yes. Spin changes direction; speed changes distance — and distance errors are the most common.

Train it at the table

More guides on speed control