Firstly, make sure the length of your bridge is always constant. To achieve this, mark your cue with ink, (Figure 1) at the point where it rests over the bridge at the address position - when the tip of the cue is not quite in contact with the cue ball.

The distance from the mark to the top of the cue will be about 12 inches (30 cm).

In Figure 2, the player is in the address position. Without a cue ball, the player is addressing the brown spot along the baulk line.

In Figure 3, the player has finished the last back swing and is ready to go through with the cue.

As Figure 4 shows, the tip of the cue should now be some four to five inches (10-12.5 cm) away from the cue ball, as the mark on the cue shows clearly.

The player, in Figure 5, shows the finish of the stroke. The cue has maintained a horizontal position throughout.

Figure 6, illustrates the completion of the follow through. If the back hand is five to six inches (12.5-15 cm) from the chest when the waggles start, having finished the last back swing and gone through with the shot a player can complete the shot and get well through the cue ball before the back hand hits his chest.

Now, if we are going to use this method instead of the much advocated pendulum method, how can we ensure that the cue will not lift at the back? The key to keeping the cue horizontal lies in the grip.

Different players, of course, have different grips. John Parrott feels the shot with the first finger, Steve Davis with two, and some players use a three-finger grip.

But to keep the cue horizontal, as demonstrated in "The Grip", you must 'ease the back fingers, as the cue goes forwards and backwards.