Ever since i started my snooker coaching journey back in March 2025, the same old comment keeps being made by my students. "I want to be able to cue straight!".
So this then begs the question, do we need to cue straight in order to pot balls and play snooker effectively?
First let's look at what being able to cue straight actually means. Basically, when we pull our back arm backwards and then push the cue through to play the shot, do we do so in a straight line? The thinking being if we bring the cue back and then push through in a straight line, we will hit the cue ball exactly where we want to.
I'll let you into a secret. If you're able to bring the snooker cue back, then push through in a straight line, you're in the 5% of players who can. Very few professional snooker players cue straight. 1997 World Championship winner Ken Doherty is in that percentage, also 2025 Northern Ireland Open winner Jack Lisowski and 2020 Snooker Shootout winner Michael Holt.
I can hear you all screaming at me, "But what about the greatest player of all time, Ronnie O'Sullivan, or Stephen Hendry, or Judd Trump?" They're not on the list because they don't cue straight, along with pretty much all of the top 16 snooker players in the world. Although we can all agree that between these three players, they've done alright from not being able to cue straight.
Most players will have what we call an 'arc' in their swing. When they bring the cue back and then through, they do so in an arcing motion, but what these players do so well, is hit exactly where they want to on the cue ball.
Let's imagine a golf swing for a moment. A golf swing does not come straight back and then straight through in a straight line. It has an arc from start to finish. Again, but what professional golfers do so well, is that they hit the ball exactly where they want to at impact. Snooker is no different. Whether we have an arc or not, it all comes down to one thing. Can we hit the cue ball exactly where we want to at impact?
This has to be the main focus, not, "I need to cue straight to be good". You can figure all this out for yourself. All you need is a spotted cue ball and "The Balls" by Chris Henry. Both are available in the online store. Also, if you watch my YouTube video: Snooker's Biggest Myth, this will help you understand what happens and gives you a couple of fixes.
So, from what I have just said, "Is straight cueing a myth?" The answer is... Yes.
https://youtu.be/504aiTBJeAw?si=_ei8DAy6jzYAIdA2