Learn the movement.
This is the spot-on-the-wall reference Dave remembers, also described here as the triangle reference. First find a three-rail line that works on this table, with a repeatable pace and modest running sidespin. Extend the line from the cue-ball start through the first-rail aim to a fixed landmark beyond the table.
Test that landmark from the original start, then nearby starts. Keep the target, pace, spin, and rail order consistent. Corner-5 is the related diamond-number system shown in Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959); the wall spot is a visual alternative. They are related methods, not a promise of the same result on every table.
The player below uses an ideal mirror construction to make the rail order and extended aim visible. It does not model running English or predict your table. Store the observed arrival separately and calibrate from actual shots.
Build your wall-spot reference here.
- Choose a repeatable start and a broad third-rail arrival zone.
- At a comfortable pace with modest running English, adjust the first-rail aim until several attempts reach that zone.
- Sight through that tested first-rail aim to a fixed landmark beyond the table. Keep that landmark as the reference for nearby starting positions.
- Test each new start against the same landmark and check the actual third-rail arrival. A changed result calls for recalibration.
The wall spot is an empirical reference for a tested family of routes. “Triangle” is the familiar name used here; Corner-5 uses its own numbering and sighting conventions. Keep the methods distinct.
Why the real cushion changes the route →One useful set.
- Setup & action
- Use the route your coach demonstrated, record its system and target, and compare repeated arrivals.
- What to watch
- Note the direction of the miss before deciding what to adjust.
- Practice format
- 10 attempts is a starting suggestion. Record the pattern, not just the best one.
A common complication.
Using a memorized wall distance or changing both the stroke and the landmark after a miss.
Change one thingEstablish a reliable starting shot before extending the aim line.
What changes the result?
Your setup, the equipment, and the intended outcome affect the comparison. Use a repeatable starting point and a modest target; bring persistent technique questions to a coach.
A note to yourself.
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