Japanese lessons combine ball names, contact instructions and route descriptions. Treat each as a separate layer; one word rarely specifies a complete three-cushion shot.
A compact reading key
手球 (tedama) means cue ball; 的球 (matodama) is an object ball; 撞点 (dōten) identifies the tip contact point. 押し球 (oshidama) denotes follow, 引き球 (hikidama) draw, and ひねり (hineri) side spin. The Toyama association glossary documents these terms. Romanization is a reading aid, not another system of aiming numbers.
Contact is not the whole result
A low tip position does not prove that backspin remains when the cue ball reaches the object ball. Distance, speed and cloth interaction matter. Likewise, a centre-ball strike is not a promise of no rotation later. Separate the instruction at the cue tip from the ball state at collision.
Read direction in the diagram
左 and 右 mean left and right. Record the viewpoint before translating spin instructions, especially if the video is mirrored. 順ひねり and 逆ひねり require the author's cushion or cut-shot reference; do not silently substitute one for the other. A route description such as a large loop does not by itself require follow or identify an exact cushion sequence.
Build a useful lesson note
Pause before the stroke. Copy the original term, identify C/A/B, draw the first collision and cushion order, then note which contact detail is actually visible. Mark hidden tip position as unknown. This worksheet lets you compare Japanese commentary with a 3Ball layout without claiming that all Japanese coaches teach in the same order or that a successful replay reproduces the player's technique.
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