Ticky is one of the most reliable shots in pro repertoire — cue ball + first object ball frozen on cushion, hit with running english to complete a short-long-short carom.
Reference route
Reproducible table setup
A measurable starting point for this route family. The line is a practice reference, not a guaranteed scoring path.
Normalized ball coordinates
| x/L | y/W | |
|---|---|---|
| White cue ball | 0.898 | 0.500 |
| Yellow ball | 0.810 | 0.282 |
| Red ball | 0.387 | 0.775 |
Two controlled variations
- A · Change only side spin; keep the setup and pace.
- B · Change only pace; keep the setup and contact point.
Arrival tolerance target: ±42 mm
Practice protocol: 3 sets × 6 repetitions
Calculation record: Physics 3.0.0-beta · Solver 4.2.0
Physics V3 remains measurement-pending; verify the line on your own cloth and cushions.
Open this exact setup in 3ball →Ticky Position — Setup
Cue ball at head spot. Red ball ~1 ball-width away from long rail, 2 diamonds from corner. Yellow frozen on long rail, 3 diamonds further up.
Stroke and english
Half-tip below center, ½ tip running english, medium-firm pace. Half-ball contact on red.
When to use it
When cue ball + first object ball are frozen or near-frozen on the same cushion. Defensive bonus: even on miss, you leave the table tough for opponent.
Common mistakes
Soft pace → cue ball stalls. Too much english → over-rotates past yellow. Full-ball contact on red → kills cue ball energy.
Practice notes
There is no universal hit rate for this position. Repeat it under the same table conditions and compare your own accuracy, route and speed consistency over time.
Pro players who use it
No player-specific usage claim is made without a position-level match sample. Treat this as a geometry and practice pattern, not as an attributed signature shot.
Practise this position
Open it directly in 3ball — adjust ball positions, stroke, and english to match your real-table setup.
Open in 3ball →Related positions: