Potting
10-Red Line-Up Drill
The 10-red line-up is a potting and positional drill that sits between the single-ball routines and a full line-up. With the reds strung out along the centre of the table, every pot asks two questions: which red next, and which pocket. Clearing all ten in a row requires controlled pace and short-range positional play, not just potting.
Setup
- Place nine reds in a straight line along the centre of the table, from the blue spot to the black spot.
- Place the tenth red between the black spot and the top cushion (see the diagram).
- Start with the cue ball wherever you like for the first red.
Rules
- Pot the reds one after another, in any order and into any pocket. No colours are involved.
- The attempt ends when you miss, go in-off, or leave no pottable red.
- Your score is the number of reds potted in a row.
Targets by level
- Beginner
- 3–5 reds
- Club player
- 6–9 reds
- Advanced
- All 10, regularly. Move on to the 15-red line-up.
Tips
- Work from the ends of the line. Reds in the middle are easiest to pot once their neighbours are gone.
- Plan two or three reds ahead, not just the next one.
- Keep the cue ball off the line of reds. Landing on the line itself leaves you snookered or with awkward kisses.
Common mistakes
- Splitting the line with the cue ball when there was a simple pot available.
- Choosing the easiest red now and leaving a much harder one next.
- Playing too firmly. Short distances between reds reward soft, accurate pace.