What is a massé shot and how to play it

A massé shot is played with the cue held almost upright, and the cue ball swings in a sharp arc. It lets you go round a ball that blocks the direct line, and it is a favourite in carom, three-cushion and trick-shot displays. Below is what it is, how to play it and the usual mistakes; you can also try it for free in 3D billiards on Boombala.

What is a massé?

For a massé the cue is raised to roughly 80–90° and the cue ball is struck from above, off to one side. It travels a short straight way, then spin and cloth friction bend it strongly towards the side you hit, often in a "U" or "J" shape. That is why it can go round one ball and reach the one behind it.

The gentler, lower relative is the piqué (terms vary by region).

How to play it

• Stand the cue up. Put the bridge hand very close to the cue ball and hold the cue near vertical.
• Pick an upper side spot. The ball curves towards the side you strike.
• Strike down with a short, controlled stroke. Press into the ball rather than swinging through it.
• Keep the power low. Slower massés bend more sharply; hard ones travel before they curve.
• Test, then calculate. The curve changes with power and angle, so try the same set-up with different powers and note the path.

Common mistakes

• Marking the cloth. A vertical cue can damage a real cloth, so it needs great care (some halls ban it).
• A spot too far to the edge. The tip slips and you miscue.
• Too much power. The cue ball passes the target before bending.
• Expecting the wrong side. The ball bends towards the side you pick; choose the other side and the path flips.

Try the massé on Boombala

• Open Practice from the lobby; the three-cushion table is where massé matters most, but the pocket table works too.
• Press the Massé button above the orbit ball: the cue rises to about 80° and the tip moves high and to a side. Press again to cross to the other side.
• Shoot at different powers; the coloured guides (25%–100%) show each power's curve before you hit.
• Drag the balls around and retry until you find the path you want; no cloth to tear here.

Practice has no rules, clock or opponent. After your first massé, read the billiards rules and play the computer or your friends; the draw shot is the other basic to learn.

FAQ

Is massé only for three-cushion? No, it also works on a pocket table to reach a ball behind another, but it is most common in carom games.

How do I choose the curve direction? The ball bends towards the side you strike: right of centre curves right, left curves left.