Pattern Sequences from Position 1
All of the Position 1 patterns reside within the Position 1 Master Square.
Position 1 Master Square
Remember that the Master Square shrinks or expands according to the particular shot setup we are facing, but it always retains its proportions. From Position 1, if the balls are close to one another, the Master Square shrinks to fit. If the balls are far apart, the Master Square expands to fit.
This of course applies to the patterns as well. The resizing of our patterns is automatic based upon the elements of the shot setup. For Position 1 patterns, the governing factor is the distance between balls.
For a shot setup where the balls are close to one another, the ball positions automatically force us to draw short lines. Increasing the distance between the balls automatically extends the length of our lines. Long or short, the proportions from line to line within a pattern are retained.
For the sake of consistency while we learn the patterns, the Master Square that is displayed behind the pattern images will remain the same size from pattern to pattern.
The end of each line in a diagram is marked by the number of that step in the pattern sequence. In some pattern sequences, we return to the same location on the Master Square during the sequence. In those cases, both numbers will be displayed at that location.
This is a long page, so here are anchor links if you wish to skip directly to one of the patterns.
Master L Pattern
Sequence 1: Down, Right
Destinations: A, Q
Sequence 2: Right, Down
Destinations: U, Q
Although it is the most basic pattern, the Master L is the master of all patterns, because it is built from the full length sides of the Master Square. This pattern quickly determines whether a shot is under 45°, over 45°, or exactly 45°. Sequence 1 works for shots 45° or below. Sequence 2 works for shots 45° or above. If the cue ball is not contacted while drawing the second line of Sequence 1, you immediately know that the shot is over 45° and that you should instead use Sequence 2. Both sequences terminate at the shot label ‘Q’, which is a 45° shot. While drawing the second line, take note of where the cue ball rests between the destinations ‘A’ and ‘Q’ or destinations ‘U’ and ‘Q’ to estimate the current shot’s label.
L Back and Forth Sub-Patterns
45° and Under
Sequence 1: Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, ½ Right
A, Q, E, F, EF, F-
Sequence 2: Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, ½ Left
A, Q, E, F, EF, E+
Sequence 3: Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right, ½ Left
A, Q, E, F, FQ, F+
Sequence 4: Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½, Right, ½ Right
A, Q, E, F, FQ, Q-
Sequence 5: Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right
A, Q, E, C, B, BC
Sequence 6: Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left
A, Q, E, C, B, AB
Sequence 7: Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left
A, Q, E, C, D, CD
Sequence 8: Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½, Right, ½ Right
A, Q, E, C, D, DE
45° and Over
Sequence 1: Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, ½ Down
U, Q, S, R, RS, R+
Sequence 2: Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, ½ Up
U, Q, S, R, RS, S-
Sequence 3: Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down, ½ Down
U, Q, S, R, QR, Q+
Sequence 4: Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½, Down, ½ Up
U, Q, S, R, QR, R-
Sequence 5: Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down
U, Q, S, T, TU, T+
Sequence 6: Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up
U, Q, S, T, TU, U-
Sequence 7: Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down
U, Q, S, T, ST, S+
Sequence 8: Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½, Down, ½ Up
U, Q, S, T, ST, T-
These are all sub-patterns of the Master L pattern. Notice that simply continuing to go back and/or forth by ½ the length of each previous line allows us to hit all 16 divisions along the bottom and far sides of the Master Square. That is a total of 33 destinations, including all single-letter and double-letter references as well as all in-between shots above ‘E’.
h Pattern
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, Right, Down
A, E
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, Down, Right
U, S
The h-shaped pattern can be thought of as the master pattern for the “A through E” and “S through U” portions of the Master Square.
h Back and Forth Sub-Patterns
45° and Under
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, DOWN
A, E, C, D, CD
Sequence 2: Down, ½ Up, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right, DOWN
A, E, C, D, DE
Sequence 3: Down, ½ Up, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right, DOWN
A, E, C, B, BC
Sequence 4: Down, ½ Up, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left, DOWN
A, E, C, B, AB
45° and Over
Sequence 1: Right, ½ Left, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, RIGHT
U, S, T, ST, T-
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down, RIGHT
U, S, T, ST, S+
Sequence 3: Right, ½ Left, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down, RIGHT
U, S, T, TU, T+
Sequence 4: Right, ½ Left, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up, RIGHT
U, S, T, TU, U-
w Pattern
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, Right, Down, Right
A, E, Q
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, Down, Right, Down
U, S, Q
The w-shaped pattern can be thought of as the master pattern for the “E through Q” and “Q through S” portions of the Master Square.
w Back and Forth Sub-Patterns
45° and Under
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, Right, Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left
A, E, Q, F, FQ, F+
Sequence 2: Down, ½ Up, Right, Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right
A, E, Q, F, FQ, Q-
Sequence 3: Down, ½ Up, Right, Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right
A, E, Q, F, EF, F-
Sequence 4: Down, ½ Up, Right, Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left
A, E, Q, F, EF, E+
45° and Over
Sequence 1: Right, ½ Left, Down, Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up
U, S, Q, R, QR, R-
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, Down, Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down
U, S, Q, R, QR, Q+
Sequence 3: Right, ½ Left, Down, Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down
U, S, Q, R, RS, R+
Sequence 4: Right, ½ Left, Down, Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up
U, S, Q, R, RS, S-
IL Pattern
45° and Under
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, DOWN, Right
A, E, C, D, CD
Sequence 2: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, DOWN, Right
A, E, C, D, DE
Sequence 3: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down, ½ Up, DOWN, Right
A, E, C, B, BC
Sequence 4: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down, ½ Down, Down, Right
A, E, C, B, AB
Sequence 5: Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, DOWN, Right
A, E, F, EF, F-
Sequence 6: Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down, DOWN, Right
A, E, F, EF, E+
Sequence 7: Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down, DOWN, Right
A, E, F, FQ, F+
Sequence 8: Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up, DOWN, Right
A, E, F, FQ, Q-
45° and Over
Sequence 1: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, RIGHT, Down
U, S, T, ST, T-
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, RIGHT, Down
U, S, T, ST, S+
Sequence 3: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right, ½ Left, RIGHT, Down
U, S, T, TU, T+
Sequence 4: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right, ½ Right, Right, Down
U, S, T, TU, U-
Sequence 5: Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, RIGHT, Down
U, S, R, RS, R+
Sequence 6: Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right, RIGHT, Down
U, S, R, RS, S-
Sequence 7: Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right, RIGHT, Down
U, S, R, QR, R-
Sequence 8: Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left, RIGHT, Down
U, S, R, QR, Q+
The IL-shaped pattern shows us that the references along the bottom side of the Master Square can be temporarily reflected onto its near side, and its far side references can be temporarily reflected onto its top side. As soon as we reach a shot label that appears to match the cue ball’s bottom or far side position, from there we can draw a line directly to the bottom or far side and follow it up with a single 90° line of the same length to compare with the actual cue ball position.
I45 Pattern
45° and Under
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, Zig Down
A, E, C, D, CD
Sequence 2: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, Zig Down
A, E, C, D, DE
Sequence 3: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down, ½ Up, Zig Down
A, E, C, B, BC
Sequence 4: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down, ½ Down, Zig Down
A, E, C, B, AB
Sequence 5: Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, Zig Down
A, E, F, EF, F-
Sequence 6: Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down, Zig Down
A, E, F, EF, E+
Sequence 7: Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down, Zig Down
A, E, F, FQ, F+
Sequence 8: Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up, Zig Down
A, E, F, FQ, Q-
45° and Over
Sequence 1: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, Zig Down
U, S, T, ST, T-
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, Zig Down
U, S, T, ST, S+
Sequence 3: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right, ½ Left, Zig Down
U, S, T, TU, T+
Sequence 4: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right, ½ Right, Zig Down
U, S, T, TU, U-
Sequence 5: Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, Zig Down
U, S, R, RS, R+
Sequence 6: Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right, Zig Down
U, S, R, RS, S-
Sequence 7: Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right, Zig Down
U, S, R, QR, R-
Sequence 8: Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left, Zig Down
U, S, R, QR, Q+
The I45 pattern is simply the IL pattern with a single 45° line as a shortcut. As soon as we reach a destination that appears to match the cue ball’s bottom or far side position, we can drop a single Zig (or Zag for left cuts) until it intersects with the bottom or far side. We can then use this intersection as a point for comparison with the cue ball’s actual position.
hL Pattern
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, Down, Right
A, E
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, Right, Down
U, S
The hL pattern has traits of both the h and IL patterns. An early, opposite direction full-length retracing of the second line gets us more quickly to the bottom or far side upon which the cue ball is resting. This allows us to brush by the cue ball while we are executing the pattern sequence.
hL Back and Forth Sub-Patterns
45° and Under
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left
A, E, C, D, CD
Sequence 2: Down, ½ Up, Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right
A, E, C, D, DE
Sequence 3: Down, ½ Up, Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right
A, E, C, B, BC
Sequence 4: Down, ½ Up, Down, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left
A, E, C, B, AB
45° and Over
Sequence 1: Right, ½ Left, Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up
U, S, T, ST, T-
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down
U, S, T, ST, S+
Sequence 3: Right, ½ Left, Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down
U, S, T, TU, T+
Sequence 4: Right, ½ Left, Right, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up
U, S, T, TU, U-
wL Pattern
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, Down, Right, Right
A, E, Q
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, Right, Down, Down
U, S, Q
The wL pattern has traits of both the w and IL patterns, and it lands on the same destinations as the w pattern. The only difference is that the wL sequence switches the 3rd and 4th lines.
wL Back and Forth Sub-Patterns
45° and Under
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, Down, Right, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left
A, E, Q, F, FQ, F+
Sequence 2: Down, ½ Up, Down, Right, Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right
A, E, Q, F, FQ, Q-
Sequence 3: Down, ½ Up, Down, Right, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Right
A, E, Q, F, EF, F-
Sequence 4: Down, ½ Up, Down, Right, Right, ½ Left, ½ Left, ½ Left
A, E, Q, F, EF, E+
45° and Over
Sequence 1: Right, ½ Left, Right, Down, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up
U, S, Q, R, QR, R-
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, Right, Down, Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down
U, S, Q, R, QR, Q+
Sequence 3: Right, ½ Left, Right, Down, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Down
U, S, Q, R, RS, R+
Sequence 4: Right, ½ Left, Right, Down, Down, ½ Up, ½ Up, ½ Up
U, S, Q, R, RS, S-
hC Pattern
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, Right, Down
A, E, C
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, Down, Right
U, S, T
The hC, hB, and hAB patterns are essentially h-shaped patterns that borrow from the I-pattern reflections.
hB Pattern
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down, Right, Down
A, E, C, B
Sequence 1*: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, Right, DOWN
A, E, C, D, B
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right, Down, Right
U, S, T, TU
Sequence 2*: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, Down, RIGHT
U, S, T, ST, T-, TU
hAB Pattern
Sequence 1: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Down, ½ Down, Right, Down
A, E, C, B, AB
Sequence 1*: Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, ½ Up, ½ Down, Right, DOWN
A, E, C, D, CD, AB
Sequence 2: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Right, ½ Right, Down, Right
U, S, T, TU, U-
Sequence 2*: Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, ½ Left, ½ Right, Down, RIGHT
U, S, T, ST, T-, U-
Q45 Pattern
Sequence 1: Zig Down
Q
Sequence 2: Down, ½ Up, Zig Down, Copy Up, Zig Down
A, E, Q
The Q45 patterns are simply alternatives for finding the Q corner of the Master Square.
Pennant Pattern
Sequence 1: Down, Right to Cue Ball, Zag Up
Sequence 2: Right, Down to Cue Ball, Zag Up
The Pennant pattern is a shortcut pattern that is a combination of the Master L and I45 patterns. Instead of finishing the second line of the Master L pattern, we travel only as far as the cue ball’s position before Zigging or Zagging up to intersect with the near or top side. We can then use the I45 reflected references to help determine the shot label by estimating the relative location of the intersection along the near or top side. The Pennant pattern is also a great quick way to determine whether a shot is just above, just below, or exactly a 1/2-ball ‘E’ shot.
Flag Pattern
Sequence 1: Down, Right to Cue Ball, Up, Left
Sequence 2: Right, Down to Cue Ball, Left, Up
The Flag pattern is a shortcut pattern that has elements of the Master L, IL and h patterns. Very similar to the Pennant pattern, instead of finishing the second line of the Master L pattern, we travel only as far as the cue ball’s position. From there, we copy the second line Up and copy it again Left to intersect with the near side. Or for Over 45°, we copy the second line Left and then Up to intersect with the top side. We can then use the IL reflected references to help determine the shot label by estimating the relative location of the intersection along the near or top side.
