SHORT VIDEO: The Rocket, Ronnie O’Sullivan Taking The Balls Cue Ball Striking and Aiming Test!
It doesn’t get more difficult than this.
When it comes to the art of cue sports, there are few names that carry as much weight, respect, and awe as Ronnie “The Rocket” O’Sullivan. Widely regarded as the greatest snooker player of all time, O’Sullivan has dazzled fans for decades with his lightning-quick cue action, supreme natural talent, and instinctive shot-making ability. But in a rare and fascinating short video moment, The Rocket has stepped away from the glare of the professional stage to take on a completely different challenge—one that strips snooker down to its purest fundamentals: striking, aiming, and controlling the cue ball with absolute precision.
The test in question? The cue ball striking and aiming drill using a 17-gram high-dispersion training ball, one of the most unforgiving tools a cueist can work with. Unlike the standard snooker cue ball weighing in around 142g, this feather-light alternative exaggerates every flaw in technique, magnifying mis-hits and inconsistent strikes to a punishing degree. For even seasoned amateurs, it is a brutal reality check. For Ronnie O’Sullivan, it becomes a masterclass in what separates the truly elite from the rest.
As the video opens, we see O’Sullivan calmly chalking his cue, his trademark relaxed stance belying the intensity of what he’s about to attempt. The challenge is simple in description but immense in execution: strike the tiny, lightweight cue ball cleanly, send it accurately to the intended target, and control its path as if it were the full-weight match ball. Every ounce of timing, feathering, and follow-through must be near perfect. Any deviation—be it a fraction of a millimetre off-centre or a trace of steering in the delivery—sends the ball scattering off course.
For Ronnie, though, the difficulty becomes the demonstration. His cue action, honed by decades at the top, remains fluid, compact, and ruthlessly efficient. Watching him feather down, pause with the poise of a champion, and then release the cue through the ball is to see snooker distilled into its essence. The training ball skims across the cloth, holding its line with a purity that reflects not just the quality of the strike, but the years of invisible graft that make such ease possible.
But what makes this clip so compelling isn’t just the execution—it’s the message it carries. Even for a player who has lifted the World Championship trophy seven times, the importance of returning to basics is undeniable. The 17g high-dispersion ball doesn’t just test skill; it develops effective habits by punishing lazy technique and rewarding discipline. It forces players to slow down, focus on their strike, and commit fully to their delivery. In Ronnie’s hands, it becomes both a reminder and an inspiration: greatness is built on foundations that are never neglected.
The Rocket’s body language throughout the test is telling. There is no arrogance, no casual dismissal of the challenge. Instead, there’s curiosity, concentration, and a hint of satisfaction when the strike comes off as intended. For young players watching, it’s an invaluable lesson—that no matter how naturally gifted or experienced one becomes, the true secret lies in constantly refining the fundamentals.
Snooker, after all, is a game where the smallest margins decide legacies. A ball running half an inch long, a positional shot drifting off line, or a mis-timed strike can change the course of a frame, a match, even a career. That is why tools like the training ball exist, and why seeing someone of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s stature put himself to the test resonates so deeply with fans.
By the end of the video, one thing is clear: what looks impossible for most becomes a showcase of mastery for O’Sullivan. It doesn’t get more difficult than this—but then again, difficulty has always been the Rocket’s favourite fuel.
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