The follow shot is a fundamental billiards technique designed to make the cue ball continue forward after it makes contact with the object ball. This is achieved by striking the cue ball above its center, imparting topspin. When the cue ball, already spinning forward, hits the object ball, its topspin is transferred to the object ball, helping to drive it forward into the pocket, while the cue ball itself continues to roll forward in the same general direction. The amount of topspin applied, combined with the speed and angle of the shot, dictates how far and how fast the cue ball will travel after impact. Follow shots are crucial for position play, allowing players to move the cue ball to advantageous areas of the table for subsequent shots, avoid scratching, or set up combinations and clusters. Mastering the follow shot requires a delicate balance of hitting the cue ball high enough for effective topspin without miscueing, and controlling the stroke speed to dictate the exact follow-through distance.