Pool Tips & Tricks

If you want to play top-level pool, experimenting with different angles, speeds and spin will teach you the control you need to set up the cue ball for your next shot. Cue ball control is even more important for nine-ball players because the balls must be hit in numerical order.

  1. Proper Shooting Stance

    • Your shooting stance should be comfortable, stable and balanced to keep your stroke consistent. Set up with your feet about shoulder-width apart and step forward with your lead foot (left foot for righthanders, and vice versa). Place your bridge hand on the table and bend over so that your upper body is parallel to the floor. Set the end of the cue down on your bridge hand and aim it so that there is a straight line running from the object ball to the grip end of your cue.
      Your shoulders and back leg should also be lined up with the ball to make sure your stick stays straight all the way through the stroke. Line up your head so that you can see straight down the cue to aim. Keep your head down until you finish your follow-through.

    Controlling the Cue Ball With Spin

    • To get the cue ball to go where you want it, add spin to your shot: this means striking the cue ball slightly off-center. Start by aiming only about a quarter-inch off the center point of the cue ball. You can get more spin by striking the ball farther away from the center, but you must also adjust your aim or the cue ball may not hit the object ball.
      If you want the cue ball to pull back after hitting the object ball, make contact on the bottom half of the cue ball to give it backspin. Striking the upper half of the ball gives it topspin, which will make the cue ball follow the object ball. Do not use too much topspin on shots near the pocket or the cue ball will follow the object ball right into the pocket for a scratch. Hitting the cue ball to the right or left of center gives it sidespin, which is useful when you need to make it bounce off of a rail or two to set up your next shot.

    Four-Ball Trick Shot

    • To impress your friends, learn how to do this trick shot, which sinks four balls on one stroke. Place four balls in a straight line extending from a left side pocket toward the right. The first ball should be placed on the edge of the pocket and all four balls should be touching each other. Set up at the end of the table and place the cue ball about one foot away from the line of balls so that it is lined up between the second and third balls. Hit the cue ball hard, aiming for the exact midpoint of the four balls, so that it strikes the second and third balls at the same time. The balls on the ends of the line should shoot off into the side pockets. The second ball will go into the corner pocket on the far left, while the third ball will hit the rail on the opposite end and bank back into the corner pocket near you.