Pool Tips & Techniques

Proper technique is vital to a successful pool game. You must have good form on your stance, break and shooting stroke to consistently place the cue ball in the right spot. Being able to control the cue ball after your shot allows you to sink several balls in a row and dominate your opponents.

  1. Improving Your Break

    • The break is your first opportunity to take control of the rack. Of course, the main goal is to sink a ball so you can remain at the table, but you also want to open up the balls so you have a chance to run the table. Use slight backspin to draw the cue ball back toward the center of the table to set up your first shot. Concentrate on being accurate with your break instead of going for maximum power. If you do not hit the cue ball solidly or you miss your contact point on the racked balls, you will have a difficult time sinking balls on the break no matter how hard you can hit. To get power along with accuracy, widen the base of your shot. Slide your grip hand closer to the end of the cue and place your feet a little farther apart than you would for a regular shot. Lean slightly forward as you set up for the break, then drive the cue all the way through the shot while keeping your head down.

    Cue Ball Speed

    • Controlling the cue ball speed helps you avoid scratching and sets up your next shot. When hitting the cue ball hard, you must be more accurate so the object ball does not hit the edge of the pocket and rattle around without going in. Practicing speed drills can improve your ball control. Set an object ball about six inches from one of the side pockets and place the cue ball two to three feet away. Start off by hitting the cue ball hard with slight topspin so that it follows the object ball into the pocket for a scratch. Practice this shot several times so that you are familiar with how it feels to hit the ball too hard. Next, try hitting the object ball just hard enough to knock it into the pocket, while stopping the cue ball without using backspin. This will leave the cue ball in roughly the same place as the object ball's original location. Practice this a few times, then add backspin to draw the cue ball back to its original position after striking the object ball. It will probably take a few tries before you find the exact speed and spin necessary to draw the ball back to the right spot.