Pool which balls to hit

This is known as the apex ball. Next comes the eight ball, which should be placed in the centre of the rack, directly below the apex ball. Now we must ensure that there is both a solid and a stripe in the bottom corners of the triangular rack. It is important to try spread the balls randomly, ensuring that the solids and stripes are evenly mixed other than the corner balls.

This helps to get a greater spread from the break and avoids clustering. You should now move the balls still in the rack so that the eight ball is sitting over the black circle on the pool table. This black circle is known as the foot spot, indicating where the balls should be positioned for the break.

Finally, you need to remove the triangular rack without disrupting the balls or creating any slack amongst the arranged balls. It feels instinctive to place the cue ball in the middle of the table when breaking. Many of the top professionals, however, place the cue ball slightly to one side of the table.

Hitting the pack of balls from an angle is likely to spread the balls more effectively, whilst also increasing the chances of potting from the break. It is important to use the balls numbered , as the rules of nine ball pool state that every shot you take must hit the lowest numbered pool ball on the table. Nine ball pool balls can be set up in a triangular rack, however, a diamond shaped rack would be preferable. Using the correct diamond shaped rack will help to keep the balls tight.

Setting up for nine ball pool is simple. Ensure to place the number one ball in the apex of the rack, with the nine ball in the very centre. Nine ball pool requires the breaker to hit the number one ball first. This suggests that a straight on shot should be more effective. Ten ball pool is also simple to set up. This game requires the billiard balls numbered 1- There are no specific rules regarding the set up of the balls, other than the the one ball must be placed at the apex and the ten ball placed in the centre of the rack.

Straight pool requires a triangle rack and 15 balls. There are no set rules regarding the placement of the balls, however most people use specific corner balls.

Typically, players place the one ball in the bottom right corner of the rack, whilst placing the five ball in the bottom left corner of the rack. Straight pool differs from other games in the sense that the apex ball must be placed over the foot spot, rather than the centre ball in most other games.

Cut throat pool also uses a very simple set up. If you want an easy way to use your hand to accurately visualize the CB direction, use the Dr. Dave peace-sign technique. To see how speed and table conditions affects CB trajectories, see speed effects. For more info, see Vol. I and Vol. As shown in TP B. There are similar rules for draw shots. The actual final path of the CB is shifted down the tangent line with higher speed.

Video demonstrations of these types of shots can be found in Vol. I of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots. See the quote from Bob Jewett below, which is based on the theoretical approach diagrammed on page 7 in TP A. From TP B. Any length can be used with the method instead of the cue. For example, you can use the shaft or butt instead, or just use the line between the CB and tangent line see the quoted image from Pat Johnson below.

If using a cue, shaft or butt for the length, you can mark the spot at the exact 0. Regardless of which approach you use to visualize the carom angle, you still need to shift the carom line down the tangent line to account for shot speed.

With the marked-cue RCA approach , for a given OB direction and desired carom direction, move the butt end along the tangent line until the marked spot points at the carom target, and then place the CB anywhere along the line from the GB to the joint. For a given CB position and desired carom direction, place the joint along the CB-GB line and rotate the butt until the marked spot points at the carom target. Then a line through the butt end and GB gives you the required tangent line for the shot.

Aim for a line of centers perpendicular to that. The peace sign is much easier. If you want to be accurate, you can adjust your peace sign slightly based on the cut. See the videos on the peace-sign resource page for more info on how to do that. The goal? To spread the balls out across the table and, preferably, pot one of them.

You can then stay on the table and continue with your break. Fail to pot from the break and you allow your opponent in. Two things to consider — power and technique. Make sure all balls are touching and static and, cue ball behind the baulk line and just off centre, smash into the ball at the tip of the triangle, nearest to you.

Aim for just above the centre point of the cue ball, make sure you chalk the tip a fair amount and really give the shot some welly. If you can avoid them, do.

The best tip we can offer you here is to try and avoid putting any side or swerve on the ball at all. You want the object ball hitting the target ball nice and flush. Each shot is different, so play it by ear.