They require pinpoint accuracy and they’re twice as likely to miss as a regular shot. Plants or ‘combination shots’ are tricky. It’ll take some practice, but you’re ideally aiming to have the white ball remain pretty much central to the table in order to line you up for the next shot.

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.Īim 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. Two things to consider – power and technique. Fail to pot from the break and you allow your opponent in.

You can then stay on the table and continue with your break. The goal? To spread the balls out across the table and, preferably, pot one of them. It’s the first shot you’ll be presented with on a pool table and whether you’re playing 8 ball or 9 ball, you have to know how to smash into the pack with the opening shot. Now unless you’re a mother-in-law, you won’t have an innate ability to break balls. Keep at it a while and before you know it, you’ll be a full-blown hustler, baby! So… Have a read, watch the clips and then try ’em out. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to mastering the six most important shots in pool. Or perhaps you just fancy beating one of your cocky mates a little more than you currently do. Maybe you plan on heading down to your nearest Rileys and practicing every day until you’re Tom Cruise in The Colour of Money. But while even the most basic of players get the odd ball down, you want to do better than that, don’t you…? Be it 8-ball, 9-ball or Killer Pool, there’s nothing like that feeling you get when you nail a ball into the heart of a pocket, to the raised eyebrows of the small crowd watching. Whether you’re a bit of legend on the table or a total novice, everyone wants to win when they play someone at pool.

99 critical shots in pool pdf download