How to Draw Back a Cue Ball Shot in Pool

The "draw back" or "draw" shot is a favorite of pool masters everywhere. This kind of shot is a little deceptive. Rather than driving the cue ball forward, it actually is intended to just put a spin on the cue, so that the cue ball will move backward after hitting its target. The draw back shot takes a lot of practice and more than a little skill.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Line up your shot. Use a low bridge on the table next to the cue ball.

2. Eye up the cue. On this shot, you're aiming for below dead center.

3. Bring your stick forward quickly and tap the cue ball, then immediately pull the stick back. The cue should roll forward, hit the target ball, and roll back toward you.

4. Experiment with different amounts of power. It will take just the right touch to pull off a draw back shot. Analyze how much power you're putting into your shot when you look at the results.

5. Get good at using one fluid motion to affect the draw back. A lot of the shot is practice and "feeling," when you get it right, you'll know.

Tips & Warnings

• Start off using the draw back shot for balls near the cue. Don't try to go half way across the table on a draw back. This magnifies the complexity of the shot and generally leads to either no contact at all or possibly a scratch.

• Take time to find the spot and angle you need. Another problem with the draw back shot is improper contact on the cue ball; you'll need to perfect this over time.