How to Make the Eight Ball On the Break

The dreaded 8-ball.

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There is no harder shot to make in pool than the 8-ball break. This is the term for when you sink the 8-ball on a break, causing you to win the game automatically. Because it is an instant win (and is just generally impressive), many have tried and failed to make this shot. While there is no guaranteed way to make it and luck certainly does go a long way, there are a few tips that you can follow that will generally make the process easier.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Step1

Collect and rack the balls. Place the cue ball on the opposite end of the table where you will shoot it from to break. Remember that the cue ball loses momentum the farther it has to go, so placing it as far up as allowed by the rules of the game (no farther than the second set of diamonds on that particular end of the table) is recommended.

Step2

Try one of the following two shots that have been known to be helpful in this situation: the first is placing the cue ball either to the left or right of the center of the table. This will allow you to shoot at an angle at the head ball, which will spread the balls out nicer than hitting it straight on. Hit the cue ball in the center with as much force as possible at the head ball. The balls will spread and ricochet off each other, and the possibility for an 8-ball break increases.

Step3

Experiment with the idea of the “second ball hit. ” This is when you shoot at the racked balls and try to ricochet the cue ball off of them, against the side of the table, and back into the balls, allowing for a second hit. Place the cue ball as far up as allowed to either the left or right of the center of the table, much as you did in Step 2. Instead of aiming for the head ball, aim for the one just behind it. Hit the center of the cue ball with as much force as possible at that second ball. The balls will break, and the cue ball should maintain a good deal of force as it hits the side of the table and bounces back towards the center of the break. This will also greatly increase your chances at an 8-ball break.

Tips & Warnings

As with anything in pool, trial and error is going to be the key to success here. A few millimeters in any direction can do a variety of different things to the cue ball. If you don’t immediately achieve success, remember: practice makes perfect, and making an 8-ball break requires a lot of practice.