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Step 1
Rack the balls and place them on the center spot at the end of the table. The wooden or plastic rack arranges the balls in a triangular fashion. Position the rack at the lower third of the table. The cue ball shoots from behind the spot at the other end of the table. Tightly rack the balls making sure there is no free space between them.
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Step 2
Position the cue ball from one side of the table, just behind the spot at the center of the table. Shooting from the side gives you a better chance to strike the side of the rack. The best breaks, as defined by dispersion of balls around the table and chance of sinking the eight ball on the break, result by striking the second ball in the rack along one of the sides.
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Step 3
Use the table as a guide for the motion of your cue stick. Hold the cue situated between the first two fingers of the hand that is not holding the cue. Use the side of the table to steady the stroke and aim. Aim the cue ball to strike the front edge of the second ball in the rack. Slide the cue along the path to strike the cue ball and get the feel of the stroke.
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Step 4
Take aim and in one smooth and straight stroke of the cue, hit the cue ball and send it straight to the rack. Remember to follow through with your shot. Stopping your stroke before or right after your shot will take away power and can cause you to miss your target zone on the rack.
