Hit a Cue Ball on the Rail

This pool shooting video shows a way to use a cue ball that is frozen against the rail to hit the object ball directly into the opposite corner pocket without scratching. Hit with a high left English with an elevated cue, to deflect the cue ball off the rail just enough to hit ...more

This video cautions against hitting a ball frozen, or stuck, against a rail. It will "double kiss," or hit the rail that it is against two times and deflect in an unpredictable path. Hit a ball that is frozen to a rail. Click through to watch this video on colostate.edu

In this example the left English is used to create an angled kick pool shot. In other words, the cue ball is hit off center in order to cause the object ball to deflect off the rail at a wider than normal angle to hit a blocked ball. Create an angled kick shot in pool using En ...more

This is a quick demonstration of how to pocket a ball with a shallow angle range. Use the rails to help guide the ball, hitting the cue ball softly. If you hit the ball with speed, the rail will impart English on the object ball, and the ball will rattle away from the pocket. ...more

This tutorial shows two different ways to shoot a combination in pool where one element is a couple of balls that are frozen together. You can shoot the cue ball so that hits the lone ball, then deflects off the rail to hit the frozen balls, or you can do it in two shots. Usin ...more

A pool shooting tutorial. Using a slight right English in this example, the cue ball bypasses an obstacle ball and kicks off the rail, sending the object ball into the pocket. The use of reverse English reduces the rebound angle as the object ball is deflected off the rail whi ...more

This video shows how to use "Left English" when shooting pool. This simply means hitting to the left of the center of the cue ball, which causes the cue ball to deflect off the rail to the left, a fundamental technique for any billiards player. Shoot a Left English shot in poo ...more

This video demonstrates a shot from the film "Pool Hall Junkies" and involves hitting the cue ball off center with a medium stroke. The object ball then banks off the rail into other balls, deflects off those and goes into the pocket. Make a double bank shot. Click through to ...more

Learn to play Kick Pool and add variety to your billiards game. Although difficult to play, this is a great skillbuilder game if you're trying to improve your kick shots. Kick pool, which is set up by racking the set like 9-ball, is a scoring game, and games are won by scoring ...more

In this video, we learn how to play pool doing the spot drill. You will run balls in rotational order without missing or touching another object balls. First, you will place the cute ball diagonally to the ball and then shoot the ball into the corner pocket diagonal to it. The ...more

In this video, we learn how to play pool by making a side pocket cut shot. Thin cuts into the side pocket require the cue ball to travel 8 or more feet. The best way to do this is to pocket the 7 into the side pocket, then run the cue ball down to the short rail. After this, d ...more

In this video, we learn how to play pool by kissing forward. To set it up the nine ball will be in the corner pocket and the other four close to the rail. Kiss the cue ball off of the four using a maximum follow with a lot of speed. Follow is going to remain on the cue ball af ...more

In pool a combination shot involves shooting the cue ball at one ball in order to hit and pocket another. Approach a combination shot by visualizing imaginary aiming lines and finding the imaginary center of a ghost ball next to the first ball you want to hit. The cue ball sho ...more

This pool shooting tutorial demonstrates how to pocket an object ball that is frozen between a rail and the cue ball. A right English technique on the cue ball will transfer as a left English on the object ball, freeing it from the rail and helping it go into a pocket.

In a difficult shot in pool, the video suggests visualizing a helper or "ghost" ball to determine where to aim. The centers of the ghost ball and the object ball should be in line with the target pocket. When hit the cue ball should stop in the place of the ghost ball for a su ...more

These two drills will help you improve your draw technique. Learn how to perform them in order to practice how low you hit the cue ball and the speed at which you hit it.

These drills help develop your cue ball control and two rail position plays.

This video shows tips on how to avoid hitting the near rail when shooting pool in order to put the ball into a corner pocket. Aim away from the rail that near the ball, toward the inner wall of the pocket. However, even if you accidentally hit the near rail, hitting the ball a ...more

This pool shooting video demonstrates how to hit the object ball when an opponent's ball is blocking the shot. Simply visualize an imaginary ball at the rail to achieve the proper angle, moving the object ball away from the opponent's. Use the kick shot mirror image when shoot ...more

This pool shooting video demonstrates two different ways to pocket a ball. In the first, the cue ball hits the object ball in and is deflected away from a scratch. In the second, the cue ball hits another ball in order to tip the object ball into the pocket without a scratch. ...more

Ever wonder what happens after you hit the cue ball or after the cue ball hits the object ball? Here are some of the dynamics involved when hitting the cue ball and object ball. This video tutorial breaks it down for all of you billiards beginners. Learn how to use pool and bi ...more

Getting a good break in life is always nice. But when you're playing pool, it's essential. You Will Need * A pool table * Pool balls * A rack * A pool cue * A special pool cue for breaking Step 1. Position cue ball Position the cue ball as close as you can to the head stri ...more

In another shot from the film "Pool Hall Junkies" the cue ball is frozen to the object ball. However it is demonstrated how to deflect the cue ball off the opposite rail to pocket the object ball. Shoot a frozen cue ball kick shot. Click through to watch this video on colostat ...more

Learn how to properly hit a cue ball while playing pool by learning what NOT to do. This video shows how a miscue happens from an off-center hit or no chalk. Avoid a miscue when playing billiards. Click through to watch this video on colostate.edu

This video demonstrates how to be aware of the possibility of the delayed curving of a follow shot, and how to use this to your advantage. The curving occurs when the cue ball is hit at high speeds, and the type and speed of the curve are dependent on the speed of the shot. Us ...more

Cue ball draw refers to the way a cue ball strikes a rack of balls. In particular, if the cue ball is hit low on the ball, when it strikes a rack of balls, for the break, it will have enough backspin to wind its way back to the shooter. The draw, or the backwards spin of the ...more

This drill helps improve your 9 ball game. It helps you control the cue ball and practice rail shots.

This pool shooting video demonstrates the best way to use the rails to deflect a frozen cue ball toward the object ball. To unfreeze the cue ball you can deflect it off the opposite rail, then it will deflect off the rail near the object ball and gently knock it into the pocke ...more

Steve Davis and John Parrott show how to hit the screw shot, in which the cue ball rolls back after contact with the target. The video contains slow motion footage of what's happening to the cue ball in response to contact with the cue. Hit a screw shot in snooker. Click throu ...more

With this simple technique the cue ball will follow the path of the object ball without scratching. If both balls are lined up with the pocket, an off-center hit will help in pocketing the object ball but not the cue ball preventing a scratch and lining up the next shot. Make ...more

This video illustrates an example of using the 30 degree rule and the path the cue ball will take. It shows the anticipated path when the ball is hit with medium speed, and it demonstrates the curve effect when the ball is hit hard. Use the 30 degree rule to determine cue ball ...more

Learn how to sink a pool ball into a pocket. What do pool sharks know that you don’t about sinking a ball? Lots. You Will Need * A pool table * Pool balls * A rack * A pool cue * A pool table * Pool balls * A rack * A pool cue Step 1. Watch the pros Spend some time watchi ...more

Practice this drill as a warmup. The object is to pocket a spot ball without allowing the cue ball to touch the cluster or a rail.

The 8 ball and the cue ball are touching, trapped by the rail. What do you do? You play like The Hustler, that's what. This is a different set up for the 8 ball shot used in the movie The Hustler. This frozen rail shot is the legal version of this shot. So, learn how to do the ...more

In this video, we learn how to play pool with the inside outside English drill. During this, you will pocket the balls into rotational order. The balls should be set on diagonal sides of the rail from each other. Set the cue ball in front of the first ball, then shoot using an ...more

A drill to practice one and two rail pathways. The idea is to pocket the object ball and make the cue ball travel through the gates.

By using the 90 degree rule when shooting pool you can make the cue ball follow along a tangent line to determine perfectly where the ball will go and prevent scratch. The cue ball follows the path of the object ball and is deflected off the rail setting up the next shot. Prev ...more

In this video, we learn how to play pool with a lesson in 8-ball position play. If you are playing a game of 8-all and you are the stripes, it's good if you end up in a position in the middle of the balls. You want to increase the margin of error by playing for an area of the ...more

This video demonstrates how to pocket the object ball (in this case, the 8 ball), by letting the cue ball deflect off two rails. It is necessary for the cue ball to follow the imaginary parallel lines leading from these rails to the object ball. This shot is useful for when tr ...more

Richard Garcia shows you in this series of video lessons, you’ll learn the basics of the game of pool, including how to choose the best pool cue, using chalk, the proper cue grip and shooting form, how to hit the cue ball and three basic strokes used in the game of pool. Part ...more

This video is about a particular pool or snooker game shot technique called "Shooting or Going around the Angles." The presenter, with a alias name of 'Forcefollow', first describes a particular 9-ball pool game situation that would require this technique, using a computer gen ...more

In a special case of the 90 degree rule where there is no cut angle, the cue ball will transfer its speed to the object ball on impact. The cue ball will push the object ball into the pocket, but stop before falling in itself. This is known as a "stop shot" or "stun shot". Mak ...more

This video demonstrates the usage of several techniques to achieve a seemingly difficult side pocket shot. The rails are used to prevent a scratch. By going over all the different techniques, this video ensures that you will always have a way to sink a pocket shot. Position th ...more

This pool shooting tutorial illustrates the 90 degree rule, which states that when the cue ball hits the object ball straight, the two balls will separate at 90 degrees. This is true regardless of the "cut angle," or angle the balls are apart from each other. Use the 90 degree ...more

This video shows how to check for and prevent a scratch in pool by utilizing the 90 degree rule and sending the object ball into the correct pocket. Two techniques shown to are "follow" and "draw," hitting the cue ball above or below the center. Prevent a scratch in pool using ...more

This video demonstrates the "Right English" technique in shooting pool. It involves hitting a cue ball to the right of the center, causing the ball to deflect to the right, a fundamental technique for any billiards player. Shoot a Right English shot in pool. Click through to w ...more

This video shows how to shoot the target ball with enough strength to pocket the ball and set the cue ball up for the next shot. Hitting low on the cue ball with a good follow through will position the cue ball for the next shot. If done correctly, you can end the game! Make a ...more

In this video, we learn how to play Straight Rail & understanding crowding patterns. All that is needed to score a point in straight rail is making contact with the other two balls in the same shot. If you can get all three balls close together in close position, the shooting ...more

In this how to video, you will learn how to do a T drill in Pool. This is called a T drill because the balls are arranged in a T shape on the table. The point is to take the cue ball and try to run the balls in numerical order without allowing the balls to touch another. You a ...more