Billiard Shots, The Center Ball Hit

As an amateur player, one of the first things to understand as you learn how to play pool is that there are four basic kinds of billiard shots from which everything else you do on a pool table will stem from. When you strike the cue ball it will be with some combination of these variables: center-ball, draw, follow, and side-spin (or English). This first post will discuss the concept of the center-ball hit and how to execute it. Center-ball hits are vital to developing consistency in your pool game. You will need an accurate center-hit during your games of 8 ball, 9 ball, straight pool, etc. more often than any other types of billiard shots. Follow along to figure out whether or not you’ve mastered this vital tool.

A center-ball billiard shot is actually a difficult action to execute successfully for those very amateur of players just learning how to play pool. First, because they are not aware of the center-hit’s absolute importance to their accuracy. Secondly, because they have yet to become comfortable with the basic mechanics of stance, bridge, and stroke.

Now to deliver a center-ball hit to the cue ball, obviously you want to aim dead-center with the cue stick, and then strike that spot as you execute the shot. Not so obvious is the fact that “center” can often be misjudged because of factors like elevation of the stick, elevation of the shooter’s head and eyes, and even the alignment of the shooter behind the cue ball. The best way to judge a proper hit is watch your results.

Line up a straight shot into some pocket, not too much distance, and try to strike the cue ball in its center with a firm stroke, while making the shot. As an added visual aid, use a striped ball to represent the cue ball, this will give you greater visual proof of what is actually happening when you take your billiards shots. If you’ve aimed properly, the cue ball should come to a complete stop, with no evidence of side-spin (and none of back-spin or f...
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Related posts:

1. Billiards Shots, Understanding the Dangers of English
2. Billiard Shot – Executing Draw
3. Billiards Shot, Executing Follow
4. Billiard Lessons About the Double-Hit