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How To Play Pool: Master Your Break Shot

QN: Last night I broke 57 times. I had 7 chances to run out. Of those opportunities there were 2 spreads that needed perfect cue ball placement, too tough for me. Perhaps Efren could have done it. Once I ran out. Once I got hosed when the '7' ball skidded on me and missed dropping. Three times I just messed up, although once the last 3 balls were in kinda difficult spots, somewhat close together. I'm still learning how to play pool. I dunno, does that seem like a normal percentage? Not in my mind it doesnt, oh well.

ANS: The above was a question on how to play pool and how to break. How do I know if my break is good or not?. Most of the leagues don't know how to play pool and the breaks I see after the balls spread are so poor a pro could not run the table. Without mastering the break, you will never learn how to play pool like a master. You must accomplish 3 things:

• 1) Make a ball and stay at the table. You can’t win sitting in the chair.
• 2) Spread the balls well so no 2 balls are touching, move at least 7 balls up table past the side pockets at 8 ball.
• 3) Get a shot so that your run can begin. At 9 ball you must control the cue ball and one ball together putting the both up table.

It does you no good if you break and spread them perfectly. You need to learn how to play pool right and go into each play session and record your break stats. How many times a night did you break? How many times did you perform all 3 perfectly, produce the run out table. How many times did you actually run out? 2 out of the 3 is no good, you must learn to do all 3.

You need to chart these 3 stats so you can see if your break is improving and if your run outs are getting better as well.

Charting your progress while you learn how to play pool will speed up your progress. How many of you actually gauge how you are you doing? Are you going up, down or stuck in one place? Don’t shoot your messenger, I'm telling it like it is. I'm only trying to help you learn how to play pool and get your game moving.

You must study your break and learn how to play pool right to realize what I just told you. Your break is probably terrible and you don’t know it. Accept that and do something about it.

About The Author:
"Fast Larry" makes it easy for you to learn how to play pool using almost-controversial methods. To get the complete version of this article, go to http://poolplayingtips.com and sign up for the Pool Playing Tips newsletter now.