Often when someone is playing amazing pool and making the game look easy that player is making easy choices. Because a typical pool game offers myriad options and possibilities the great player finds ways to organize the layout of the balls into familiar patterns that allow him to run out the rack in spite of each layout’s uniqueness. Most run outs are accomplished after the player assesses the rack and finds that the balls fit familiarly with the shots and techniques that he has in his catalogue. Sometimes the player will look at a shot without a crystal-clear picture of what comes next, perhaps because the position he needs is exceedingly difficult or even impossible to attain. In these cases he will employ certain strategies that give him the best probability of continuing the run.

Occasionally in a pool game, more frequently in ones that offer shot selection such as eight ball and straight pool, even a great player may not know exactly how he will play the next shot or which ball he will shoot next. There are many causes for this uncertainty and you should learn to recognize the situation when it occurs. When you find yourself uncertain about the next shot the best course of action is to maximize your chances by getting the cue ball to a place on the table that offers the most options and the highest probability of a good shot to play next. In most situations that place is the center of the table.

Great pool players all share a strong, natural feel for getting the cue ball to the center of the table from almost any position; this month’s exercise will help you develop that feel. The diagram below shows two shots that will serve as an introduction to the center of the table for you. Set the object ball according to the diagram and mark its position. Place the cue ball at point A and play the shot with a punch stroke and below-center hit to move it along the line, one rail, to the center of the table. Adjust your hit on the cue ball, higher or lower, to make it move on the line before tuning your speed to make the cue ball come to rest where you want it. Remember to think about what you will do before you get into your stance so you can shoot the shot with complete focus on the object ball and no thinking once you are in your stance. When you are hitting the center of the table pay close attention to the way this feels to you; the way successful execution feels is what you will want to recall while you are preparing to hit a shot.

After you are satisfied with your feel for the center of the table on the one-rail shot move the cue ball to position B for the two-rail shot. For this shot you will employ the same punch stroke and will add a touch of running english to the cue ball, in this case a half tip or less of left. Do not try to spin the cue ball to the center of the table; the english is used merely to get the cue ball out of the corner with a natural roll. Although you can allow yourself a six-inch circle around the center spot for both shots you may amaze yourself with your ability to hit the shot precisely.

Focus more on hitting the line than on your speed. In other words a cue ball that rolls over the center spot or lands on the line just short of it is preferable to one than stops near the center but is completely off of the line. You will see why as you proceed with the exercise. Set up both shots again and hit them with enough speed to roll over the center spot and into the labeled shaded areas for position on end-rail balls. You are now working with one of the game’s most useful principles; a cue ball rebounding from a rail and rolling over the center spot cannot scratch. When you can combine this knowledge with a confident feel for the center of the table you will experience the freedom to play two, three, and four-rail position shots with no fear of a scratching.

After completing the exercise and satisfying yourself with your feel for the center of the table try to set up at least five common shots that employ one, two, or three-rail paths to and through the center of the table. Now that you have developed feel and confidence for the center of the table you can incorporate these essential techniques into your game. When you find yourself in a situation where you are uncertain about the next shot you can ask yourself how things will look from the center of the table and may be amazed at how promising the rack often looks from there. When you need to send the cue ball around the table for position you will be able to roll it through the center confidently. As always watch the great players to see how often they move to and through the center of the table during their run outs. And of course, see if you can detect your own steps toward greatness as these tools become part of your game.