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How To Run A Rack - 8-Ball - Step-By-Step - The Four Kinds Of Balls

By , About.com Guide

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How To Make The 8-Ball - Finishing The Opening Moves Of The Run
cluster-break-shot

8-Ball runout (shot 2)

Billiards illustration (c) Matt Sherman, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Now with the cue ball at Position B, I may cut the 4-ball to Pocket B with a stun stroke (center ball/dead spin at impact), the cue ball traveling the tangent line to break the cluster of the 2-, 3- and 5-balls.

Note that the excellent angle taken from Position B leaves a clear shot at the 1-ball just in case the cluster break is ineffective.

My alternative to a runout for the 8-ball would play safe behind the "Jokers" (see last page). Having freed that 1-ball for an emergency (as in shot 1 on the previous page, turning a "King" to an "Ace") gives me powerful run options.

Remember, there are only four kinds of balls on any given pool table as shown in this step-by-step instructional example (review page 1 for more).

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