The Smart Woman's Cheat Sheet: 10 How-To Tricks

6. How to Make the Break in Pool

Place the cue ball on the circle near the end of the table where you'll be standing (the "head spot"). Rest the 15 racked balls on the "foot spot" at the other end. Rack 'em tightly by pushing the balls toward the tip of the rack, then gently remove the triangle. Chalk the tip and shaft of the cue stick to reduce friction. Bend slightly over the middle of the end of the table, holding the cue firmly in your writing hand about a foot from the bottom of the stick (forearm perpendicular to the floor). Slide about 10 inches of the cue (from the tip) through the curl of your index finger and over your middle finger of the opposite hand. Slowly draw back the cue a couple of times, making sure the stick moves nearly parallel to the table's surface. Then strike the middle of the cue ball, aiming for the dead center of the ball at the top of the rack.

Bonus Tip: While executing the shot, let your forearm do all the work and keep the rest of your body still.

Source: Jeanette Lee, professional billiards player, known as "The Black Widow"