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in one inning) - 'cause right away, the lower half of the cue ball is virtually inaccessible - so forget a draw shot! Luckily, in my opinion anyway, draw isn't so desirable on the break. I much prefer a follow-shot, with as much top spin as I have the guts to put on it. And it does take some guts because miscuing is a real-hazard. All of us pool players know that hollow "kaack!"

sound that plinks the air when the stick and cue ball don't see "eye to eye" on a particular shot. And boy, doesn't it feel like all the eyes in the hall are fixed upon you if YOU'RE the one who so flubbed! It can be reduced by - yep - CHALKING UP!

So, back to placement. I prefer a slightly more mundane location - somewhere about 7 inches from the (right) rail, and 4 or 5 inches behind the headstring. I recommend using the standard tripod bridge - and do NOT rest your palm on the table! Make sure you are not off-balance or contorted. This often happens, and not just in pool, when you try to apply a gajillion "technique tips" at the *expense* of their objective!

That objective is "flow". You just want to be natural. Yes, there are some principles and real physics and physiology behind some of the more prescriptive approaches to technique, but these are not necessary to know immediately in order to get to the end result - which is a consistent, comfortable, confident shot. You bet that there is merit behind practicing the many exercises and experimenting with various stances, bridges, strokes, english, etc. But Mr. Miagi is on lunch break - and besides - you want something you can apply pretty quickly.

Alright. Where do you want to crack the rack? I'd aim for the *just* left of 6 o'clock (as I'm a rightie) of the headball. Have that lined up as you get in your stance. Don't be afraid to squat down for a sec to "sight" it. The "magic" of this shot, when it so happens, comes not only from where you contact the headball, but the "angle of trajectory" that the cue ball follows. The impact of this path and contact point on a 9-ball rack is to "splash" the balls apart. The english (follow in this case) serves to protect against having the cue ball react in the same
"splash" fashion as the object balls, and thus better avoiding a possible scratch.

You've placed your cue ball, and YOU, and have chalked and/or powdered up. Let's talk about stroke. I've seen and heard and read many players swear by the mantra that power is God during the break shot. I disagree. Of course you don't wan't to just

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