Quick answer: A kick shot in pool is when you send the cue ball into a rail first, and it bounces off to hit the object ball. You use it when another ball blocks your direct path. A simple way to aim is the mirror method: picture the object ball’s mirror image on the other side of the rail, and aim the cue ball straight at that image. Use a medium speed and center ball hit at first, since spin and speed change the angle. With practice, you can also learn diamond systems for more accuracy.

Kick shots help you escape safeties and avoid fouls. Even if you do not make the ball, a good kick can leave a tough shot for your opponent.

Kick Shot vs Bank Shot

	Kick shot	Bank shot
What hits the rail	The cue ball	The object ball
When used	Your path is blocked	No direct pocket line
Goal	Hit the object ball	Pocket the object ball

For bank shots, read how to bank a ball in pool.

How a Ball Comes Off the Rail

A basic rule: the angle in is close to the angle out, like a mirror. But in real play, speed, spin, and the cloth and rails all change the path a little. That is why practice matters.

The Mirror Method, Step by Step

1. Find the rail you want to kick off.
2. Picture a mirror image of the object ball the same distance behind that rail.
3. Aim the cue ball straight at that image.
4. Use center ball with no side spin. See how to hit the cue ball in the center.
5. Use medium speed. Hard shots can shorten the angle off the rail.
6. Stay down and follow through. See how to stop jumping up in pool.

Use the Diamonds

The diamonds on the rails help you aim. Many players learn kick systems that use the diamonds to find where to hit the rail. Start with the mirror method, and add a system later as you improve.

How Spin and Speed Change the Kick

• Running english (spin toward the direction of travel) makes the ball come off at a wider angle.
• Reverse english makes it come off shorter.
• More speed tends to shorten the angle.

Learn spin basics in how to use sidespin in pool.

Aim for the Fat Part

When kicking, aim to hit the fattest part of the object ball. Even if you are off a little, you still make a legal hit. If you want to pocket it, that is a bonus.

Practice Drills

Drill 1: One rail to a spot. Put a coin on the table. Kick off one rail and try to hit the coin.

Drill 2: Blocked ball. Set up a blocker between the cue ball and an object ball. Kick off one rail to hit the object ball.

Drill 3: Change speed. Repeat the same kick at soft, medium, and firm speeds. Watch how the angle changes.

When to Use a Kick

• You are hooked and cannot see the ball.
• A jump shot is not allowed or is too risky. See how to make a jump shot in pool.
• You want to make a legal hit and leave a safety. See how to play safe in pool.

Build Your Skills

Kicking well depends on a smooth stroke and good cue ball control. Work on how to improve your pool stroke and how to control the cue ball in pool. For more ideas, try our pool drills for beginners.

The Bottom Line

To shoot a kick shot in pool, send the cue ball into a rail so it bounces to the object ball. Use the mirror method, center ball, and medium speed at first. Aim for the fat part of the ball, and practice with simple drills. Kicks help you escape safeties and avoid fouls.

Keep Reading on This Site

• How to Make a Jump Shot in Pool: Simple Steps for Beginners
• How to Make a Straight In Shot in Pool: 7 Simple Steps
• How to Make Thin Cut Shots in Pool: Simple Aiming and Stroke Tips
• How to Make a Combination Shot in Pool: Aim, Speed, and Drills
• How to Hit the Cue Ball in the Center: Simple Drills for Beginners
• How to Play Safe in Pool: Safety Shots for Beginners

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a kick shot in pool?

It is a shot where the cue ball hits a rail first and then hits the object ball.

What is the difference between a kick shot and a bank shot?

In a kick shot, the cue ball hits the rail. In a bank shot, the object ball hits the rail.

How do I aim a kick shot?

Picture the object ball's mirror image behind the rail and aim the cue ball at it.

Does spin change a kick shot?

Yes. Running english widens the angle, and reverse english shortens it.

Quick answer: To control the cue ball in pool, focus on two things: speed and where you hit the cue ball. Hit above center to make it roll forward, below center to make it stop or come back, and at center for the most control. Use the softest speed that gets the job done. Before every shot, pick a target zone where you want the cue ball to stop for your next shot. Practice a few simple drills, and your cue ball control will improve fast.

Making balls is fun. Getting the cue ball where you want it is how you run racks. Here is how to build that skill.

The Two Keys: Speed and Tip Position

Key	What it controls
Speed	How far the cue ball travels
Tip position	Which way the cue ball moves after contact

Where to Hit the Cue Ball

Hit	Result
Center	Most control, little spin
Above center	Follow, the cue ball rolls forward
A little below center	Stop, on a straight shot
Well below center	Draw, the cue ball comes back
Left or right	Side spin, changes rail angles

Learn each one: how to hit the cue ball in the center, how to do a stop shot in pool, how to draw the cue ball, and how to use sidespin in pool.

Speed Control Is Most Important

Most position mistakes come from hitting too hard. Softer shots are easier to control and make fewer mistakes. Try to use the softest speed that still makes the ball and moves the cue ball where you want.

Pick a Target Zone

Before you shoot, choose where the cue ball should stop. Make the zone big, like the size of a dinner plate, so you have room for small errors. Then choose speed and tip position to get there. Planning ahead is covered in how to plan your next shot in pool.

Understand the Tangent Line

On a cut shot where the cue ball is sliding with no spin at contact, called a stun shot, the cue ball leaves the object ball at about a right angle. This path is called the tangent line. Follow bends the path forward, and draw bends it back. Knowing this helps you predict where the cue ball goes.

Drill 1: Speed Ladder

Shoot the cue ball up and down the table off the far rail. Try to stop it near the near rail, then near the side pocket, then near the far rail. This builds a feel for speed.

Drill 2: Stop, Follow, Draw

Set up a short straight shot. Shoot it three ways: stop the cue ball, follow forward a foot, then draw back a foot. Repeat 10 times each.

Drill 3: Target Zone Drill

Set an object ball near a pocket. Place a coin or chalk where you want the cue ball to stop. Shoot and see how close you get. Move the target around.

Common Cue Ball Control Mistakes

• Hitting too hard
• Using spin when you do not need it
• Not picking a target zone
• Moving during the stroke
• Forgetting about scratches

A smooth, straight stroke makes all of this easier. See how to improve your pool stroke and practice your stroke with how to make a straight in shot in pool.

Using Rails

Sometimes the best path for the cue ball goes off a rail. Fewer rails usually means more control. When you use a rail, watch how speed and side spin change the angle. Read how to shoot off the rail in pool.

When Control Means Playing Safe

Good cue ball control also helps you play safe. If you can not make a ball, you can leave the cue ball where your opponent has no good shot. See how to play safe in pool.

The Bottom Line

To control the cue ball in pool, master speed first, then learn stop, follow, and draw. Pick a target zone before every shot, use the softest speed you can, and practice with simple drills. Better cue ball control means easier shots and more runouts.

Keep Reading on This Site

• How to Make a Straight In Shot in Pool: 7 Simple Steps
• How to Make Thin Cut Shots in Pool: Simple Aiming and Stroke Tips
• How to Make a Combination Shot in Pool: Aim, Speed, and Drills
• How to Hit the Cue Ball in the Center: Simple Drills for Beginners
• How to Play Safe in Pool: Safety Shots for Beginners
• How to Use Sidespin in Pool: A Simple Guide to English

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you control the cue ball in pool?

Control your speed and where you hit the cue ball. Pick a target zone before every shot.

What is the most important part of cue ball control?

Speed control. Most mistakes come from hitting too hard.

Should beginners use side spin?

Beginners should learn center ball, stop, follow, and draw first, then add side spin later.

What is the tangent line in pool?

It is the path the cue ball takes after hitting an object ball on a stun cut shot, about a right angle from the object ball's path.

Quick answer: A frozen ball in pool is a ball that is touching the rail or touching another ball. For an object ball frozen to the rail, try to hit the object ball and the rail at the same time, or hit the object ball first with a soft to medium stroke. For a cue ball frozen to the rail, raise the back of your cue a little and hit the top half of the cue ball with a smooth stroke. For two object balls frozen together, a ball hit along the line of the two balls often goes in that direction, which can set up an easy combination.

Frozen balls show up in almost every game. Knowing what to do turns these tricky spots into chances.

Object Ball Frozen to the Rail

This is when an object ball sits right against the cushion and you want to send it down the rail into a corner pocket.

1. Line up the shot down the rail.
2. Aim to hit the object ball and the rail at the same time, or just a hair of the ball first.
3. Use soft to medium speed. Hard shots make the ball bounce off the rail.
4. Keep your stroke smooth. A steady stroke keeps the ball hugging the rail.

For more rail tips, read how to shoot off the rail in pool.

Cue Ball Frozen to the Rail

When the cue ball is touching the cushion, you can only hit the top part of it.

1. Make a rail bridge with your hand on the rail.
2. Raise the back of the cue a little.
3. Aim at the top half of the cue ball. Center or a little above center is common.
4. Shorten your stroke for more control.
5. Do not try big draw. It is very hard from the rail and can cause a miscue.

Two Balls Frozen Together

When two object balls touch each other, they act a bit like one unit.

Situation	What often happens
The line through both balls points at a pocket	Hitting the first ball almost anywhere tends to send the second ball along that line
The line points away from the pocket	The second ball is harder to make

This is a great time for a combination shot. Read how to make a combination shot in pool.

Frozen Ball Rules

In many rule sets, when the cue ball is frozen to an object ball, special rules can apply to what counts as a legal hit. Some rules also say that when an object ball is frozen to a rail, you must drive it to a rail or into a pocket on your hit. Always check your league or house rules, as they vary.

Practice Drills

• Rail drill: Freeze an object ball on the rail about a diamond from the corner. Shoot it down the rail ten times. Move it farther back as you improve.
• Cue ball on the rail drill: Freeze the cue ball on the rail and shoot an easy ball in a corner. Focus on a smooth stroke.
• Frozen pair drill: Freeze two balls lined up with a pocket. Try hitting the first ball from different angles and watch the second ball.

Common Mistakes

• Hitting too hard on balls frozen to the rail
• Trying too much spin from the rail
• Not checking the line on frozen pairs
• Forgetting the frozen ball rules in a match

The Bottom Line

A frozen ball touches a rail or another ball. For rail shots, hit the ball and rail together with soft speed. For a cue ball on the rail, raise the cue a little and hit the top half with a short stroke. For frozen pairs, look at the line through both balls. Practice each one and know your rules.

Keep Reading on This Site

• How to Make Thin Cut Shots in Pool: Simple Aiming and Stroke Tips
• How to Make a Combination Shot in Pool: Aim, Speed, and Drills
• How to Hit the Cue Ball in the Center: Simple Drills for Beginners
• How to Play Safe in Pool: Safety Shots for Beginners
• How to Use Sidespin in Pool: A Simple Guide to English
• How to Aim in Pool for Beginners: 6 Simple Steps to Make More Balls

Frequently Asked Questions

What does frozen mean in pool?

A frozen ball is touching the rail or touching another ball.

How do I make a ball frozen to the rail?

Aim to hit the ball and the rail at the same time and use soft to medium speed.

Can I draw the cue ball when it is frozen to the rail?

It is very hard. Aim center or above center and use a short, smooth stroke instead.

Are there special rules for frozen balls?

Many rule sets have special rules for frozen balls. Check your league or house rules.

Quick answer: To shoot off the rail in pool, build a steady rail bridge by laying your hand on the rail and guiding the cue between your fingers or along your thumb. When the cue ball is touching or very close to the rail, raise the back of your cue slightly and hit a little above center. Keep your stroke short and smooth, stay down, and do not try to use much spin.

Rail shots feel awkward at first, but they get easier with practice.

Why Rail Shots Are Hard

• You cannot hit low on the cue ball
• Your bridge is on a hard, narrow surface
• Your cue must be raised a little
• Mistakes show up more

Rail Bridges

Bridge type	When to use
Rail bridge with index finger over the cue	Cue ball a few inches off the rail
Rail bridge with cue along the thumb	Cue ball very close to the rail
Closed bridge on the rail	When you want extra control
Open bridge on the rail	Soft, simple shots

How to Shoot Off the Rail

1. Place your hand on the rail. Fingers flat and steady.
2. Guide the cue. Run it between your index and middle fingers, or along your thumb.
3. Raise the back of the cue just a little.
4. Aim a little above center on the cue ball.
5. Use a short, smooth stroke.
6. Stay down until the ball is gone.

Tips for Better Rail Shots

• Shorten your bridge length for more control
• Do not hit too hard
• Use less spin than normal
• Follow through straight

If you are not sure about your stroke, see how to improve your pool stroke and how to hit the cue ball in the center.

Shooting a Ball Along the Rail

Sometimes the object ball sits on the rail. For many of these shots, aim to hit the object ball and the rail at the same time, which helps the ball hug the rail. Slower speed often helps.

Drills

Drill 1: Rail stop shot. Put the cue ball near the rail and an object ball a short way out. Try to pocket it and stop the cue ball. Read how to do a stop shot in pool.

Drill 2: Rail follow. Same setup, but follow forward a few inches.

Drill 3: Long rail shots. Shoot a ball along the rail into the corner from the far end.

Add these to your pool drills for beginners routine.

Avoid Rail Leaves

The best fix for a rail shot is not leaving one. Plan your position. See how to plan your next shot in pool.

Fix Common Rail Shot Problems

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Miscue	Hitting too low	Aim at or a little above center
Shot goes off line	Bridge moved	Keep your bridge hand still
Too much speed	Long backswing	Shorten your stroke
Cue ball jumps	Cue raised too much	Raise only a little

Build Confidence

Practice rail shots a few minutes every session. Over time, your bridge will feel steady and you will stop fearing these shots.

The Bottom Line

How to shoot off the rail in pool: build a steady rail bridge, raise the cue slightly, aim a little above center, and use a short, smooth stroke. Use less spin, stay down, and practice rail drills. Better position play helps you avoid rail shots in the first place.

Keep Reading on This Site

• How to Make a Combination Shot in Pool: Aim, Speed, and Drills
• How to Hit the Cue Ball in the Center: Simple Drills for Beginners
• How to Play Safe in Pool: Safety Shots for Beginners
• How to Use Sidespin in Pool: A Simple Guide to English
• How to Aim in Pool for Beginners: 6 Simple Steps to Make More Balls
• How to Stop Jumping Up in Pool: 6 Ways to Stay Down on Your Shots

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you bridge on the rail in pool?

Lay your hand on the rail and guide the cue between your fingers or along your thumb.

Can you use draw off the rail?

It is hard because you cannot hit very low on the cue ball. Hit near or above center.

Should I hit hard on rail shots?

No. A short, smooth stroke with controlled speed works better.

How do I shoot a ball that is on the rail?

For many shots, aim to hit the object ball and the rail at the same time and use slower speed.