Quick answer: To draw the cue ball, hit it below center with a smooth, level stroke and follow through. Hitting low puts backspin on the cue ball. When it hits the object ball, that backspin makes the cue ball roll back toward you. Keep your bridge low, chalk your tip, stay down, and do not jab at the ball. Start with short, straight shots and slowly move the balls farther apart.
The draw shot is one of the three basic shots in pool, along with the stop shot and the follow shot. It lets you pull the cue ball back after you make a ball. That gives you much more control over where you end up for your next shot.
What Is a Draw Shot?
A draw shot is when the cue ball spins backward and comes back toward you after hitting the object ball. You create it by hitting the cue ball below its center. The backspin is still on the ball when it reaches the object ball, so it pulls back.
7 Tips for a Better Draw Shot
1. Hit Below Center
Aim your cue tip below the middle of the cue ball. Start about one tip width below center. Going too low can cause a miscue, where the tip slides off the ball.
2. Chalk Your Tip
A draw shot needs good grip between the tip and the cue ball. Chalk before every draw shot. Many miscues happen with a dry tip.
3. Lower Your Bridge
To hit low, your bridge hand needs to be lower too. Flatten your bridge so the cue is close to level. If you raise the back of the cue, you will be hitting down on the ball, which can make it jump or curve.
4. Keep the Cue Level
Try to keep the cue as level as you can. A level cue sends the spin straight back. A tilted cue can make the cue ball swerve.
5. Use a Smooth Stroke
Many beginners try to jab or punch the draw shot. That usually makes the cue ball stop or slide instead of coming back. Use a smooth, relaxed stroke and let the cue do the work.
6. Follow Through
Follow through after you hit the cue ball. Let your cue keep moving forward a few inches past where the cue ball was. A short follow through often means less draw.
7. Stay Down
Keep your head and body still until the cue ball comes back. Jumping up during the stroke is one of the most common reasons a draw shot fails.
Why Is My Draw Shot Not Working?
| Problem | Likely Cause | Try This |
|---|---|---|
| Cue ball stops instead of drawing | Not hitting low enough, or jabbing | Hit lower and follow through |
| Miscue | Dry tip or hitting too low | Chalk and move up a little |
| Cue ball jumps | Back of the cue raised | Lower the back hand, level the cue |
| Draw dies on long shots | Spin wears off over distance | Use more speed or a shorter shot |
Draw Shot Drills
Short Straight Draw
Place the object ball about one foot from a corner pocket. Put the cue ball about one foot behind it, straight in. Try to make the ball and draw the cue ball back six inches. Then try one foot, then two feet.
Move It Back
Once you can draw on short shots, move the cue ball farther away from the object ball. Draw is harder the farther the cue ball has to travel, because the backspin wears off as it rolls.
Draw to a Target
Put a piece of chalk or a coin on the table behind the cue ball. Try to draw the cue ball back to it. This builds control, not just power.
Stop, Draw, and Follow
The draw shot works best when you also know the stop shot and the follow shot. A stop shot hits a little below center so the cue ball stops dead. A follow shot hits above center so the cue ball rolls forward. See our post on how to do a stop shot in pool to learn that one too.
Watch the Lesson
The video below shows the stop shot, the draw shot, and the follow shot, so you can see where the tip hits the cue ball for each one.
Practice your draw a few minutes every session. Over time you will feel how low to hit and how hard to stroke for the distance you want.
Watch: How to Play Billiards: Stop, Draw and Follow (3 Basic Shots) | Pool Skool
Keep Reading on This Site
- 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
- Pool Pre Shot Routine: 6 Steps to Shoot With More Confidence
- Pool Lessons for Beginners: 8 Basics Every New Player Needs
- How to Improve Your Pool Stroke: 7 Tips for a Smooth, Straight Stroke
- How to Do a Stop Shot in Pool: 5 Steps to Stop the Cue Ball Dead
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you hit the cue ball to draw it back?
Below center. Start about one tip width below the middle of the cue ball.
Why does my cue ball stop instead of draw?
You may not be hitting low enough, or you may be jabbing instead of following through.
How do you draw the cue ball without miscuing?
Chalk your tip, do not go too low, and keep the cue as level as you can.
Why is draw harder on long shots?
The backspin wears off as the cue ball rolls, so less spin is left when it reaches the object ball.