When most amateur's break, they try to smash the cue ball as hard as they can and watch the eight ball to see if it is going in a pocket with little knowledge of what is really important to execute a good break. As their skill level increases, they become more aware of how important a good break is. When a top player breaks the balls, his eyes watch what the cue ball does. Whether he hits the front ball or the second ball, he wants to keep the cue ball under control as much as possible.

When striking the front ball, you must be sure to hit it dead center so there's no energy left in the cue ball after striking the rack. If you break and see the cue ball carom to the left or right at high speed after striking the front ball, you are not putting all of the cue ball's energy into the rack. Usually you will be consistent and see the cue ball going left consistently or right consistently. If your cue ball consistently goes right at high speed after striking the front ball, start changing your aim slightly to the left to keep the cue ball under control.

If your cue ball goes to the right one rack and the left the next rack and to the right the next rack, you are probably shooting too hard. Even though the best players break the balls at very high speed, they never shoot as hard as they can -- they take a little bit off their top power to control the cue ball.

And never, ever put spin on the cue ball on the break when striking the front ball.