How to Stop Scratching in Pool: Why It Happens and How to Fix It
Nothing loses games like a scratch: you make a great shot and then the cue ball follows it into the pocket. The good news is that most scratches are predictable. Learn where the cue ball wants to go and you can steer it away.
Know where the cue ball will go
On a cut shot hit with no spin at contact, the cue ball leaves along the tangent line, at 90 degrees to the path of the object ball. Before you shoot, look along that line. If it points at a pocket, you're in scratch danger. Follow bends the path forward, draw bends it back. Our stop and stun guide explains it with drills.
The most common scratches
- Straight-in shot with follow: the cue ball rolls right in after the object ball. Use a stop shot or a little draw instead.
- Ball near a corner pocket, cue ball on the same rail: a natural-angle cut sends the cue ball into the side or the other corner. Hit it softer or add draw.
- Side pocket cut shots: the tangent line often points at the opposite corner. Check it before you shoot.
- Three-rail paths: a cue ball going around the table can find a corner on its way. Use less speed.
Scratching on the break
If you often scratch on the break, the cue ball is probably hitting the head ball a little off-center and flying into a side or corner pocket. Try:
- Hitting the head ball square, slightly below center, so the cue ball stops near the middle of the table.
- Breaking a bit softer until you control it.
- Moving the cue ball a few inches to the side.
More tips in how to break in pool.
Speed is the secret
Most scratches come from hitting too hard. The softer the shot, the less the cue ball travels and the fewer pockets it can find. Pros play position with the gentlest stroke that gets the job done.
The rules on scratches
In most tournaments a scratch gives your opponent ball in hand anywhere on the table. In 8-Ball, scratching while you pocket the 8-ball loses the game. Bar rules can differ, so check before you play: see bar rules vs. tournament rules and the 8-Ball rules.
Drill: the scratch-proof cut
Set up a 30-degree cut on a ball near the corner with the cue ball where the tangent line heads for the side pocket. Make the ball five times: once with stop, once with draw, once with follow, once soft and once firm, and watch how each changes the cue ball path. A spare set of practice balls saves time racking.