The most crucial part of any run is staying “in-line”, that is, not getting out of position for the next shot. Usually you are thinking three balls ahead. “I need to get over here after I make this shot so that I can bring the cue ball over here and then when I make that shot I can move the cue ball over here, etc.”

For every position shot there is a dividing line. Get on the correct side of that line and getting shape on the next ball is an easy matter of just using proper speed control or a little running english. But get on the wrong side and you are faced with a more difficult shot, sometimes requiring going all the way around the table to get back or using reverse english.

Take a look at the diagram. There is no problem making the seven ball. But if you drive the cue ball down below the dividing line on the eight then you have to go three rails to get back to what should have been an easy shot on the nine. Remember that making position hard makes losing easy. On every shot decide where the dividing line is and get to the proper side of that line!