Thinking ahead and playing for shape is just about as important as pocketing a ball. After the break shot the lay out of the table should be surveyed. Thinking at least three balls ahead if not the whole rack. Look for the pattern inwhich ables the best choice to run balls. Also take one shot at a time by taking your time from one shot to the next. Servey the table in between each shot. Play for the percentage shots, meaning if you are only 60 percent sure on pocketing the ball play safe. This gives you a good oppitunity to receive ball- in- hand. Placement of the cue ball is important due to the lay out of the table. playing the shot with the natural roll of the cue ball path and "in line shooting" is the best choice. Always try to come into your next shot rather than across the angle of approach, because speed control of the shot is the hardest to control. Your speed has to 100 % pure on all shots shot this way.Shooting the cue ball with natural directional roll after the object ball impact and the cue ball rolling  naturally towards your next shot is key in position play.

The  reason why the pros play so good and run racks is because they shoot all the easier shots better, why is this? because their cue ball control is better. The pros keep it as simple as can be from shot to shot thus leaving them a real high percentage to pocket each and almost every ball they shoot at. Watch a pro in action when they run rack after rack and they just some how make it look to easy.  Thats cue ball control, and the pros have it mastered. Theres a big difference when a player can get within a 6 inch diameter with positioning of the cue ball than a pro who can reach inside a 3 inch diameter of their positioning. Note: keep it simple and shoot into the shot naturally and out of the shot naturally, and back into the next shot naturally.