What is the 45° rule, and how is it used to position the CB at or through the center of the table?

It states that if the CB rolls into the short rail at close to a 45° angle, it will head off two rails fairly close to the center of the table along a scratch-free path. For more info, see the following demonstration from Vol. II of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS):

See “VEPS GEMS – Part III: English and Position Control” (BD, March, 2010) for more information

NOTE – Using outside spin can help the system be self correcting. If the CB comes into the 1st rail too steep (which would make the CB go long of the table center), the spin will have a greater effect and lengthen the angle off the 1st cushion (to make the CB head closer to the table center). And if the CB comes into the 1st rail too shallow (which would make the CB go short of the table center), the spin will have a greater effect and lengthen the angle off the 2nd cushion (to make the CB head closer to the table center).

Here are more demonstrations of how the 45° rule is applied at the table:

Here’s a good drill from Vol. II of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Practice (VEPP) for practicing getting to the center of the table off pocket hangers:

See “VEPP – Part V: Hanger Table-Center Drills,” (BD, August, 2012) for more information.

The position play principles handout has some examples of leaving an angle, coming into the line of a shot, and applying the 45° rule.

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