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How to Find the Foot Spot on a Pool Table

Pool is a game that relies on understanding angles and how the balls will react to cue-ball force according to their position on the table. The starting point for this is the rack, where all the balls that will be in play, with the exception of the cue ball, are placed in a group and racked at the foot spot. The foot spot is the head of the rack where the primary ball will be exposed for a player to break the rack and start the game. Finding the foot spot on a pool table is very simple.

Things You'll Need

Measuring tape
String
Tape

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the long (side) rails and mark the spot halfway between each middle pocket and corner pocket on the long rail.
- 2
  Measure each short rail and mark the spot halfway between each corner pocket.
- 3
  Determine the side of the pool table from which you will strike the cue ball to break the rack. Note that this is "head rail," with the other side being the "foot rail" where the rack will be spotted.
- 4
  Tape a string on the left side rail mark that you made in Step 1.
- 5
  Pull the string across to the right side rail and tape it so that it is straight and taut.
- 6
  Use your measuring tape to extend a line from the center mark on the foot rail determined in Step 2 to the string. The point where your measuring tape meet the string is the "foot spot."

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