A draw Shot is a billiard shot with moderate difficulty. It is and interesting shot in which the cue ball stops momentarily as it strikes the object ball and then travels away from the object ball back towards you upon contact. One of the advantages to a draw shot is that you can control the position of the cue ball after the shot, knowing it will return towards you, to set up your next shot. A draw shot is accomplished by striking the cue ball just below the center. The draw shot takes practice because striking the cue ball below center as required for the proper back spin often creates a miscue for inexperienced players.

The crucial element of a draw shot that gives it its signature return it backspin. It is important that the cue ball preserves its back spin as it slides towards the object ball so that its movement will be reversed as it strikes the object ball. A draw shot requires a relatively strong strike just below the cue ball’s center.

Performing a draw shot at short distances is easier than at long ones, and while at shorter distances it takes less force to execute a draw shot the distance it will travel back from a short shot is still determined by the amount of force you give it. The harder you hit the cue ball the farther back it will travel and the more energy and speed it will give to the object ball.

The farther away the cue ball is from the object ball the more back spin it will need which may require a lot of force. As the cue ball travels down the table it will loose some backspin from the friction of the ball moving on the table and will not travel all the way back. Learning how much force to use to get the cue ball to return is one of the difficulties of mastering the draw shot.
 

Not using enough force in your stroke will create a stop shot at longer distances when striking below the cue ball’s center. To make the ball return you will need a stronger stroke and more back spin and you may need to adjust the point at which you hit the cue ball depending on how far away the object ball is. The farther away the object ball is the lower you should strike the cue ball. Striking the cue ball about one and a half cue tips below center with the right amount of force will produce a draw shot, but the exact point and force will need to be adjusted to the distances in the shot.