Joe Tucker's racking secrets is what you need, but if you're not willing to spend the money then here's a shortcut:
The ball you're supposed to make is called the "wing ball", which is the ball furthest to the left if you're breaking from the left side.
If you break from the right, it's the ball all the way to the right.
That ball is supposed to fly straight into the corner, and if you want to make it RELIABLY,
you need to make the rack dead nuts tight. Try to make one with zero gaps anywhere, not even a gap the thickness of a credit card. Then put the cue ball about 1.5 ball widths off the side rail, and hit a firm, square stop shot on the head ball.
If you tend to screw up and struggle to hit square, it's better to screw up by hitting a little to the left by accident
(if breaking from the left) than "back cutting" the head ball and hitting it on the right.
The wing ball can still go if you cut it on this side, but cutting on the other side tends to ruin it.
Can the wing ball go in WITH gaps? Yes, absolutely.
In fact certain gaps may even increase your chances.
But you'll need to watch the tucker video to get into that kind of detail.
If you have a magic rack, or can buy/borrow one, you'll see how easily this ball goes.
With a little practice you'll make it ten times in a row. It works at a variety of speeds.
For me, the most reliable speed is a firm stop shot. My guess is, 14-15mph.
With the magic rack, I can also get it to go with a very slow break, like just rolling the ball at 5mph can work.
I've seen corey do this without the magic rack, but I personally can't get it work unless I hit firmer.
But you definitely don't need a strong 20+mph break, and if you use one, you're only making life harder on yourself.
As for the 1 ball, my break tends to pop it in the side. I hit 14-15 mph and aim a tip below center, as if I wanted to draw back just a bit,
like 1 foot. It's actually kind of nice... if I make the wing ball, the 1 tends not to go.
If I screw up and miss the wing ball, the 1 goes in the side. So either way I'm shooting again.
If you reach a point where you can make the wing ball reliably, you'll want to AVOID making the 1, and control where it goes.
One trick to doing this is to add a little left spin to the cue ball (assuming you break from the left).
This causes the 1 to hit just below the side pocket, then widen off that rail and bounce off the head rail to give a shot
like the one diagrammed. (Credit to Tony Marcino for showing me this long ago).
edit: I'm dumb and drew the diagram backwards. Here's a corrected diagram. the 1 flies towards
the opposite side, not the same side as you break from.
The hard part about this break is hitting firm with sidespin and still hitting the head ball squarely despite deflection etc.
I also find that at my favorite speed, sometimes the 1 doesn't travel far enough and it's sort of parked in the middle of the head rail.
Good luck. If you still can't get it, some ball sets are not perfectly round anymore from years of abuse
and you probably aren't able to close all the gaps. Before giving up, definitely get a magic rack or accu-rack.
