Breakout ball scripting

Hey, I’ve been making a Breakout clone (learning AS) and I’ve come across a problem. The ball movement is too predictable, I want to know how I can make the ball bounce in different directions according to how it hit the paddle. I know in all good breakout type games, you can aim the ball at blocks by having it bounce off certains parts of the paddle…I don’t really know what this effect is even called, but if you can help that would be great!