Tip: Parallel line for CB path on break shots

CueAndMe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This tip is for side of the rack break shots.

It's probably best to sight the 90 degree tangent off of a break ball to find what portion of what ball in the rack the cueball will strike. This way you know how to strike the cueball to keep it under control. But if you don't want to take the time, here's a simple visual that can help determine which way the cueball is likely to carom off of the rack.

A line parallel to the side of the rack can be drawn from the center of the break ball's corner pocket to a half diamond from the diagonally opposite corner pocket. See diagram.

Any break ball on the rack side of that parallel line (Zone A) will be more likely to send the cue ball towards the foot of the table. Any ball on the rail side of that parallel line (Zone B) will be more likely to send the cue ball towards the head of the table. Essentially, the closer the break ball is to the rack, the more likely the cue ball will be heading downtable, and the closer the break ball is to the side rail, the more likely the cue ball will be heading uptable. Knowing this, you can adjust your cueball spin and speed accordingly.

Break Shot Line CB Deflections.jpg


And if you didn't catch my post in another thread about the zone for side of the rack break shots, the zone that we want our break balls to lie within when planning for the next rack is shown in the following image. It is contained within the two curves. The 90 degree tangents off of any break ball in this zone will contact the rack directly. Above or below the curves requires more finesse and usually reduction of speed, so we want to try to stay within these curves.

Break Shot Zone Tangents.jpg
 

stevekur1

The "COMMISH"
Silver Member
This tip is for side of the rack break shots.

It's probably best to sight the 90 degree tangent off of a break ball to find what portion of what ball in the rack the cueball will strike. This way you know how to strike the cueball to keep it under control. But if you don't want to take the time, here's a simple visual that can help determine which way the cueball is likely to carom off of the rack.

A line parallel to the side of the rack can be drawn from the center of the break ball's corner pocket to a half diamond from the diagonally opposite corner pocket. See diagram.

Any break ball on the rack side of that parallel line (Zone A) will be more likely to send the cue ball towards the foot of the table. Any ball on the rail side of that parallel line (Zone B) will be more likely to send the cue ball towards the head of the table. Essentially, the closer the break ball is to the rack, the more likely the cue ball will be heading downtable, and the closer the break ball is to the side rail, the more likely the cue ball will be heading uptable. Knowing this, you can adjust your cueball spin and speed accordingly.

View attachment 481989


And if you didn't catch my post in another thread about the zone for side of the rack break shots, the zone that we want our break balls to lie within when planning for the next rack is shown in the following image. It is contained within the two curves. The 90 degree tangents off of any break ball in this zone will contact the rack directly. Above or below the curves requires more finesse and usually reduction of speed, so we want to try to stay within these curves.

View attachment 481990


Now this is a great post... Nice job Jeff !!!
 

CueAndMe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Thanks, people! Wow, Texas Carom Club, you dug this one up from over a year ago. Fortunately it still applies. ;) Not that I'm saying this parallel line is everything, but it increases the odds of knowing where the cue ball will go if we're being lazy about checking to find exactly where the cue ball will hit the stack.
 

Poolmanis

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Thanks for this. I tried use parallel rack side tip to figure out tangent line more accurately and noticed huge improvement about precision of cue ball impact point on rack. I noticed right away HUGE improvement on my break-shot-cue-ball-control.
I feel this is last piece of improvement that I need to start bring big numbers a lot.
200 here we come! :cool:
 

CueAndMe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Thanks for this. I tried use parallel rack side tip to figure out tangent line more accurately and noticed huge improvement about precision of cue ball impact point on rack. I noticed right away HUGE improvement on my break-shot-cue-ball-control.
I feel this is last piece of improvement that I need to start bring big numbers a lot.
200 here we come! :cool:

That's awesome, Poolmanis! I hope to see that 200!
 
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