One Pocket Break

J

jolietjake

Registered
In a post on another section of this forum, I assumed that a one-pocket player was not reliably sinking a ball on the break. Another poster thought my assumption was wrong and asked, "Why not? Do you play one pocket?"

I've played a fair amount of one pocket, but the break has always been a problem. I've seen videos for the "standard head ball and second ball" shot that can put the corner ball into your pocket. (I'm probably not explaining it correctly, but I found this video on youtube so you can see what I mean.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS-HGWko_V8

In practice, I've found this to be a break that is very difficult to replicate
consistently and that certain tables seem to favor making this shot over others. Even when I do make the corner ball, I am not reliably set for the second shot and when I miss I find this break sometimes leaves a fairly easy bank shot for my opponent. In fact, you'll see that even in the video I posted that there is nothing for the second shot except for him knocking balls away from his own pocket.

So, I've begun using safer breaks that reliably put the cue ball near my opponents pocket and that don't spread the balls so much. So, 2 questions.

1) Are there a lot of top players who reliably make one on the break in one-pocket?

2) Is there another break that some players use that I should consider?
 
I am no 1 pocket champion by any means, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

My break is similar to the one you see in the video, but I put the cue ball closer to the rail.

My only intention while breaking 1 pocket is to move some balls close to my pocket and to position the cue so the pack is directly in the path of those balls. If I can get him on the rail, even better.

I havent found any consistent way to make the corner ball.

CueTable Help



My typical break will look something like this.

Balls by my hole...... Check.
Opponent cannot easily knock them out.... Check.

The guy breaking in that video gets what appears to be a lucky kick off the corner ball by his opponents pocket. Without that lucky hit, he sells out on that break by either scratching or putting a ball by his opponents pocket.

I would not try to reproduce that kick off that wing ball.

That being said, who knew Santa Claus played 1-hole! :-)
 
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I agree with BryanBpool here. There is no player who can consistently pocket a ball on a one-pocket break...and as was mentioned, the conditions play a large roll, when a ball is made on the break.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Thanks for that. I was nervous that I was missing something. I actually use a slightly modified 14.1 break that leaves a ball or two within 2 diamonds of my pocket and hides the cb within 1 diamond of the opponents pocket. I'm consistent enough with this that I can reliably keep the opponent from sinking anything on his first shot and we end up playing safe for the first few shots. I feel I'm a better safe player than most of my opponents, so this works for me, but I've wondered if this is just because of the caliber of opponent I face.
 
jolietjake said:
Thanks for that. I was nervous that I was missing something. I actually use a slightly modified 14.1 break that leaves a ball or two within 2 diamonds of my pocket and hides the cb within 1 diamond of the opponents pocket. I'm consistent enough with this that I can reliably keep the opponent from sinking anything on his first shot and we end up playing safe for the first few shots. I feel I'm a better safe player than most of my opponents, so this works for me, but I've wondered if this is just because of the caliber of opponent I face.
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My only gripe with breaking farther down the pack, is you put less balls in play on your side of the table.

Its funny, I had this exact discussion with a friend of mine last night.

You will end up with with racks looking like this:

CueTable Help




Now you mention that you are leaving the cue within one diamond of his pocket. By doing this, there is the chance of leaving an open bank for your opponent.

Leaving something like this is disaster against someone who plays well.

CueTable Help




They will bank the 10, then bury you in the pack, moving several balls over to their side of the table.

CueTable Help



You may get better results getting the cue ball up where I have illustrated on the previous post when you break. This will give you the best chance of not leaving a shot, and get as many balls in play on your side as you can.

Just some food for thought.

-Bryan
 
What I end up with is almost like you showed in your first diagram except that I hit the 5 ball full enough that it comes off the back rail and the 12, 3, and 13 tend to glide out a bit more. But yes, you are right... My break does not put nearly as many balls close to my pocket as hitting it higher in the rack.

Also, I see what you mean now about where I'm leaving the cb... I'm doing this with about a half cue tip low left from where you have the cb. I don't often leave the 10 in a makable position, but I think letting the cb run a bit would be a better plan.

I do see what you mean about your break... my problem with hitting so high in the rack is that you need EXCELLENT cb control to keep yourself out of danger. Looking at your diagram, one hand width in either direction puts your opponent in position to hit a ball that is less than completely locked up. In fact, even from where you show the ball, I love the 10 ball shot 2 rails back to my side of the table leaving the cb near the top pocket. It's likely just a safe shot, but there is an off chance I could luck off the 6 ball and send it toward my pocket.
 
I have been breaking with the 3rd ball. I have noticed (for me anyways) that I have almost NO chance of scratching and get just about the same results as using the 2nd ball break (minus the scratch of course).

BVal
 
I've been hitting between the second and third ball with just more than lag speed and about 30-40% (which is pretty good) of the time I drop the back corner ball into my pocket. The cue ball tends to travel to their side of the rail, leaving them very little if anything as far as an offensive shot.
 
MilwShooter...How many racks is that estimate based on? It would have to be 100's, or even 1000, to be any real measureable average percentage. Maybe you're exxagerating just a hair :D (you could get action on making a ball 4 out of 10 breaks:D), or you're a little lucky, and haven't really broken that many racks yet. Either way, it will work itself out in the long run. A closer real-life average would probably be between 1 & 2, out of 10, for a pro. No disrepect intended, but pocketing a ball sustainably (which means not just a one-time thing), 40% of the time, in 1-hole, would be nothing short of amazing.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

MilwShooter said:
I've been hitting between the second and third ball with just more than lag speed and about 30-40% (which is pretty good) of the time I drop the back corner ball into my pocket.
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