Question on the opening break
- Thread starter gunzby
- Start date
As someone stated, the opening break must be made from behind the head string, but I am curious. Please explain how you have been breaking "from the side" and just what do you mean by "much better results". I am just curious as to the process of what you have been doing and your results.
I have always used a cut break from the side. I would typically break from the right side aiming for the edge of the right corner. The results of my break take the right corner ball to the short rail and back into the rack and the other corner to the long rail and back into the rack. On a few occasions I have done this putting the rack back together nearly perfect leaving the CB frozen to the middle of the short rail on the other side.
You sure you're not playing one pocket? 
One rule of straight pool (besides having to break behind the headstring) is that TWO OBs plus the CB must hit a rail to accomplish a legal opening break.
Failure to do so results in a two point foul, and at the option of the incoming player, you may be told to rebreak. ( this foul does not count toward the 3 foul rule)
Breaking from the side, I'd assume you are either not driving 2 object balls plus the cueball to the rail or ..... you are at a very high risk of selling the farm on the break.
One rule of straight pool (besides having to break behind the headstring) is that TWO OBs plus the CB must hit a rail to accomplish a legal opening break.Failure to do so results in a two point foul, and at the option of the incoming player, you may be told to rebreak. ( this foul does not count toward the 3 foul rule)
Breaking from the side, I'd assume you are either not driving 2 object balls plus the cueball to the rail or ..... you are at a very high risk of selling the farm on the break.
Thanks for your response. From your initial post I pictured something totally different.
You sure you're not playing one pocket?
Failure to do so results in a two point foul, and at the option of the incoming player, you may be told to rebreak. ( this foul does not count toward the 3 foul rule)
Breaking from the side, I'd assume you are either not driving 2 object balls plus the cueball to the rail or ..... you are at a very high risk of selling the farm on the break.
Nope 14.1
Like I said I break from the side and edge the corner ball. It will go straight down and back up to the stack. The other corner ball will go straight to the long rail and back to the stack with the CB to the short rail and back up to the other side of the table near the short rail.
Sometime I will videotape it and post it here.
All tables do play differently but it seems to me that overall its much more difficult to control the CB speed this way. Going three rails with the CB from it's conventional placement, ( and 4 rails if you count its resting place on the end rail
) allows the english on the CB to kill the CB as it reverses its effect from running english to kill english off the third long rail which greatly aids in assuring the CB stays down table.This IMO lets you hit the shot with much more confidence knowing your full attention can be devoted to the two object balls and knowing the reverse english will take care of the CB.
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This sounds like a standard 14.1 break to me, but I'm still a bit confused.
Refering to your first post:
1. Are you shooting from behind the headstring?
2. If so, how are the players in the videos placing the cue ball
diferently than you?
Thw WEI table could help here.
Dale<who just can't bring himself to use the term kitchen>
If I'm understanding correctly, CB "A" is how you are shooting the shot and CB "B" is the more conventional. Is that close?
Note that in example "A" the CB is always coming off adjacent rails which maintains running english and if not hit with exact speed control could rebound and run off the head rail. Where as example "B" has the CB going from long rail to long rail and thereby reversing and killing the CB as it approaches the head rail.
Note that in example "A" the CB is always coming off adjacent rails which maintains running english and if not hit with exact speed control could rebound and run off the head rail. Where as example "B" has the CB going from long rail to long rail and thereby reversing and killing the CB as it approaches the head rail.
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3andstop
Interesting. My breaks usually do not turn out real well. I break from the right side from position B as shown in your diagram, but if I try to go 4 rails I frequently scratch in that left headrail corner. I settle for 3 but that is foot, right, and directly back to about center of the head rail. I don't go to the left long rail at all. I almost always leave something hanging out for my opponent. I lose lots of games.
Dave Nelson
Interesting. My breaks usually do not turn out real well. I break from the right side from position B as shown in your diagram, but if I try to go 4 rails I frequently scratch in that left headrail corner. I settle for 3 but that is foot, right, and directly back to about center of the head rail. I don't go to the left long rail at all. I almost always leave something hanging out for my opponent. I lose lots of games.
Dave Nelson
Dave put a touch more outside english on your shot and try to get to that opposite long rail, the results will be much more consistant because should you hit that back end rail third, the CB is still running.
For me, I get down on the shot ( being sure the last two rows are tight) and I devote all my concentration to having the 5 ball go to the rail. Everything else takes care of itself.
For me, I get down on the shot ( being sure the last two rows are tight) and I devote all my concentration to having the 5 ball go to the rail. Everything else takes care of itself.
3andstop
I'll give er a bloody go and post the results.
Dave
I'll give er a bloody go and post the results.
Dave
3andstop: There is something wrong with the way you racked the balls in your diagram. Can you spot it?
Dan, if you mean the 1 and 5 in the corners, actually I just clicked on the 8 ball rack in the wei tools and I was lucky to get the five in one corner.
Dan, if you mean the 1 and 5 in the corners, actually I just clicked on the 8 ball rack in the wei tools and I was lucky to get the five in one corner.
I know... just teasing.
The 1 & 5 is no longer an official part of the rules.
This can only happen if the back two rows are loose in the correct way. If all the back two rows are touching, the "ideal" break does not happen. To do the "ideal" break, move the back row back, or move it towards the ball the cue ball will contact, leaving the rest of the balls alone. Even half a millimeter, or even the thickness of a business card will be plenty.