one pocket break shot????

sooperstroke

sooperstroke

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
what side do you break from and why? becuse of your handedness or is it just more comforatable for you?

And where do u put the cue ball? closer to the rail or closer to center table? and why?

and what english do u use?

Im just askin cause my break is all over the place right now and im trying out new things, and I just started playing alot more one pocket.

thansk for the help.
 
Conventional wisdom says to break from the left if you're right handed and vice versa. This gives your body free access to run balls. This is assuming the table doesn't favor one pocket or the other (i.e. roll toward one pocket and away from the other, etc).

Cueball placement depends on the table and the balls, rack, etc. I usually start near the rail and break a few racks moving toward the center until I find a place where I like the ball spread.

I use high, inside english, attempting to skim the head ball and hit between it and the second ball. If done correctly with the right speed, the cueball with end up frozen to the long rail at the 2nd or 3rd diamond.

If the corner ball is leaking out toward your opponents pocket, move the cueball more toward the center of the table (the break will glance more, thus spreading the balls less and hopefully keeping the corner ball from selling out)
 
I break from left rail, 1 tip above center, and aim to hit front ball 1st, followed by 2nd ball, hitting the cue roughly with lag speed. I prefer the left side just due to being right-handed. Breaking this way pushes quite a few balls toward your pocket without leaving anything for your opponent. After that, it's just a matter of outmoving them.
 
brandoncook26 said:
I use high, inside english, attempting to skim the head ball and hit between it and the second ball. If done correctly with the right speed, the cueball with end up frozen to the long rail at the 2nd or 3rd diamond.
Click to expand...

I have also seen this done where the CB bounces off the side rail and freezes itself to the barely disturbed rack, leaving no real shooting opportunities. I was not watching the english or delivery to see how <darn>.
 
MitchAlsup said:
I have also seen this done where the CB bounces off the side rail and freezes itself to the barely disturbed rack, leaving no real shooting opportunities. I was not watching the english or delivery to see how <darn>.
Click to expand...
The break shot is not a safety but an aggressive offensive shot. The game can be won often one inning after the break by the breaker with some luck and a good break. Laying on the rack is letting your opponent off the hook as you have the advantage of the break. Never be afraid to break.
 
One pocket break

macguy said:
The break shot is not a safety but an aggressive offensive shot. The game can be won often one inning after the break by the breaker with some luck and a good break. Laying on the rack is letting your opponent off the hook as you have the advantage of the break. Never be afraid to break.
Click to expand...

I played with a guy I can give 9 to 6 and win, but he broke going rail first and he hit it perfect 10 or more games in an afternoon. Always knocked several balls to his hole. Froze me on the stack every time and I had to make a really good kick to start the game every time, always danger of leaving a cross corner bank or a shot. the only thing wrong was he didn't move anyhere near well enough to win, probably could play even with me at nine ball. If I could do it that would be my new break.
 
brandoncook26 said:
Conventional wisdom says to break from the left if you're right handed and vice versa. This gives your body free access to run balls. This is assuming the table doesn't favor one pocket or the other (i.e. roll toward one pocket and away from the other, etc).

Cueball placement depends on the table and the balls, rack, etc. I usually start near the rail and break a few racks moving toward the center until I find a place where I like the ball spread.

I use high, inside english, attempting to skim the head ball and hit between it and the second ball. If done correctly with the right speed, the cueball with end up frozen to the long rail at the 2nd or 3rd diamond.

If the corner ball is leaking out toward your opponents pocket, move the cueball more toward the center of the table (the break will glance more, thus spreading the balls less and hopefully keeping the corner ball from selling out)
Click to expand...

What he said X2. Great post Brandon.

-don
 
brandoncook26 said:
Conventional wisdom says to break from the left if you're right handed and vice versa. This gives your body free access to run balls. This is assuming the table doesn't favor one pocket or the other (i.e. roll toward one pocket and away from the other, etc).

Cueball placement depends on the table and the balls, rack, etc. I usually start near the rail and break a few racks moving toward the center until I find a place where I like the ball spread.

I use high, inside english, attempting to skim the head ball and hit between it and the second ball. If done correctly with the right speed, the cueball with end up frozen to the long rail at the 2nd or 3rd diamond.

If the corner ball is leaking out toward your opponents pocket, move the cueball more toward the center of the table (the break will glance more, thus spreading the balls less and hopefully keeping the corner ball from selling out)
Click to expand...

A few more thoughts:

I also agree with what was said by Brandon, but would add that if you cut balls better to the left, you might want to break from the right hand side. I also think the side you break from should be determined by the the table conditions which Brandon mentioned (rolls to one side or another and if balls drop easier in one pocket or the other) and, what pocket your opponent break to. Unless the pocket roll or drop advantage is the pocket your opponent doesn't take, I don't like them breaking to the same pocket each time. I would suggest learning to break from both sides so you don't get pigeon holed so that your opponent can get you out of your game by selecting the pocket you are used to.

Have fun with the best pocket billiard game out there :).

Dave
 
I cut the head ball as thin as possible without hitting the 2nd ball 1st, with high-inside english. Stroke it well and the cueball should hit the bottom rail, english will catch and will end up on the long rail between the 2nd and 3rd diamond.

Don't let people rack with a stripe ball or the 8ball at the front. Make em use a light color ball like the 1. This helps see the contrast between the balls so you can make a good break.

I like to break from the left side, but I've learned to break from both. You gotta check the table so you don't stick yourself with a side that rolls off.
 
sooperstroke said:
what side do you break from and why? becuse of your handedness or is it just more comforatable for you?

And where do u put the cue ball? closer to the rail or closer to center table? and why?

and what english do u use?

Im just askin cause my break is all over the place right now and im trying out new things, and I just started playing alot more one pocket.

thansk for the help.
Click to expand...


I'm right handed and so I'm more comfortable breaking from the right side, and not having to deal with the rail. I've taught myself to be able to shoot opposite handed, so access to certain shots doesn't bother me too much

However, one of the most important things you should consider is how the table rolls and whether one pocket if "funny." ("Funny how?") So usually, when playing on a table I'm not used to, I'll roll a ball or two down the rails to see if a bank shot is likely to roll out, or in. The other thing is about how sometimes one pocket can play differently than the other, like maybe tighter, or perhaps a shim isn't cut right. There used to be a room up in Chicago where, if memory serves, the money table had one pocket that was a ball or two tougher than the other. So, IMO, factors like that are more important than anything else.

Lou Figueroa
 
brandoncook26:
Conventional wisdom says to break from the left if you're right handed and vice versa. This gives your body free access to run balls.
Click to expand...

Funny, I'm left handed and like to break from the left for the same reason. When I'm running balls I don't want to have to use the bridge to reach balls near the long rail on my side (the right side).

And there's another advantage to me in this choice: most of my shots are away from my side (naturally, that's how my opponent tries to leave me) and angled toward the foot rail (for banks to my pocket, clearance shots around his pocket, etc.). So from my side (the right side) shooting left handed means my body is out of the way (not between my shooting arm and the table).

Your calculus may be different, but that's my point: it's not a settled question.

As others have said, it's most important to be comfortable playing to either side. It can be an effective shark to play to the same side for awhile and then change, putting your opponent offbalance - especially if they're old like me and tend to forget which pocket is theirs.

pj
chgo
 
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My thoughts on the one pocket break

I agree with most of the ideas of where to hit the balls and at what speed, what I have begun to question is which side to break on. 90 plus percent of the time it is broke on the left hand side so you have the pocket to the right. Your opponent does the exact same thing. Thus, alternating breaks, each game you are switching back and forth pockets. Why not break from the right so your pocket continues to be on the left. I have played with some older fellows that do this and I have to catch myself occasionally because I am used to switching pockets every game. This is just an idea with merits that I am exploring at home to see if it really makes any difference.
 
lfigueroa said:
There used to be a room up in Chicago where, if memory serves, the money table had one pocket that was a ball or two tougher than the other. So, IMO, factors like that are more important than anything else.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I would rather find out which pocket is easier to win. Learn to break from both sides and its not a problem.
 
cleary said:
I cut the head ball as thin as possible without hitting the 2nd ball 1st, with high-inside english. Stroke it well and the cueball should hit the bottom rail, english will catch and will end up on the long rail between the 2nd and 3rd diamond.

Don't let people rack with a stripe ball or the 8ball at the front. Make em use a light color ball like the 1. This helps see the contrast between the balls so you can make a good break.

I like to break from the left side, but I've learned to break from both. You gotta check the table so you don't stick yourself with a side that rolls off.
Click to expand...

you might like it with the 8 ball up front.
 
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