If you found a way to actually break the balls with a medium stroke with lets say a 70% success rate on dropping a ball would you commit to that or would you stick to just slamming the balls and hope that one goes in?
Controlled easy break or slam the balls?
- Thread starter Billiard Architect
- Start date
I would definitely stay with a 70-75% success rate. I've always liked to control whitey as much as possible on the break and that gets next to impossible (for me) with an all out SLAM on the break.
Have I had some absolutely awesome breaks with an all out swing, yes, but at the same time that's when whitey seems to find a hole as well more often. This is just my experience. Good luck.
Trevor
Have I had some absolutely awesome breaks with an all out swing, yes, but at the same time that's when whitey seems to find a hole as well more often. This is just my experience. Good luck.
Trevor
I usually start the match with a controlled break, but if I get my nose open and start going off, it turns into an all out slamfest. Then I start scratching and it all gets worse. Stay with the control.
Ok lets make it a little more interesting. Lets say you were able to acquire a 70% success rate but you had to sacrifice cueball control to get it?
If you were almost guaranteed to sink the 1 in the side but the sacrifice was that you had to let the cue ball come off the side rail and bounce back into the rack and not knowing where it was going to end up?
Would you still stick with the controlled break?
If you were almost guaranteed to sink the 1 in the side but the sacrifice was that you had to let the cue ball come off the side rail and bounce back into the rack and not knowing where it was going to end up?
Would you still stick with the controlled break?
Interesting question but what's the comparison? Would it be 70% vs 50% with cueball control? Given the chances of scratching or being left with no shot, I think I'd stick with 50% plus control.
I wouldn't make that trade. I personally don't like making the 1 in the side playing 9-ball. It is the lowest ball on the table and the only one you can consistently play position on (unless you are pattern racking, and that's hit-or-miss too), so I prefer going for a wing ball and controlling the 1 as much as possible.
If I could make a wing ball and control whitey 70% of the time, I wouldn't care if it required wearing a pink tutu - I'd carry one in my case and strap that b*tch on before every match.
Aaron
Ok one more twist then. Which would you take a 30% success rate on sinking a corner ball or a 70% success rate on sinking the 1 ball? This would be with sacrificing cueball control.
I'd take the 1-ball. Remaining at the table more than twice as often after the break would outweigh my other preferences, and I'd always be looking to improve on a 30% success rate.
Aaron
I was watching Luis ulrich on stream the other night he was breaking at about 70% he ended up running two four packs in twI different matches and made snapped the nine four times in a race to eight set the day before.
But as for my self I'm the smash full speed and potatoes type of guy
But as for my self I'm the smash full speed and potatoes type of guy
The 70% more than makes up the difference in this scenario. I think it would be better to have control of the table more after the break and look for good safety opportunities when necessary.
Also, a 30% chance of making a ball with cue ball control is roughly a 70% chance of leaving the QB perfectly positioned for your opponent.
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I used to be known for having a very hard break. However, I also used to fly the cue ball off the table and scratch way too often. Also, I found many times upon making a ball I was pushing out because I had no shot on the one. Now, after working with a coach, I hit the balls with a medium hard hit and control the cue ball. I also make the wing ball with more regularity and leave the one near the side or upper corner pocket (depending on which hit I am using) and my runout percentage has risen dramatically.
Players who smash the rack as hard as they can and "hope" for a shot are right in there with golfers who try to hit every drive 350+ with no regard to accuracy. They won't win over the player who controls the game from the very beginning.
Players who smash the rack as hard as they can and "hope" for a shot are right in there with golfers who try to hit every drive 350+ with no regard to accuracy. They won't win over the player who controls the game from the very beginning.
A few years ago when Ralf appeared to be unbeatable he was using the 1ball in the side break and controlling the table.... Ralf is a freak tho and in some matches he was 80% making the 1 in the side... When it missed he had an easy shot on it in the upper left corner if any other ball went down.......
I worked on that style of break for months and on a 9footer it may be the way to go.. The 2 goes in the very back and more often than not if you are making the 1 in the side the pattern lets the 2 come up table to get a decent look at a make or a safe.......
I worked on that style of break for months and on a 9footer it may be the way to go.. The 2 goes in the very back and more often than not if you are making the 1 in the side the pattern lets the 2 come up table to get a decent look at a make or a safe.......
I agree with this. I guess it is tournament (or some tournament?) rules that call for the 2 in the back? During league play, even though the rack is supposed to be "random", most folks rack the 2 in the row above the last ball. In this case, I would rather make a wing ball, and have the one to shoot at.
Oh, what the hell am I talking about? I just want to make a ball and keep my turn no matter what!
I would work on controlling where that cue ball wound up at. :wink:
Your definition of success may be a little different than mine. To me, if you loose control of the cue ball, it was not a successful break.
I like the 2-ball in the very back of the rack. If I don't make the 1-ball in the side, then it almost always ends up on the headstring end of the table, as usually does the 2-ball. So, a tip or so of low, a nice controlled break, and I'm off to the races!!!
Maniac (well, at least until I miss, and it's usually an easy shot somewhere near the end of the rack :sorry
Maniac (well, at least until I miss, and it's usually an easy shot somewhere near the end of the rack :sorry
I'm confused about the discussion about the placement of the 2 ball in the rack and the advantage to the breaker. Is everyone playing rack your own these days?
Also, I guess everyone's aware that in world standardized rules --- other than the 1 and 9 ball, the other balls are supposed to be placed without intention.
Also, I guess everyone's aware that in world standardized rules --- other than the 1 and 9 ball, the other balls are supposed to be placed without intention.
I've seen rackers move those balls around and would make those guys that do the "hide the pea" shell game look like klutzes.