Defensive 8 Ball Break

Pangit

Banned
Especially in League... bragging rights...one player is clearly better than the other. Keep the table a mess and it keeps the lessor player in the game longer...And the longer it goes on the more frustrated the better player gets...and starts making mistakes???

You have to drive four balls to a rail right? I've been messing around with a modified one pocket break...? How do you do it
 
i dont play on savetybreak but ive seen players using a slow cutbreak with a little inside draw. they were very successful stucking whitey behind the rackingspot, often blocked by multiple balls+keeping big clusters in the racking area. but still if your opponent has some skills he will fin a ball to break up the clusters.
 
If I don't want the table to be wide open, I usually use the "8-on-the-break" break, 2nd ball, shooting from the rail. If I hit it right and get lucky, the 8 goes. If not, the table usually ends up quite a mess.

I don't go with that strategy often, but it does come up occasionally.
 
In Bca league, sometimes you only need to make one ball to win the round for your team. This would be the time to play a safety break. Bca rules state you have to warn your opponent that you are playing a safety break so they can watch for the four balls to hit a rail.
 
I once played a gentleman in a tournament eight ball race to five. I had just tied the match at four games apiece with me breaking next.
I break the second ball at half speed and left a mess. After a number of shot exchanges I get the shot I wanted and ran out.After the match he turns to his spectator friend and says to him " I can't believe the national champion soft broke. His buddy then says to him "that's why he's the national champion".
Moral is there's times to go all out and there's times to hold back and be patient.
 
2nd ball break is the way to go. Be careful using power on this shot. It is easy to send the cue ball into the stands. If you don't make the 8ball or another ball usually you end up having clusters of balls so the run out is harder. Of course it is more difficult for you to run out as well.
 
not much practice needed, just learn how to slug rack yourself and break soft away from the gaps, all the balls should push to one corner of the table near the side rail being the goal.

works well protecting a lead in an alternate break format where the table is breaking tough.
 
Especially in League... bragging rights...one player is clearly better than the other. Keep the table a mess and it keeps the lessor player in the game longer...And the longer it goes on the more frustrated the better player gets...and starts making mistakes???

You have to drive four balls to a rail right? I've been messing around with a modified one pocket break...? How do you do it



What are the rules of your league ---can't respond without info.
 
I could be wrong, but doesn't a longer game benefit the better player, and not the worse?


Of course...IF the better player has patience and discipline. And that's a big "IF" in league play with all the hooting and hollering. When the lessor player "muddies" the water's and the "hot shot's" team-mates start busting his ass for taking so long to finish the game....against such a Donkey? I can' t tell you how many times I've seen the "Hot-Shot" shoot a cross side bank...hit it too hard...straighten out and goes two rails in the other side. Game over. It's "frustration".
 
Firm second ball break for sure.

You want to create clusters and congestion. It's not about making the game longer , it's about giving the weaker player more chances to get to the table. Anytime one person has to break out balls and a 'build' a run out , they take the chance at having to turn over the table to the other player.

All games benefit the better player ;) but if I get to the table with a clear run out then it's going to be pretty hard for the other guy to win if he never gets out of the chair. The more work I have , the more I have to 'create' at the table , the better the chance something will go wrong and let the other guy get a chance to swing his cue.
 
Played in a league twenty yrs ago with no break rules. Had a guy execute a opening 14.1 safety break on me in a game of 8 ball.


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A good player will pick you apart. ;) I love figuring out clusters. I run more tables when I have to think than when I see a wide open table.... (you always miss those straight in ones ;) ) Now give me a table that keeps me thinking and having the challege of figuring out a cluster LMAO you are in trouble.
 
Played in a league twenty yrs ago with no break rules. Had a guy execute a opening 14.1 safety break on me in a game of 8 ball.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.

This wouldn't be the famous SIPL league I have heard so many nice things about would it? :rolleyes:
 
No Tuesday nite men's leage in sm county. Back in the days of eight ball neutral no ball in hand.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.
 
Especially in League... bragging rights...one player is clearly better than the other. Keep the table a mess and it keeps the lessor player in the game longer...And the longer it goes on the more frustrated the better player gets...and starts making mistakes???

You have to drive four balls to a rail right? I've been messing around with a modified one pocket break...? How do you do it

Seems like a lot of if's and worrying for nothing.

If you are a better player than the "mess" is no real problem. Once a better player has gained control on their first shot they should be able to finish out the table by getting a good break out shot or two. Or at the very least they should be able to deal with the problem balls better than the lesser skilled player so either way they still have the upper hand.

If you are the lesser skilled player you should keep in mind that no matter what, you will still need to make 8 balls to win (or however many are left after the break).

I wouldn't make the mistake of assuming a certain way of breaking will negate the other persons skill in any way. You are both left with the SAME problems on the table.

It is the better players game to loose.
 
Of course...IF the better player has patience and discipline. And that's a big "IF" in league play with all the hooting and hollering. When the lessor player "muddies" the water's and the "hot shot's" team-mates start busting his ass for taking so long to finish the game....against such a Donkey? I can' t tell you how many times I've seen the "Hot-Shot" shoot a cross side bank...hit it too hard...straighten out and goes two rails in the other side. Game over. It's "frustration".

Not sure what you mean by 'too hard', but I don't think it means what you think it means. Sounds like they hit it just right. Too hard would be coming straight back or reversing, imo. Playing slop, unless there's another purpose, you should hit it in such a way as to increase your odds of pocketing. It may not always look pretty, but there's an art to it and it gives you a better sense of bank control(like learning the Z). Don't be the guy that complains about the rules that he's agreed to in advance. Of course, I know nothing, I play APA and lost 7 matches last season. :embarrassed2:
 
The way I see it is .... if you need to slug rack me, safety break against me, (try) to shark me or use any other tactics other than your skill as a pool player to win, then you should try practicing more.
After all that is likely what the difference between you and me really is.... I use my time to get better.... you waste your time trying to find ways to beat me.
 
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