I have been playing off and on for almost 2 years now. I still have not gotten a break and run in 9 ball. I can break and run to the 8 ball a few times a week. I average running to the 4 or 5. I have never pulled it off in 8 ball either. I have come to the table after my opponent had a dry break and run out in 8 ball. I think it is in my head. I find it very frustrating. I have a table at the house I play on must of the time. It is a bar box with shimmed pockets. The corners are 4 1/4 and the sides are 4 3/4.
How long did it take to get your first Break and run in 9 ball?
- Thread starter DanielDeTinne
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Yea I'm with that guy ^^^ took me few months of playing pool but was playing a lot also got few books and dvds what will help u a lot is pattern play. That and ball control just keep playing try puting like 3 balls on table run it out add a ball run it out keep doing that till u run a hole rack. It will come along just keep playing :grin:
It took me 2 years. Like you, it was in my head. I played for 5 years, quit for 15, took it up again and then ran a 2 pack about a year in (and then ran another 2 pack about 4 months later). The funny thing about my first two 2-packs was that I didn't even realized that I ran my first one until my opponent told me. On the second one, I called my first b-n-r after I broke and then called my 2 pack after I got to the 3 ball on my second rack. I probably break and run every time I play now. I'll admit I still get happy when I break and run, but it's not something that psyches me out anymore. Keep at it, it'll happen.
*EDIT*
I only played on 9 footers with 4.5" pockets my first 5 years and almost exclusively play on 9 footers with 4.25" pockets now. I ran both of my 2-packs on a 9 foot Brunswick GCII with 4.25" pockets.
*EDIT*
I only played on 9 footers with 4.5" pockets my first 5 years and almost exclusively play on 9 footers with 4.25" pockets now. I ran both of my 2-packs on a 9 foot Brunswick GCII with 4.25" pockets.
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I've only broke and ran 9-ball racks on a 7 footer, and once on a 9 footer with a superb layout.
I'm with the guy above, start by putting 3 balls on the table and running it out. When you can do it 8-10 times in a row then add a ball. Right now, I'm at about 6 on a 7 footer, and 5 on a 9 footer. I'll get there though, and so will you.
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I'm with the guy above, start by putting 3 balls on the table and running it out. When you can do it 8-10 times in a row then add a ball. Right now, I'm at about 6 on a 7 footer, and 5 on a 9 footer. I'll get there though, and so will you.
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On the first day of playing 9 ball. I took pool up about 3 and a half years ago, before that I played snooker and English pool for around 13 years so I had a head start in the game. When it comes to break and runs the break is vital. Having a break that sets you up on the whilst making a ball or two makes running out very easy. If you take BIH when practicing at home after the break try and stop for a while. Shoot it as you would in a game and you start getting use to tough shots on the 1 whilst playing position, this should help a little. Sounds like you can get to the 8 sometimes but can't clinch the last ball, so it would be position errors I assume? Throw the CB on the table, throw the 8 on the table then throw the 9 on the table and shoot at the 8 where they stop and get position on the 9. I'd also throw 4 balls on the table and run them in order, when you do that move to 5, if you fail at an attempt remove a ball and so on. Stephen Hendry used to do this in snooker for practice and you get an idea of where you are at and what types of shots you miss or miss position on, then you can work on them.
It took me a year and a half from when I started playing 9-ball. I still don't do it very often. (I only play on 9-footers.)
For some reason, I can break and run in 8-ball easier than 9-ball. Even with the other guys clutter on the table. Having multiple options at the beginning probably is the difference.
For some reason, I can break and run in 8-ball easier than 9-ball. Even with the other guys clutter on the table. Having multiple options at the beginning probably is the difference.
I had to explain this a couple of times to a captain on one of my teams. It's ALWAYS easier to break and run or table run in 8-ball because you have so many options. In 9-ball you only ever have 1 ball you're shooting at and that 1 chance at breaking out the next ball (not counting combos and caroms).
How long is "too long"?
You're frustrated at what exactly? At the idea that you're not break and running? If "almost 2 years" is too long then you need to explain (at least to yourself) how long you THOUGHT it was going to take to do that.
If you can't come up with an exact time then you need to let go of the frustration.
Time is a tricky thing ESPECIALLY when it comes to pool. A year to player 1 could be playing league once a week and never practicing while player 2 could be playing league 3 times a week and hitting the practice tables the other 4 days.
Also you have to think about the QUALITY of the table time one puts in. Are you doing practice drills at home or just banging them around? I find that when I do stroke drills and cue ball position drills at home my game magically gets better then when I just bang a few balls around before work.
Don't generalize yourself to death. Write down some specifics and things will come into focus a lot better.
You're frustrated at what exactly? At the idea that you're not break and running? If "almost 2 years" is too long then you need to explain (at least to yourself) how long you THOUGHT it was going to take to do that.
If you can't come up with an exact time then you need to let go of the frustration.
Time is a tricky thing ESPECIALLY when it comes to pool. A year to player 1 could be playing league once a week and never practicing while player 2 could be playing league 3 times a week and hitting the practice tables the other 4 days.
Also you have to think about the QUALITY of the table time one puts in. Are you doing practice drills at home or just banging them around? I find that when I do stroke drills and cue ball position drills at home my game magically gets better then when I just bang a few balls around before work.
Don't generalize yourself to death. Write down some specifics and things will come into focus a lot better.
Thanks for the responses.
The frustration come from the fact that I get so close alot, then choke.
However I really enjoy playing. It will eventually come, I know.
To answer, yes I do drills sometimes. I really don't practice enough though. I play a lot for a few months then end up getting busy in other areas of live and stop playing for a month or so. Then start playing again.
The frustration come from the fact that I get so close alot, then choke.
However I really enjoy playing. It will eventually come, I know.
To answer, yes I do drills sometimes. I really don't practice enough though. I play a lot for a few months then end up getting busy in other areas of live and stop playing for a month or so. Then start playing again.
My suggestion would be to play the "GHOST" first. Once you are able to get out a couple times like that, you should start trying to get out after the break without cue ball in hand on the first shot after the break.
In "Break and Runs", you'll notice that "Break" is part of the equation. It is VERY HARD to string together racks without a consistent break that will make a ball and then give you an open shot at the beginning ball.
I was able to put together a 5-pack last weekend when my break was working and my eyes and stroke were in sync, which sometimes is few and far between. It would have been a 6-pack or more, but when I made the 9 on the 6th break, the balls all came rushing at the cue ball like defensive players on a quarterback and shoved it into the side pocket. I would have loved to have not scratched to see if I could have continued any further.
I play only a few hours on Sundays, so it is hard for me to maintain any kind of consistency. I wish I could play more often.
Aloha.
In "Break and Runs", you'll notice that "Break" is part of the equation. It is VERY HARD to string together racks without a consistent break that will make a ball and then give you an open shot at the beginning ball.
I was able to put together a 5-pack last weekend when my break was working and my eyes and stroke were in sync, which sometimes is few and far between. It would have been a 6-pack or more, but when I made the 9 on the 6th break, the balls all came rushing at the cue ball like defensive players on a quarterback and shoved it into the side pocket. I would have loved to have not scratched to see if I could have continued any further.
I play only a few hours on Sundays, so it is hard for me to maintain any kind of consistency. I wish I could play more often.
Aloha.
It took me 3 minutes longer than John Schmidt. 
Seriously tho, some pop their B&R quicker than others. That doesn't mean a couple years down the road they're better. I enjoy watching good people progress. That wide eyed look of enthusiam is priceless.
Seriously tho, some pop their B&R quicker than others. That doesn't mean a couple years down the road they're better. I enjoy watching good people progress. That wide eyed look of enthusiam is priceless.
I had played for years without generating a break and run in 9 ball. When I did do it for the first time it was in Las Vegas at the a BCA trade show. I was at the McDermott booth. CJ Wiley and Jeanette Lee were being sponsored by McDermott at the time. CJ was working the booth when I visited and he was taking challenge games from attendees of the show. He gave me the CJ cue model I was interested in to test shoot and we played a challenge game. He offered me the break, I broke and ran out the rack. That was my very first break and run in 9 ball.
Afterwards, CJ autographed a pic for me and wrote "great shooting".
One of my favorite memories from learning to play the game.
It took me a long time to generate the 2nd break and run after that, but I got my game to a point where they became fairly common for me. As long as you take your game and training seriously, and give yourself time, those break and runs will come to you.
Afterwards, CJ autographed a pic for me and wrote "great shooting".
One of my favorite memories from learning to play the game. It took me a long time to generate the 2nd break and run after that, but I got my game to a point where they became fairly common for me. As long as you take your game and training seriously, and give yourself time, those break and runs will come to you.
It's easier running an 8 ball table. You don't get punished as badly for playing bad position because you can shoot another ball if you didn't get on the one you wanted to. I'm not putting 8 ball down but in my opinion it's more about patience and finding the path of least resistance where 9 ball is about getting out and understanding the right lines to take around the table to get from one shot to the next.
Break and run
I think it took about a week after I was introduced to 9-ball at age 12 in '55.
I think achieving a clean game in bowling is a comparable accomplishment. That took me a year, even though bowling was my primary sport from '55 to '71.
I think it took about a week after I was introduced to 9-ball at age 12 in '55.
I think achieving a clean game in bowling is a comparable accomplishment. That took me a year, even though bowling was my primary sport from '55 to '71.
The amount of time doesn't really matter. People take on the hobby at different speeds (ie. some people can play 7 hours a day). I think the takeaway of this is to ask yourself what are the errors you are making that prevents you from running the rest of the rack out? Chances are, it is a mental thing.
I second the drill... run 3 balls, 4 balls, 5 balls and work your way up. Or better yet sometimes to get my mind right mentally, I'd work to run 3 balls a certain times in a row, 4 balls, 5 and so on.
After you get your first couple, the counts will increase exponentially. If there are any "aha!" moments for amateur players, getting the first real break and run down is one major one of them.
I second the drill... run 3 balls, 4 balls, 5 balls and work your way up. Or better yet sometimes to get my mind right mentally, I'd work to run 3 balls a certain times in a row, 4 balls, 5 and so on.
After you get your first couple, the counts will increase exponentially. If there are any "aha!" moments for amateur players, getting the first real break and run down is one major one of them.