How to Break a Rack on a 7 Footer? (and breaking tips in general)

Zphix

Zphix

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Maybe it's about time I've asked this question - obviously it seems so straightforward and simple but I don't really think it is.

On the 7 footers - balls tend to cluster and be problems almost all the time when you break with some power. On the flip side, I remember seeing SVB and Darren Appleton play 8 ball on a 7 footer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVlzHdj42-U) and it seems like a softer break is the way to get a better spread.

Anyway, my break is one of the weakest points of my game and I cannot consistently make a ball (whether it's a 7 or a 9 footer) and I really need some help. I've looked at the Dr. Dave videos, etc. and I think I get enough power out out of my break but balls don't seem to drop. Can you guys offer some help without me posting a video of me breaking?

If I need to post a video, I'll try to do so ASAP.
 
I break as hard on a BB as I do on my 9' table. I make more balls on a BB than my 9'er for the most part. I also break with 1 diamond center table hitting head ball. If I cant get nothing to fall which is rare I will try a 2nd ball break but they seem to cause clusters, a lot of balls tend to go to side you hit rack on.
 
ShakesSea said:
Two things: 1) Pick a very precise target on the OB you're hitting, just as you would any shot. People often aim very generally on break shots figuring they just need to hit hard but you want a specific point of aim and that point should depend on your best sizing up of the rack. 2) Loosen your grip, then loosen your grip more and when it's about as loose as you can get it, loosen it a little more. Let the stick do the work. I also choke up a hand or two and focus on quickness over strength.
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This is all good advice. I would just add one thing to it. Start from very beginning. Shoot it like any other shot. Stay at your regular shooting position. Don't lift up, use wrist action, or tons of power. Just center ball with a decent amount of force. Then, after you are making the ball that you are try to make, add one thing at a time. Start with lifting body up and slight forward. Then wrist...etc. Mechanically memorize when you have a successful break.

Of course, none of this is any good unless you just practice uninterrupted. Playing with someone else is not practice. Break, rack, observe the balls path. Break, rack, observe. Break, ... .

Oh yeah, BreakRak. Do a search here and buy one. It is rare to see one for sale here. And, if so, expect to pay nearly the same price, if you happen to see it early enough. BTW, mine is not for sale.

Good luck with your practice.
 
Thanks for the replies guys - breaking has always seemed like a lesser important part of the game so I never paid it it's proper respect. But, I feel like having a good break would greatly benefit my out percentage as well.

So, I'm still looking for more replies and tips from other AZBers. The information so far has been great! and if anyone else can chime in and add more info to the post please do so.

Happy shooting,

-Richard

Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2
 
I downloaded "Breaking Shanes Way" from the TAR website and it was very helpful. I now approach the break with a plan rather than "hit it hard and hope". As far as clusters go, IMO, it's speed control. Take a little off or add a little to get the desired spread. Most importantly, practice practice practice.
 
The prevalence of 860 or similar cloth and fast, consistent rails on bar boxes these days makes the soft break a lot bigger, IMO. It still depends on what game you are playing, obviously, but I am definitely not going to take on the extra risk of breaking hard at 9-ball when it's so easy to make balls with a soft break on the bar box.

The only case where I would recommend a hard break playing bar box 9-ball is if you are like a B- player with an A break. If you can squat your rock with a lot of power, but you struggle to run 8 balls, a hard break may be the best route, as you will get more 6 or 7 ball layouts and maybe run more racks.

If, on the other hand, you are the type of player who figures to get out if you make a ball and have a shot at the 1, I'd recommend a soft break - 50% power or less. You will cut your scratches on the break break down to almost nothing, and you will be more likely to have a shot at the low ball if you are controlling whitey. A player who is doing that is going to run more and bigger packages than one who makes 3 balls on the break, but has no idea where the cueball and 1-ball are going - the cueball gets kicked around a lot more on a bar box, so even if you squat it there's no telling where it will end up on a hard break.

Even playing 8-ball or 10-ball, I am only going to break as hard as I can while guaranteeing cueball control. That is probably 75% or 80% power for most players.

Best of luck,
Aaron
 
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Zphix said:
Thanks for the replies guys - breaking has always seemed like a lesser important part of the game so I never paid it it's proper respect. But, I feel like having a good break would greatly benefit my out percentage as well.

So, I'm still looking for more replies and tips from other AZBers. The information so far has been great! and if anyone else can chime in and add more info to the post please do so.

Happy shooting,

-Richard

Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2
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The importance of the break is immeasurable. When you make a ball, get shapes on the 1 ball, you are going to get good runs. And if you're smart, good safety play. This will build your confidence and feel on the table. It also effects your opponent. He will lose the feel of the table and the confidence with it. This will lead to a feeling of helplessness. And after a while, he'll lose the will to fight.
 
Thanks 49ers for the kind words about the BreakRAK. Maybe gaining some knowledge about the Break Shot would be a good starting spot. My book, "The GREAT Break Shot" is a lot of info about the Break Shot & nothing more.

All of our shots in the game are analyzed & planned for. Why not do the same thing for the Break Shot. We've seen Corey Duel, Van Boening & others become masters of the Break Shot through practice & research.

Good Luck
 
I have the breakRak also it is a great product I would recommend it to anyone having a problem controlling the cue on the break.
 
on bar boxes, I've found a rail break to be the most effective. not from the corners, maybe line up one of the diamonds on the short rail to the head ball, one diamond up, is usually perfect. putting the cue ball on the string and slamming the balls never seems to work as well as it does on a 9-footer. If you want to tune your break for a really solid hit, put a ball on the foot spot (head spot? I always get them confused) and practice hitting them with stop shots on the cue ball. when you can stop that cue ball dead after hitting the ball on the spot, you know that you're going to be getting the best hit out of the break from that location.
 
Zphix said:
I think I get enough power out out of my break but balls don't seem to drop. Can you guys offer some help without me posting a video of me breaking?
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It is not how much power you hit the CB with,
It is how much precision the CB hits with.

I often soft break on BBs at the local bar, I do this because I am a lot better at dealing with clusters than the people I play against. It allows me to appear play at about their level but still win almost every game.
 
Precisely... a 100% square hit at 15 mph is better than 70% at 22 mph.

A square hits make it easier to control Whitey's destination.... an Off Hit is a guessing game for whitey's landing spot.

AZB member AtLarge, has produced many a paper showing the Break Shot to be more than a
tie-breaker.

Good Luck...
 
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