I love coversations about breaking, tips and cue speed. The PERFECT break speed would be: when the cue ball travels to the rack with absolute ZERO rotation and is in contact with the cloth the entire way to the rack. (ie. If the red circle started on top of the cue ball, it would still be there at the moment of contact. Also, any additional speed of the cue ball would never change the fact that "no rotation" remains a constant.) Make sense? Thoughts...
Break Speed Science
- Thread starter BarTableMan
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It makes sense, although IDK if it makes a lot of difference in the grand scheme of things, i.e. other things are probably much more important. I attempt to have a little bit of backspin on the CB when it hits the headball, simply because I'd rather be on the headstring side of the table than the footstring side.
Of course, if you're cut breaking it's a whole different set of priorities.
Of course, if you're cut breaking it's a whole different set of priorities.
I agree to a point. Depends on where you are comfortable with where cb lies after the break. I try to stop shot the break in order to keep the cb in center table playing 9-ball. 8-ball I'll try to draw back towards the head of the table. Since there's more balls on the table, I like to try to tackle the object balls at the head first then work my way down depending on the run patterns.
I have seen the breaks where the cue ball leaves the table and lands square against the head ball to in effect shatter the rack open.
I have seen the breaks where the cue ball leaves the table and lands square against the head ball to in effect shatter the rack open.
I think it's not a great break, because due tho the big mass of the rack, the cue ball returns to the kitchen, and usually to a corner pocket. IMo it's better to have a little of follow, the cue ball stops very close to center of the table.
If you are only talking about energy transfer, you are right, but you cannot make the cue ball not to roll and be always in contact with the cloth...
If you are only talking about energy transfer, you are right, but you cannot make the cue ball not to roll and be always in contact with the cloth...
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No. If the cue ball is in contact with the cloth, it will acquire rotation.
Also, no one keeps the cue ball in contact with the cloth on a power break and it is very hard to do so because no one breaks with a completely level cue.
Assuming the rack is solid (all balls are frozen), then I don't think you want a CB with absolutely no rotation and contacting the cloth on impact. On most decent break speeds, such conditions would cause the CB to bounce back toward the head rail, making a scratch a possibility. The CB will bounce back simply because the mass of the rack at impact is greater than the mass of the CB.
A tiny amount of forward roll is desired at impact to cancel this ricocheting effect, such that the CB stays put after initially bouncing backwards. EDIT:frigopie beat me to this response
Or, the CB can be slightly airborne when contacting the rack, such that the CB obtains some forward roll after contact. However, many would argue that the CB hopping off the table is inefficient, since the energy lost due to CB going airborne doesn't contribute to the spread of the balls.
Well stated, as usual.
If people want much more info and demonstrations related to this topic, see:
break CB hop and squat
break technique and equipment advice
Enjoy,
Dave
I dont get it????
If you want to see the perfect break just watch SVB, some of Archer's matches from 2009, he seems to have changed his break over the past few years and Busta from 2009 and earlier, I think he has changed his break now also.
When Archer and Busta use to power thru the rack, no one had a better break and their cue ball is in the air until impact. Now SVB has taken the lead in the breaking department and his cue ball is also airborne, check these guys out in slow motion and you will know all you need to about the break.
If you want to see the perfect break just watch SVB, some of Archer's matches from 2009, he seems to have changed his break over the past few years and Busta from 2009 and earlier, I think he has changed his break now also.
When Archer and Busta use to power thru the rack, no one had a better break and their cue ball is in the air until impact. Now SVB has taken the lead in the breaking department and his cue ball is also airborne, check these guys out in slow motion and you will know all you need to about the break.
But I think no one has a choice about airborne or not although the speed and elevation do determine whether the cue ball gets there on the first hop and how high on the head ball it hits.
I prefer slight follow on the break to counteract the bounce off the rack. A bouncing cue ball also seems to die a bit if you can get a good square hit on the front ball and moderate bounce to center table, but I'm talking more about 10 ball rack... Slightly off center placement w/ cue ball causes the 1 to track towards the adjacent head corner pocket to start easy run. 9 ball break is more productive playing the wingball in the corner and 1 ball towards the side.. Breaking from hand width off the long rail, on headstring for me.
Pocketing A specific ball while maintaining cue ball control is priority #1!
These methods work best for *me maybe not everyone
Pocketing A specific ball while maintaining cue ball control is priority #1!
These methods work best for *me maybe not everyone
I have found my best breaks happen when the the QB hops in the air 6"-10" after contact with head ball. It took awhile for me to figure out how I was doing that to learn to do it consistently, but on my 9' table that is how I get the best ball spread after the break. It is not unusual to end up with more balls on the head of table rather than the foot of the table. Now on the 7' tables that is another story, I am struggling to find a good consistent break. If anyone has any ideas I appreciate the info. I try to cut break sometimes but I do not think I am contacting the 2nd ball square, it is a real weak break for me.:shrug:
IMO this is good if the rack is 100% perfect no spaces/hair between balls at all. If you have spaces then top or bottom would help better open them balls.
Some pros have the CB fly off cloth a bit for faster CB speed!
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I was watching a 9-ball match with that young kid Skyler and some other younger player on a Valley 7-foot. It seemed both of them were breaking and popping the cue ball up off the head ball a lot. About every 3-4 breaks, they were hooking themselves on the OB to start the run.