Why not sink a ball and run out?
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I was asked to play on an 8 ball team. I'm mostly a One Pocket Player.
So why would you not soft break 8 ball and give yourself a chance to get to the table?
Has anyone developed the Soft Break for 8-ball?
The less i practice my break...the more i break dry.How many times have you broke dry? or just have no way to get out?
If you believe in your abilities to hide the ball why not make it a tug of war?
The less i practice my break...the more i break dry.
I save my one pocket break for one pocket.
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If im playing someone whos not a great shooter, i break from the center and open the table up.
If im playing someone who can run out i break from the side and push a lot of balls on to the rail.
At least thats my plan.
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I was asked to play on an 8 ball team. I'm mostly a One Pocket Player.
So why would you not soft break 8 ball and give yourself a chance to get to the table?
Has anyone developed the Soft Break for 8-ball?
It might be a valid strategy for your style of play, but make sure that it's actually legal in whatever league you're playing in. WPA rules only require that you either make a ball or 4 object balls contact a rail, but some leagues place additional restrictions on the break. For example, APA says that no defensive breaks are allowed; you should break as hard as you can while maintaining control.
I have found the second ball break hit at medium speed tends to leave a more clustered lay out, which favors the experienced player. It also has the potential to move the 8 ball if you are in a match where the 8 ball break wins. If I am using a magic rack on a 7 footer, the wing ball can go straight in. If that is happening consistently I will hit a little harder to hopefully open the balls a little better for the potential run out.
I have noticed in the eight ball events on the seven foot Diamonds that a lot of the pro players are opting for the second ball break.
I was asked to play on an 8 ball team. I'm mostly a One Pocket Player.
So why would you not soft break 8 ball and give yourself a chance to get to the table?
Has anyone developed the Soft Break for 8-ball?
In other words, (or fewer words), you could break soft and lose,,,,,,,,,, or win.Think of it all this way. When you break you may:
• make a ball and run the table for a win
• make the 8-ball and win under APA rules
Or, you may:
• not make a ball and give up the table
• make a ball and scratch, giving up the table
• make the 8-ball and scratch, losing under APA rules
• make a ball and not have a good second shot, more likely under APA rules
A soft break is an advantage to the better player/straight pool player.
Agreed, but my in-house league still enforces the "4 object balls to a rail" rule. I also dislike the amount of luck involved in an open break and love the controlled break of one pocket, but I don't think that playing 8-ball like one pocket is the way to go.Yay for In-House League!
I hope all my opponents soft break at 8-ball.
The games they win will probably take a long time....and they won’t always win.
I can run out when I break....and every once in a while I’ll lay a small pack on them...
....and break their heart.
Agreed, but my in-house league still enforces the "4 object balls to a rail" rule. I also dislike the amount of luck involved in an open break and love the controlled break of one pocket, but I don't think that playing 8-ball like one pocket is the way to go.
Intentionally giving up the table on the break gives your opponent the advantage. If they aren't skilled or patient enough to capitalize on that, maybe you can get a few wins that way, but I don't think it's a sustainable strategy against higher level players that will take that advantage and either run out or stick you in a worse spot. No matter who I'm playing, if I open break and make a ball in 8-ball, I like my changes of winning the rack better than any other possible post-break scenario...so much so that's it's worth giving away an open table if I break dry, and even more so if it's an open table (rather than "take what you make").