Snooker’s Mark Williams defends his break tactics

Williams is playing a legal shot....but I think he’s playing a negative one.
He says players make the opening red too much...but games are won with a good break also....
...it’s not like straight pool.....although I can see he‘ll force the rule change like straight pool.
...the snooker break is a repetitive shot...no trickier than one pocket...he should work on his break.
 
Basically the same break we used to use at the old pool hall in the US that I learned to play snooker at. We would bank two rails into the stack best I recall and barely made it twitch done right. I assumed it was illegal in British snooker since I never saw it used. Williams is right, if that safe break is banned then similar safeties will have to be questioned. That safe break might be better than passing the break to the other player. The break I saw with a quick search was really kinda sloppy, he hit the rack much harder than he needed to unless there are some rules in play I don't know about.

Hu
 
pt109 said:
Williams is playing a legal shot....but I think he’s playing a negative one.
He says players make the opening red too much...but games are won with a good break also....
...it’s not like straight pool.....although I can see he‘ll force the rule change like straight pool.
...the snooker break is a repetitive shot...no trickier than one pocket...he should work on his break.
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But he is the quickest player on tour this season (and that includes RoS as of the end of the 1st round, they're virtually level so it will change every game), based on average shot time, so it would suggest his frames (after the first few shots) are actually quite attacking...
 
in a way it's acknowledging his age and eyesight. but i understand his reasoning, it's perfectly rational. wouldn't be surprised if other players with declining long pot success follow suit.
 
Anybody remember the "bird break," invented by Corey, used by almost all of the players at the 2007 World Pool Championship in Philippines? The rules were changed thereafter to ensure, I think, 3 balls must past the center line for it to be a legal break. I may not be describing this correctly, but the rules changed. :-p
 
JAM said:
Anybody remember the "bird break," invented by Corey, used by almost all of the players at the 2007 World Pool Championship in Philippines? The rules were changed thereafter to ensure, I think, 3 balls must past the center line for it to be a legal break. I may not be describing this correctly, but the rules changed. :-p
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sounds about right. ronnie alcano perfected that break and won the world championship with it in 2006 or 2007, but his opponent (ralf) kept breaking hard until his last break in the final.
 
Much ado about nothing, imo....

Perfect legal shot as we all know, and a relatively easy return safety play for the incoming player.
 
The_JV said:
Much ado about nothing, imo....

Perfect legal shot as we all know, and a relatively easy return safety play for the incoming player.
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I agree. Marks break, his choice as to how he starts off the game ... and his opponents choice how to respond.

It seems to me like players are more often potting the ball pushed out after the break ... the long game has improved significantly over the years IMO. Mark is just doing what he feels is needed to counter that.

I also recall a recent match where be broke this way but left Ronnie a pot to left middle ... oops :oops: ... never say never Mark :D

Dave
 
ShootingArts said:
Basically the same break we used to use at the old pool hall in the US that I learned to play snooker at. We would bank two rails into the stack best I recall and barely made it twitch done right. I assumed it was illegal in British snooker since I never saw it used. Williams is right, if that safe break is banned then similar safeties will have to be questioned. That safe break might be better than passing the break to the other player. The break I saw with a quick search was really kinda sloppy, he hit the rack much harder than he needed to unless there are some rules in play I don't know about.

Hu
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I would be shocked if that break was banned in snooker. Frankly I would be surprised if anyone in the snooker world was even talking about making that break illegal.

Dave
 
DaveK said:
I would be shocked if that break was banned in snooker. Frankly I would be surprised if anyone in the snooker world was even talking about making that break illegal.

Dave
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They said during commentary yesterday that the players had all been asked for feedback and the majority didn't want it banned (or something to that effect).
 
It is just another safety, and safety is HUGE in snooker.... I say leave him alone, it is as valid as at any other point in the game.
 
vjmehra said:
They said during commentary yesterday that the players had all been asked for feedback and the majority didn't want it banned (or something to that effect).
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I'm guessing they were on the ball enough to realize this would be a gateway to future "tinkerings". ...and that the whole thing was born out of boredom with no real stories to incite interest.
 
The_JV said:
I'm guessing they were on the ball enough to realize this would be a gateway to future "tinkerings". ...and that the whole thing was born out of boredom with no real stories to incite interest.
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Yep I suspect that is exactly the case!
 
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