Think I need to change my break

[Mensabum]

2nd ball break works better for me at maybe 60%. Hit too hard and I drastically lose the cue ball.

You and many others. Don't feel like the lone ranger.
Wouldn't it make more sense to break em open clean and run out?? I know luck plays a part in pool and 2nd ball breaks increase 8 ball movement, but I'd rather have a nice open table after to work with, than some mess to navigate when that 2nd ball break goes south. I don't play much 8 ball so I may be off the mark.

2nd ball break works better for me at maybe 60%. Hit too hard and I drastically lose the cue ball.

2nd ball break works better for me at maybe 60%. Hit too hard and I drastically lose the cue ball.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

Yeah glad you mentioned the “hop”. mine hops twice on a 9’. Lines on home cloth are
— — -1. The first line is the cue on the cloth and is about 8” long. 2nd and 3rd are the cb. Seems kind of crazy that it hops at all with draw on it

It hops because you are hitting the cue ball above the horizontal center but hitting down on the cue ball which makes it bounce with draw. I have observed that a cue ball hitting the head ball and bouncing up about 8 to 12 inches seems to break the rack much better. Many folks will disagree with this but watch the breaks of Shane, the Filipinos, Mike Dechaine, etc. Mike's break goes 30 inches high sometime...and he can break.

 

[Mensabum]

It hops because you are hitting the cue ball above the horizontal center but hitting down on the cue ball which makes it bounce with draw. I have observed that a cue ball hitting the head ball and bouncing up about 8 to 12 inches seems to break the rack much better. Many folks will disagree with this but watch the breaks of Shane, the Filipinos, Mike Dechaine, etc. Mike's break goes 30 inches high sometime...and he can break.

Back in the day, that's what you strived for. CB goes straight up and stays relatively mid table. It's all in how you hit the rock.

 

[boogieman]

Wolfy,

Something is definitely wrong. If you're dreams of going pro are still in you, you might want to work on your break. Overkill isn't needed, you need a controlled break.

 

[maha]

i used to miscue on the break very often. never had anyone quit me saying i was too good.
no one would gamble with the guys that hit the break so hard as it was obvious they could do what others couldn't.
except those that were better..

the guys that broke the balls like king kong and ran out, got lots of pats on the back. and were even able to borrow some money to eat off of.

 

[Flakeandrun]

You and many others. Don't feel like the lone ranger.
Wouldn't it make more sense to break em open clean and run out?? I know luck plays a part in pool and 2nd ball breaks increase 8 ball movement, but I'd rather have a nice open table after to work with, than some mess to navigate when that 2nd ball break goes south. I don't play much 8 ball so I may be off the mark.

You're not. Agree.

 

[Willowbrook Wolfy]

N

You and many others. Don't feel like the lone ranger.
Wouldn't it make more sense to break em open clean and run out?? I know luck plays a part in pool and 2nd ball breaks increase 8 ball movement, but I'd rather have a nice open table after to work with, than some mess to navigate when that 2nd ball break goes south. I don't play much 8 ball so I may be off the mark.

No. You are on the money for sure. I feel the same way. A nice open table without big clusters is by far the superior break for almost anyone. Even a locksmith safety player. There are too many balls to make contact with on a safety in 8 ball. Just run em out instead. And there is a 2nd ball break from the middle that makes the 8 also, and usually gives a better spread than the 2nd ball side break. A lot of people must not remember that one. I rarely see anyone use it anymore. Probably because it takes actual precision to not scratch and everyone is looking for instant gratification these days.

 

[Willowbrook Wolfy]

Wolfy,

Something is definitely wrong. If you're dreams of going pro are still in you, you might want to work on your break. Overkill isn't needed, you need a controlled break.

Boogie. My avg break speed is ~21mph. It’s the same speed in 8 and 9. But like I was saying. In the summer during landscape season it happens to be a bit harder. I can’t tell the motion is harder, it’s the sound of the rack cracking. You can hear the difference. Then the Predator app verified it is harder.


Instead of varying the speed, I keep it consistent and have studied hard to figure out what spots and to where the break is most effective at the set speed. So if speed is constant I have 1 less variable to account for. And if no break is working on a given day I have a couple defaults that might be hit slightly softer. I have to hit them softer with follow. Except 2 9 ball breaks. But those two are just(what’s the words meaning eccentric)? One makes the 1 1 rail to the corner. Other in the side. But the spreads are garbage. Slowing it down doesn’t need to happen much. Usually at least one of my regular breaks gets the job done.

 

[Willowbrook Wolfy]

Wolfy,

Something is definitely wrong. If your dreams of going pro are still in you, you might want to work on your break. Overkill isn't needed, you need a controlled break.

“thrift store” “boutique” “pawn shop” what’s the term meaning “just for looks”? Gonna bother me all day now

 

[easy-e]

You and many others. Don't feel like the lone ranger.
Wouldn't it make more sense to break em open clean and run out?? I know luck plays a part in pool and 2nd ball breaks increase 8 ball movement, but I'd rather have a nice open table after to work with, than some mess to navigate when that 2nd ball break goes south. I don't play much 8 ball so I may be off the mark.

I think it depends. If I'm using a template, I'll break head on as hard as I can stay controlled (maybe 70%?). ANY OTHER TIME I use the second ball break. I feel I am more likely to make a ball, and less likely to scratch. Remember a wide open break totally backfires on you when you either break dry or scratch. Besides, when you break the second ball at 60% speed, you don't always cluster the balls up. Often times the balls are just as wide open as the power break.

 

[easy-e]

N

No. You are on the money for sure. I feel the same way. A nice open table without big clusters is by far the superior break for almost anyone. Even a locksmith safety player. There are too many balls to make contact with on a safety in 8 ball. Just run em out instead. And there is a 2nd ball break from the middle that makes the 8 also, and usually gives a better spread than the 2nd ball side break. A lot of people must not remember that one. I rarely see anyone use it anymore. Probably because it takes actual precision to not scratch and everyone is looking for instant gratification these days.

If you can guarantee a ball would be pocketed and no scratch, everyone would break that way. If I'm playing a sub-600 for my life, I'm going 2nd ball all day.

 

[straightline]

Tried one or the one of the next two in the side?

 

[Willowbrook Wolfy]

If you can guarantee a ball would be pocketed and no scratch, everyone would break that way. If I'm playing a sub-600 for my life, I'm going 2nd ball all day.

Fair enough. You must have a lot of patience.

 

[Willowbrook Wolfy]

The term!!-parlor trick!

 

[easy-e]

Fair enough. You must have a lot of patience.

It also depends on who you're playing and how much you want to win. I'm not really a patient guy, but nowadays on these diamond bar tables, the balls open pretty good no matter what break you use.

 

[Mensabum]

N

No. You are on the money for sure. I feel the same way. A nice open table without big clusters is by far the superior break for almost anyone. Even a locksmith safety player. There are too many balls to make contact with on a safety in 8 ball. Just run em out instead. And there is a 2nd ball break from the middle that makes the 8 also, and usually gives a better spread than the 2nd ball side break. A lot of people must not remember that one. I rarely see anyone use it anymore. Probably because it takes actual precision to not scratch and everyone is looking for instant gratification these days.

There's an old 9 ball break like that. Center table, load up w inside and pull the trigger. Lol. Idea was to come off the one ball and hit the long rail w English that throws the CB back into the rack, hopefully 'Rollin' the cheese.' lol. Keeps the cue ball outta the hole, but if you're off by a hair, can go flying off table. Hard for bangers to control at speed.
Wouldn't recommend for bar boxes.

 

[SeniorTom]

I had my break speed measured and I got up to 20.5 miles per hour. I have always been confident and capable in my breaking power and accuracy, but oftentimes think that dropping down to 15 mph seems to give me better results, especially when going after the second ball in the rack. I like to put a little bottom left on the cue ball, and at the lower speed I can apply it better.

 

[maha]

break speed is partly a macho thing. you do make some more balls by hitting harder of course. but you also lose control of the cue ball alot more often. as well as scratch more often.
few can break really hard and not get punished for it, rather than getting rewarded.

your break should be only as hard as you can control where the cueball ends up.

 

[Mensabum]

I had my break speed measured and I got up to 20.5 miles per hour. I have always been confident and capable in my breaking power and accuracy, but oftentimes think that dropping down to 15 mph seems to give me better results, especially when going after the second ball in the rack. I like to put a little bottom left on the cue ball, and at the lower speed I can apply it better.

Power isn't the end all be all for a good snap. Precision and placement of cb against head or 2nd ball combined w enuf juice to get the job done wins the day.
Experiment w the table your on. Some of those old bar boxes have weak rubber, worn cloth, grooves and dents in em. Might require a bit more gas to open em up.
Low seems to be easier for many players to control on the break. Unless you clip the one ball, then get the women and chilluns' off the field!!

 

[Willowbrook Wolfy]

Power isn't the end all be all for a good snap. Precision and placement of cb against head or 2nd ball combined w enuf juice to get the job done wins the day.
Experiment w the table your on. Some of those old bar boxes have weak rubber, worn cloth, grooves and dents in em. Might require a bit more gas to open em up.
Low seems to be easier for many players to control on the break. Unless you clip the one ball, then get the women and chilluns' off the field!!

Low works best when it isn’t rack your own and you break from center or near center. You can experiment with it. If the head ball is off on either side and you hit it from dead center hard with follow the cb is more likely to jump off the table. With low you can also adjust the side of center you break from as long as the head ball is on one of the two second balls to not fly it off the table. I’ve had a few players wonder how I can tell from the head of the table when the head ball is loose on one side. I guess lot of players can’t tell from there. I can see it just fine. Even when it’s off by almost nothing. It’s obvious to me after playing for a long time. Even had a few ask “what do you mean?” when I tell them it’s off. Then sure enough it’s off. But normally I just move the cb to the correct side and break like they didn’t give a bad rack. If they do it a second or third time I will address it with them. Cause at that point I’m pissed.

I never intentionally slug a rack on anyone. So I expect the same from opponents. Occasionally it’s even taken me a few minutes to rack the balls. Rather look like an idiot than give someone a bad rack.