Think I need to change my break

Willowbrook Wolfy said:
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.
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Players know what a good rack means and should try to provide one. With a full rack it shouldn't take more than 30 seconds to get it done. It's the casual players that are a problem. Half don't even know how to rack let alone that a tight rack is necessary. Aside from just leaving a loose triangular mass of balls, the biggest problem I get is the "experts" who place their knuckles along the back row and push the compressed mass up to the spot. As soon as they release the triangle, it springs back into shape and loosens the balls. No use in pointing this out. They "made sure it was tight".

I like seeing the rack looking like a solid when I move and lift the triangle. Towards that end I let the head ball settle first then move everything up to it.
 
Willowbrook Wolfy said:
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.
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If you think breaking harder is the answer, why do you slow it down if no break is working on a given day? Wouldn't the answer be to break harder than your average?
 
rharm said:
If you think breaking harder is the answer, why do you slow it down if no break is working on a given day? Wouldn't the answer be to break harder than your average?
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On those days when the humidity is high, like right after a big rain, that simonis gets slow. You can bang the crap out of them and not get any decent action or spread.
'Dampness' is what we called it back in the day, and it def is a factor. Slow your roll on those days and target break.
The balls and table have a heavy feel about them, if any of you guys know what I mean. Gotta juice up. Speed's off bcuz balls roll diff and everything just kinda drags.
 
rharm said:
If you think breaking harder is the answer, why do you slow it down if no break is working on a given day? Wouldn't the answer be to break harder than your average?
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That got lost in translation. But what you say does make some sense. When I break with follow I have to slow it down a notch to keep the cb on the table. So if I’m having a bad day of scratches or not making a ball over and over I’ll switch to a break that the cb goes through the rack on instead of backing it up off the rack.

Tried slowing it down some yesterday as a tester and squatting the cb mid table. Didnt make one ball on the break except the cb twice when the OBs decided to knock it in. It was humid though and as Mensa mentioned harder to get a decent spread. Everyone was having issues with their breaks. And actually I did make 1 ball on a break. The funny part about it was the CB was right in the center of the table and I didn’t have any shots out there. That almost never happens. I’ll try it out again but for now going to stick with what works, which is bashing it in and leaving the CB up table.
 
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The stick should not break regardless of the break technique. Did a 1995 Busty break a cue with his super fast break and big shaft bending follow through? What about a 1995 Archer? What about Sigel, with his shaft looking like a banana on the follow through (in 9 ball, not straight pool;)).

The stick was defective. Your break is fine. Keep smashing the hell out of it.
 
straightline said:
Players know what a good rack means and should try to provide one. With a full rack it shouldn't take more than 30 seconds to get it done. It's the casual players that are a problem. Half don't even know how to rack let alone that a tight rack is necessary. Aside from just leaving a loose triangular mass of balls, the biggest problem I get is the "experts" who place their knuckles along the back row and push the compressed mass up to the spot. As soon as they release the triangle, it springs back into shape and loosens the balls. No use in pointing this out. They "made sure it was tight".

I like seeing the rack looking like a solid when I move and lift the triangle. Towards that end I let the head ball settle first then move everything up to it.
Click to expand...
remember the people that take a ball and tap the head ball to get a tight rack.
 
Willowbrook Wolfy said:
That got lost in translation. But what you say does make some sense. When I break with follow I have to slow it down a notch to keep the cb on the table. So if I’m having a bad day of scratches or not making a ball over and over I’ll switch to a break that the cb goes through the rack on instead of backing it up off the rack.

Tried slowing it down some yesterday as a tester and squatting the cb mid table. Didnt make one ball on the break except the cb twice when the OBs decided to knock it in. It was humid though and as Mensa mentioned harder to get a decent spread. Everyone was having issues with their breaks. And actually I did make 1 ball on a break. The funny part about it was the CB was right in the center of the table and I didn’t have any shots out there. That almost never happens. I’ll try it out again but for now going to stick with what works, which is bashing it in and leaving the CB up table.
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Go for it Wil!!!👍🏻
 
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