The 9B Break Nowadays

[DrCue'sProtege]

Ok, I want to be sure and get this straight. From some of the posts on other threads it sounds like I might be behind the current times. In current major tournaments - US Open, Masters, Mosconi, etc:

1) Do they rack the 9B on the spot?
2) Do they break from the box?
3) Or can they break from anywhere?
4) Are they hitting them easier trying to make the 1B in the side?
5) Are templates used in these tournaments? If so, which one.

I miss anything else?

r/DCP

 

[MitchAlsup]

1) Do they rack the 9B on the spot?

There are two different rule sets:: one places 1-B on the head spot, the other places 9-B on the head spot.

2) Do they break from the box?

Anywhere behind the first 2 diamonds--commonly known of as the "kitchen".
Box generally reserved to mean both a) behind the second 2 diamonds, and b) between the 2 middle end rail diamonds.

3) Or can they break from anywhere?

You mean like place CB 1mm away from 1-B and blast it ??

4) Are they hitting them easier trying to make the 1B in the side?

Corey Duel uses a soft break when allowed, most top players blast the rack.

5) Are templates used in these tournaments? If so, which one.

Templates or standard racks are used.

 

[skor]

Ok, I want to be sure and get this straight. From some of the posts on other threads it sounds like I might be behind the current times. In current major tournaments - US Open, Masters, Mosconi, etc:

1) Do they rack the 9B on the spot?
2) Do they break from the box?
3) Or can they break from anywhere?
4) Are they hitting them easier trying to make the 1B in the side?
5) Are templates used in these tournaments? If so, which one.

I miss anything else?

r/DCP

WNT tournaments: 9 ball on the spot, break from the box
WPA rules: 1ball on the spot, break from anywhere in the kitchen
They always try to get the 1ball in the side
back in the day with Sardo rack, they would go for the wing ball to the corner and 1ball close to the side pocket
Most use templates, I guess who ever gives sponsorship. Predator events use the Predator rack... In Euro events they tap the balls.

 

[MattPoland]

Matchroom does 9 on the spot, small break box, template rack, no 3-point rule, and a subjective requirement to hit the balls forcefully. So far they’ve only given warnings that some breaks were not forceful enough, no penalties yet. And I believe they’ve started adopting the practice of only racking the 2-ball in the left wing, bottom, or right wing spot.

In my opinion it’s been working great. It’s highly rare to get the wing ball in. You need to strive to get the 1 in the side. And they have to cut the 1 to do it. So they load it up with draw to get the cueball bouncing level side-to-side. Having that come across and get the 9 moving is common. Some players lose the cueball a bit and scratching is a real threat through bad technique or just bad luck. But the best players are holding that back and forth well enough to have the cueball end in a decent mid-table spot.

And nobody is controlling the 2-ball. It seems random where it ends up. So no two racks turn out looking exactly the same like other break formats are cursed with these days. So you get a good distribution of runouts, pushouts, and safeties off the break making each rack start out with a degree of uncertainty and tension ultimately leading to battles between the players on merit of their ability to move and not just repeat cookie cutter runouts. Lots of “pool” being played.

 

[skogstokig]

Matchroom does 9 on the spot, small break box, template rack, no 3-point rule, and a subjective requirement to hit the balls forcefully. So far they’ve only given warnings that some breaks were not forceful enough, no penalties yet. And I believe they’ve started adopting the practice of only racking the 2-ball in the left wing, bottom, or right wing spot.

In my opinion it’s been working great. It’s highly rare to get the wing ball in. You need to strive to get the 1 in the side. And they have to cut the 1 to do it. So they load it up with draw to get the cueball bouncing level side-to-side. Having that come across and get the 9 moving is common. Some players lose the cueball a bit and scratching is a real threat through bad technique or just bad luck. But the best players are holding that back and forth well enough to have the cueball end in a decent mid-table spot.

And nobody is controlling the 2-ball. It seems random where it ends up. So no two racks turn out looking exactly the same like other break formats are cursed with these days. So you get a good distribution of runouts, pushouts, and safeties off the break making each rack start out with a degree of uncertainty and tension ultimately leading to battles between the players on merit of their ability to move and not just repeat cookie cutter runouts. Lots of “pool” being played.

i agree, i like it, but we saw at the DCC how fickle the break box is. a little bit wider and that wing ball is going.

 

[MattPoland]

i agree, i like it, but we saw at the DCC how fickle the break box is. a little bit wider and that wing ball is going.

100%

Went right back to cookie cutter runouts. Fortunately only one player unlocked the code on that and hopefully we don’t see it again because that’s broken pool.

 

[7stud]

They always try to get the 1ball in the side

With template racks and the 1-ball on the spot, my understanding was that it's so easy to make the wing ball that players try to miss the 1-ball above the side pocket so that it heads into the kitchen, and they try to park the cue ball in the middle of the table. That way, they have a shot on the 1-ball in one of the top corner pockets to begin their run.

With triangle racking and the 1-ball on the spot, because the wing ball isn't guaranteed, that's when I thought players tried to make the 1-ball in the side pocket.

 

[sudocrushms]

i agree, i like it, but we saw at the DCC how fickle the break box is. a little bit wider and that wing ball is going.

Yup. You can't give these players that much angle into the rack or they'll just throw the wing ball into the corner and control the 1. That box was what, 2-3" wider than WNT events and that's all it took.

 

[skor]

With template racks and the 1-ball on the spot, my understanding was that it's so easy to make the wing ball that players try to miss the 1-ball above the side pocket so that it heads into the kitchen, and they try to park the cue ball in the middle of the table. That way, they have a shot on the 1-ball in one of the top corner pockets to begin their run.

With triangle racking and the 1-ball on the spot, because the wing ball isn't guaranteed, that's when I thought players tried to make the 1-ball in the side pocket.

that was right with the soft break.
But when they forced hard break, they went for 1ball in the side.
That's when patern racking started and the players strated to place the 2ball at the same spot in the rack behind the 9 to get position on it.