Break and continue

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fish2

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How do break in 8 ball and ensure that the CB is somewhere in the middle, I do not need to crush the rack, the objective is to break, get a good spread and the CB stays somewhere in the middle and then continue shooting

EDITED Feb 26, 9:14 ET - Apologies for not making it clear, I don't need to make a ball on the break, The objective is to break, have a good spread and CB stays in the middle. This is for a match where I am playing a better player and the handicap is I get all the break and continue shooting regardless if I make a ball or not
 
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fish2 said:
How do break in 8 ball and ensure that the CB is somewhere in the middle, I do not need to crush the rack, the objective is to break, get a good spread and the CB stays somewhere in the middle and then continue shooting
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There is no secret. The cue ball tells you what you did wrong on each break.

If the cue ball goes to the left, you need to aim more to the right. If the cue ball runs forward, you need to hit it lower. If the cue ball has a lot of sidespin, you need to hit closer to center.

The cue ball should not hit any cushions, unless it's kissed.
 
Your absolute main objective as the breaker is to make a ball & have control of the table.

Rely on your cue ball control skills to run the rack, not the break & a good spread.
 
Bob Jewett said:
He asked how to leave the cue ball in the middle of the table. Do you feel that's unimportant?
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Bob,

I play only 40 x 80 playing surface 8 ball & utilize the second ball break almost 100%.

So yes in my opinion leaving the cue ball in the middle is unimportant especially when measured up against making a ball on the break.

He also said,

"The objective is to break, get a good spread and the CB stays somewhere in the middle and then continue shooting."

Now if you want to say that making a ball is implied with all the above then yes by all means that is correct.

Without making a ball all that other stuff is totally inconsequential.
 
Fore Rail said:
Your absolute main objective as the breaker is to make a ball & have control of the table.

Rely on your cue ball control skills to run the rack, not the break & a good spread.
Click to expand...

Ermmmm....You left out the..... "and then continue shooting".....part in your OP.....pretty sure those words have implications. 😉
 
fish2 said:
... the objective is to break, get a good spread ...
Click to expand...
I forgot one of the most important parts of getting a good spread -- the rack. If the balls are not racked tightly, they won't separate.

Here’s a demo of that you can do as a joke: make sure the nine balls on the sides are not quite touching the six balls in the "core". At the end of racking, press the back corner balls forward and move the triangle forward a sixteenth of an inch. The nine side balls will be moved away from the core. Sometimes only four or five balls move at all on the break.

A template rack should avoid this kind of problem.
 
@Bob Jewett is 100% right on this. It's not a secret. Closely observe what the CB does and tweak it until it's correct. He explained it very well but if you need more resources study up on what high/low and sidespin does. The wagon wheel drill would be a good eye opener, as would any drill to do with the tangent line.

On the break 1mm difference on your tip contact can make a huge difference. Couple this with the fact that most people try to absolutely smash the break and getting any consistency on where the CB lands is an exercise in frustration. Definitely use a template for learning because anything less than a 100% perfect rack also throws a wrench into the gears.

Once you understand how it works with a template and are consistent, IMHO you should stop using templates and do rack your own. Racking is a skill that is very under rated and more difficult than many realize. Especially since many tournaments not play rack your own, you will be at a huge disadvantage if you cant freeze the rack.

Another benefit to perfectly freezing a rack is that most people aren't used to it. They are used to a rack with a gap between the second two balls. That second row gap is default for 75% of players. If you give them a correct frozen rack they will struggle to get their break to work. The best offense is to rack perfectly because most people don't know what to do with a perfect rack. You'll often see them scratch or just break dry with a great spread. The gap in the second row is rack manipulation and many people have never dealt with an actually frozen rack. Freeze the rack correctly and perfectly and they will struggle.

Once you have your break repeatable, carefully check the rack, notice gaps. Learn what the gaps do. Even with a ref racking you will have to deal with gaps. It's like a science experiment in a way.
 
My elements for a good 8 ball break

1) Make sure the spot is in the right place

2) Tight Rack

3) Make sure the back of the rack is straight, not tilted in any direction.

If you must hit the head ball & try to squat the cue ball your focus should be on making the two balls behind the head ball travel towards the side pockets. This is done with not a great amount of speed, focusing instead on accuracy of the cue ball strike on the head ball strike.

With 15 balls on the table flying around it isn't easy keeping another ball from kicking the cue ball out of the center of the table if you manage as to get it there.

The main objective in an 8 ball break is to make a ball. The table is open after the break where most often you will have a shot wherever the cue ball lands.

This is why I suggest getting a handle on a good second ball break.

A good 2nd ball break benefits the breaker, a bad one doesn't benefit the incoming player.

A dry head ball break will get you run out much more often than a dry 2nd ball break.
 
Fore Rail said:
Did you read the post right above yours?
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Not until after I posted....I see you corrected yourself....good job.

Regarding head ball and second ball break.....I don't think OP is opposed to second ball break and even mentioned he does not need to crush the rack......OP was asking how to get into the center of the table.

Center of the table can be achieved with both head ball and second ball breaks.....I suggest if I have an "option" (assuming I am making a ball) that I would rather the CB be in the center of the table which seems the odds would lean toward more options for the breaker.

In addition....reading the table would determine if I am using a head ball or second ball break.....If I am consistently making 2,3,4 or more balls on a crushed headball.....and can squat the CB on the center of the table....I probably will be using that break.....If balls are constantly going in with a second ball break...probably going to opt for that.....I am not going to "limit" my options by only using 1 break.

Regarding controlling the CB (which is the OP's intent)......A good system of control is to use the light reflection on the head ball (or second ball)....most tables shooting the light reflection square on is a full ball hit (no matter where you break from).....however...you can use specific parts of the rectangle light reflection to not only change the break and "make balls"....but it is a easy consistent aim point and can be used as a "cut break".....

For a second ball hit medium stroke......aiming at the "side" of the light reflection you are breaking from".....use a touch of low right (from the right side) and the CB will go to the side rail and back out to center table.....You can "experiment" with different english, speeds and contact points on the light to get more consistent results.

Even changing just the speed of the break can result in a difference of making balls or not making balls.

Just have fun with it...be find a way to create consistency and adjustability from table to table.
 
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Fore Rail said:
Your absolute main objective as the breaker is to make a ball & have control of the table.

Rely on your cue ball control skills to run the rack, not the break & a good spread.
Click to expand...

Apologies for not making it clear, I don't need to make a ball on the break, The objective is to break, have a good spread and CB stays in the middle. This is for a match where I am playing a better player and the handicap is I get all the break and continue shooting regardless if I make a ball or not
 
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fish2 said:
Apologies for not making it clear, I don't need to make a ball on the break, The objective is to break, have a good spread and CB stays in the middle. This is for a match where I am playing a better player and the handicap is I get all the break and continue shooting regardless if I make a ball or not
Click to expand...
Practice breaking from the center of the table hitting the head ball with as little speed as possible to get that decent spread. Just make sure your tip / cue ball contact point is precise & so is the strike on the head ball.

You will quickly get a feel for what you need.

What you do after the break is entirely up to you. Don't expect a bunch of ducks based upon your break. You will still have to do plenty of work that determines whether you win or lose each rack.
 
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