How to break 9 ball and make 1 in side. (W/ the 9 ball on spot.

There are two ways you can consistently make the one in the side. The first is you aim about 1/3rd of the one ball and stun at about 18mph,

The second is to aim about 1/5 of the ball and hit as hard as you can with draw. This will usually make the wing ball as well as the one in the side and sometimes one or two other balls but it's about as difficult as the 10 ball break because you have to be accurate as well as fast.
 
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Besides the obvious
Every table, cloth type and condition, balls type and condition, room temperature and humidity are all factors that will require to adjust the thumb rule to.
 
How to make the 9 in side on break?
The pros are playing with very, very special conditions.

First, you have the nine on the spot, as you noted, but also the cue ball is in a break box.

Most importantly, the balls are new and all the same size (or pretty nearly), and they are using a fresh-out-of-the-box template. The rack is very tight, with very small or no gaps.

The pros make the nine ball by cutting the 1 ball as mentioned above, with outside draw to the cue ball comes back through the rack area. The nine ball moves very little if the rack is tight, so it is there waiting for the cue ball. Adjust your draw and outside to change the path of the cue ball higher or lower through the rack.
 
The pros are playing with very, very special conditions.

First, you have the nine on the spot, as you noted, but also the cue ball is in a break box.

Most importantly, the balls are new and all the same size (or pretty nearly), and they are using a fresh-out-of-the-box template. The rack is very tight, with very small or no gaps.

The pros make the nine ball by cutting the 1 ball as mentioned above, with outside draw to the cue ball comes back through the rack area. The nine ball moves very little if the rack is tight, so it is there waiting for the cue ball. Adjust your draw and outside to change the path of the cue ball higher or lower through the rack.
For those of us not playing tournaments, for whatever reason, anything remotely resembling tournament table conditions doesn't happen often but when it does, is cake!!!
 
How to make the 1 ball in the side breaking a 9 ball rack?

Same way you get to Carnegie Hall.

Not matter what is said in this thread, the end result is going to come from the same damn thing.

Practice, Practice, Practice!!
 
Take a full rack; head ball on the spot. You have the second row pointed at either side. Doesn't take long to find a good angle and speed to pocket one.
9 on the spot 9 ball rack will be similar. Top three balls going for the side rails. One in the side requires a steep cut instead of a full hit is all.
The complications arise in asserting control over the outcome. Mission Dead Out IOW.
 
first work on being able to run out after making a ball on the break. if you cant, then there is little point in making one.

and little point in playing 9 ball. play 6 ball or even 4 ball, until you can run out those 6 open balls with regularity.

few can.
 
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first work on being able to run out after making a ball on the break. if you cant, then there is little point in making one.
I hear that a lot, but I respectfully disagree...

Making a ball on the break means that you have the next shot and control the table.

Absent something really weird, it's always better to control the table rather than the other guy controlling it. Even if you aren't likely to run out, you are likely to have options available to you that put your opponent at a disadvantage. Safeties in particular tend to be easier to play when there are more balls on the table...

All things considered, I'd always rather be at the table than in my seat.
 
On the Joe Rogan podcast with Fedor Gorst (8/27/2025)…

Right near the beginning, they were talking about Matchroom’s current 9-ball break format: 9 on the spot and the break box. Rogan referred to Fedor having shown him the break earlier that day and said: “You have to hit it with draw and you have to aim towards the back ball.”

I imagine there are variables you can play with. The primary one is the starting cueball position. After that perhaps how hard you hit it, how much draw, and whether to use any sidespin (likely none). And perhaps the conditions of the table will be your main factor requiring you to play with those variables.
 
however you wont be much or even a favorite when you break. as much of the time you dont make one any way. and if neither of you are runout players then swapping shots evens things out.
and if not a strong break you may be less than 50% on shooting next. and if shooting after making one having to shoot out which makes you a dog also.
the break is big for short stop and above players and easy tables..
 
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