8 on the break

Shotcy · Oct 9, 2017

This topic had probably been done to death but I can't seem to find to much on it. 8 on the break. I know it involves hitting the second ball in the rack first but can you ever get good enough at it to make it feasible? Do you normally break head on but will decide to try an 8 break due to gaps in the rack or a slight angle in the rack? I don't run out very often so I'm wondering if I should be trying 8 breaks? I'm horrible at them tho I like to break using the table as a bridge and the ball pretty far back, don't think you do this for 8 breaks. Sorry for the lack of paragraphs

.

Shannon.spronk · Oct 9, 2017

So when if I were attempting to make the 8 on the break I would be breaking from the side rail right at the second diamond. I would aim at the second ball just missing the head ball. I would draw the cue ball into the side rail so that it hits the side rail and goes back into the stack hopefully knocking the 8 ball int the side.

All that said I think you are much better off attempting to work on your patterns and ball pocketing. Those two things will help you alot more in the long run.

Shotcy · Oct 9, 2017

I've herd of that being the goal but 9/10 times the 8 goes in the side pocket off the break without cue contact. Just tends to get tossed in the opposite side you broke from, side pocket direction. I guess that will happen anyway so may as well try to get the cue ball to go back into the center of what's left of the rack and smack it for an extra push. i don't care for the 8 break but I know some people that seem to get it a lot. Like they know something and not sharing it lol. It defiantly pays off for them and their running ability is great too.

Coop1701 · Oct 10, 2017

I always do the second ball break... out of like 7 breaks. I usually make the 8 in the side. If it misses there. It tries again in the upper corner. One night I even made 2 8 balls in a row. I like up 2 inches from the side rail... and go straight at the 2nd ball.

BilliardsAbout · Oct 10, 2017

To score the 8-ball, I hit the second ball full like I'm cutting it to the corner, medium speed, a tip below center with a dash of outside english. Even a pro gets that 8-ball once in 35 tries so I avoid risky second-ball breaks like this one.

9andout · Oct 10, 2017

Spot the 8. Is the best rule. Unless on a coin op table
BS win.

Pushout · Oct 10, 2017

I understand that in today's climate the 8 on the break is not a win anymore.

ctyhntr · Oct 10, 2017

This isn't a hard a fast rule for 8-ball. You will need to check with your opponent, or the league rules. Not everyone has adopted WPA 8-ball rules. Off the top of my head, making the 8-ball is a win under APA rules, and optional win in VNEA.

Pushout said:
I understand that in today's climate the 8 on the break is not a win anymore.

Pushout · Oct 10, 2017

ctyhntr said:
This isn't a hard a fast rule for 8-ball. You will need to check with your opponent, or the league rules. Not everyone has adopted WPA 8-ball rules. Off the top of my head, making the 8-ball is a win under APA rules, and optional win in VNEA.

In my personal experience I've been told it's not a win in casual play. I don't play leagues and don't play 8 ball if I can avoid it and haven't since 1973. I've played it a few times just to be able to play anything at all but don't care for it.

jimmyco · Oct 10, 2017

Win or spot or rerack, it's not a bad thing to know. You never know when some hall or bar has a cash prize to be earned.

Scott Lee · Oct 10, 2017

It is a crock of BS that ANYONE can make the 8 on the break as a called shot. As mentioned earlier, the 8ball break is, at best, even for a pro, is a 3% probability shot. That means that under the best conditions it MIGHT be made 3 out of 100 breaks. Now everyone knows someone who "made the 8 3x in a row", but that doesn't hold water in the long run. Also, for most competitive play (other than APA) the 8 on the break is not a win...it's a rerack or spot the 8 and keep shooting. If you can find someone who claims they can make the 8 on demand, I'd like to come see them, and bet per break...AS MUCH AS YOU WANT!

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

poolguy4u · Oct 10, 2017

I love the eight on the break. A few years ago, I made the eightball twice in ten tries in a National event.

In the league I play in, the eight on the break is a win. I do it more than most people.

Yeah cry babies don't like it but it's the rules. Some people are just more lucky than others.

Me, I practice my luck.

LOL...no I don't check the rack. But I will adjust my break depending on who is racking and depends on how the balls are breaking on that day.

.

Pushout · Oct 10, 2017

I had a guy I was in college with back in 2007 or so, tell me he saw a guy make the 8 pm the break 8 times in a row. I still laugh when I think about it.

cajunfats · Oct 10, 2017

8 on the Break Cash Prize

jimmyco said:
Win or spot or rerack, it's not a bad thing to know. You never know when some hall or bar has a cash prize to be earned.

I just instituted this at a small local bar during our Thursday Night Tournaments. Of course, it is called "Straight 8" here in our corner of Cajun Country.

I donated my 2nd Place money the last two weeks to do an 8 on the break contest as an incentive to get going. Each Player adds one dollar to their entry fee, and if someone makes the 8 on the break during the tournament, they will win. It's a fun thing to do. Hopefully, it will attract more players/customers.

cajunfats · Oct 10, 2017

8 on the Break Gods

Scott Lee said:
It is a crock of BS that ANYONE can make the 8 on the break as a called shot. As mentioned earlier, the 8ball break is, at best, even for a pro, is a 3% probability shot. That means that under the best conditions it MIGHT be made 3 out of 100 breaks. Now everyone knows someone who "made the 8 3x in a row", but that doesn't hold water in the long run. Also, for most competitive play (other than APA) the 8 on the break is not a win...it's a rerack or spot the 8 and keep shooting. If you can find someone who claims they can make the 8 on demand, I'd like to come see them, and bet per break...AS MUCH AS YOU WANT!

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Scott, you have heard every story imaginable on the pool table. This is just another of those whoppers that are Urban Legend. You know no one is going to take that bet.

dr_dave · Oct 10, 2017

Shotcy said:
This topic had probably been done to death but I can't seem to find to much on it. 8 on the break.

FYI, this topic is covered in detail here:

8-ball break resource page

Enjoy,
Dave

Scott Lee · Oct 10, 2017

I know Carl! I've been lookin' for 'em for 40 years...haven't found 'em yet...but
I'll keep lookin', they gotta be out there somewhere! LOL :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

cajunfats said:
Scott, you have heard every story imaginable on the pool table. This is just another of those whoppers that are Urban Legend. You know no one is going to take that bet.

Robert58 · Oct 10, 2017

One of the old tricks is when your opponent is racking crocked. Break from the side the rack is swung too. You have more of the second ball to hit.

And yes I have made it more than once, in one night, playing in a bar.

JohnnyP · Oct 10, 2017

Scott Lee said:
...Now everyone knows someone who "made the 8 3x in a row", but that doesn't hold water in the long run....

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Scott: I was a sailor in the late 60's, aboard a ship home ported in Norfolk. I played in the bars on the strip outside the D&S Piers during the week, and at St. Elmo's downtown on the weekend. Yes, I paid for lessons at St. Elmo's. :embarrassed2:

One night I did make the 8 three times in a row. It was on a bar table on the strip, with the big cue ball. Second ball break with inside to go two rails and hit the rack again from behind.

Shotcy · Oct 10, 2017

Thanks everyone for the responses. I'm mostly asking because I do play a lot of league. When gambling, or a person whom I'm not familiar with I always do ask. My good friend gets them a lot it seems but doesn't always try them. He's gotten two in a row but I'm sure that's not really a story on here. Never herd of 3 tho as mentioned earlier, thats bananas.

I'm gonna go do the thing I should always do when I have a pool question and check out Dr.Dave's link/website, but its always nice to hear personal experiences.

8 on the break

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