A lot of good advice already on here. I have to disagree with a couple of points people have made though....
You're right to worry about spreading the balls for your opponent. And, I firmly believe that hitting the same break over and over and hoping for different results is foolish. When you're playing a strong player who will run out a dry break, I don't see any reason not to try something a little different. If you're already losing games on your break, what's the worst that could happen? Of course, if your opponent isn't getting out from your dry breaks, and instead ends up clearing things out of your way, then maybe you've found a recipe for success...
Unfortunately, no matter how many of the variables you try to control, you're still going to need some luck to consistently make a ball in 8-ball.
Here are the four things I toy around with when I'm struggling to make a ball on the break:
1. Switch spots on the table. Rather than shooting the mirror shot on the other side of the table, I find I have more success by moving a few inches at a time on the same side of the table. It's probably in my head, but it works for me.
2. Change the break speed (slow it down). I'm consistently amazed by how softly you can break the pack and still drop a ball or two. Plus, the balls are likely to spread a little differently, and if nothing drops, maybe your opponent will have a harder time running out.
3. 2nd ball break. This is the old standby. You've completely changed the impact point with the rack, and you should get completely different results. By playing with the speed (usually taking some off), you can retain a good deal of control over how clustered the balls get.
4. Break from the same spot as with the 2nd ball break, but try to clip the head ball on the way in. It's really important with this break to keep the speed down, and try to minimize the jumping of the cue ball. I usually hit this break with my regular playing cue, because I have better control. A last resort, because it's playing with all different types of fire, but with the high risk comes the high reward. I probably make more balls and get a better spread this way than with any other 8-ball break. I also jump the cue ball off the table or scratch more often this way than any other way.
Don't let yourself get discouraged. Just look at it as a challenge and a puzzle to solve.
You're right to worry about spreading the balls for your opponent. And, I firmly believe that hitting the same break over and over and hoping for different results is foolish. When you're playing a strong player who will run out a dry break, I don't see any reason not to try something a little different. If you're already losing games on your break, what's the worst that could happen? Of course, if your opponent isn't getting out from your dry breaks, and instead ends up clearing things out of your way, then maybe you've found a recipe for success...
Unfortunately, no matter how many of the variables you try to control, you're still going to need some luck to consistently make a ball in 8-ball.
Here are the four things I toy around with when I'm struggling to make a ball on the break:
1. Switch spots on the table. Rather than shooting the mirror shot on the other side of the table, I find I have more success by moving a few inches at a time on the same side of the table. It's probably in my head, but it works for me.
2. Change the break speed (slow it down). I'm consistently amazed by how softly you can break the pack and still drop a ball or two. Plus, the balls are likely to spread a little differently, and if nothing drops, maybe your opponent will have a harder time running out.
3. 2nd ball break. This is the old standby. You've completely changed the impact point with the rack, and you should get completely different results. By playing with the speed (usually taking some off), you can retain a good deal of control over how clustered the balls get.
4. Break from the same spot as with the 2nd ball break, but try to clip the head ball on the way in. It's really important with this break to keep the speed down, and try to minimize the jumping of the cue ball. I usually hit this break with my regular playing cue, because I have better control. A last resort, because it's playing with all different types of fire, but with the high risk comes the high reward. I probably make more balls and get a better spread this way than with any other 8-ball break. I also jump the cue ball off the table or scratch more often this way than any other way.
Don't let yourself get discouraged. Just look at it as a challenge and a puzzle to solve.
