14/1 Question

i210mfu · May 4, 2004

Over here straight pool is part of the league games (4 Matches of Nineball / 2 Eightball and 2 Straightpool matches to 125 Points) I hvae a question regarding break shots.

1. The typical breakshot evreybody is looking for is the "side of the rack" break shot. I experienced besides that shot, that a "behind the rack" break shot delivers also very good outcomes in terms of spreading the rack. I also think, since the distance to the pocket and the remaining rack is shorter it is the "easier" break shot. What is your opinion?

2. Secondary Breakshots
What type of secondary breakshots you are looking for? Do you only select secondary breakshots with an insurance ball left?

Last but not least:a small side remark. I've read some posts where guys have been talking about Germany just like Mr. Rumsfeld. I don't quote an that but I think this is pool forum and not a politics forum....It should stay that way.

Markus

ajrack · May 4, 2004

Best position...

If you had ball in hand with the cue ball and the object ball placed where ever you could place it ...where would you put it?
...probably NOT where the "Best" breakshot is located in most of the books!!!

Try using different practice locations where the balls are a good breakshot for "YOU"!!! ....the better you get, the more locations will be "GOOD" for you.

i210mfu · May 4, 2004

@ajrack

ajrack said:
If you had ball in hand with the cue ball and the object ball placed where ever you could place it ...where would you put it?
...probably NOT where the "Best" breakshot is located in most of the books!!!

Try using different practice locations where the balls are a good breakshot for "YOU"!!! ....the better you get, the more locations will be "GOOD" for you.

Well AJRACK, sure this is true and believe me I am a quite decent player in straights. I am trying to find out how others play it. My favourites are more than the classic out of the book break shots. They key to high runs in my humble opinion is in reading the pattern (rack) right, and of course a good execution of shots. Even I know this, my high run in tournament play is only 58 balls. I still have the goal to run 100, and if I should ever make it I will unscrew my cue and never play again

)

Markus

mjantti · May 4, 2004

Personally I don't like behind the rack break shots, because you need to get out of there with the cueball and try to end up in the middle of the table. That usually forces you shoot the break ball with English and avoiding to hit the center (3rd) ball.

I like the regular break shot but with more angle so that I don't have to shoot the break shot so hard to spread the rack. Most of the missed break shots are caused by excess power.

Somehow, these are overlooked. But, you need to make sure that you hit the 2 balls in front of the rack. Hitting the side of the rack will usually lead to a scratch:

START(
%A_6S8%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%HM7N8%IL7O4%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%Pf6O5%UO9O9%V`2R9%Wa1R9%Xe8P0
%Y\5Z5%Z^8T2
)END

One possibility. Prefer to hit the "last" two balls in the corner of the pack:
START(
%AY4X2%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%HM7N8%IL7O4%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%PZ1N3%UD4U6%VO7[2%WQ1[1%XX6W2
%YY0V5%ZY8O1%[I1N5%\C7T6%]I3D6%^I4M9%eC7`9%_Q8K1%`N1G7%aI9C8
)END

And on the secondary break shots the insurance ball is the best way to break the rack open. You will surely have another shot on after the break. One of the most important things in 14.1 is to learn how to avoid leaving the cueball into the cluster/rack you're trying to spread.

Markus, have you been playing in Eurotour ? There's one event this week in Germany...

-Mikko, with a puny run of 63-out (unfinished race to 75) in tournaments and 82 in practice.

PS. Diagrams (START....END thingy) can be viewed at
http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/~wei/pool/pooltable2.html

ajrack · May 4, 2004

Never happen

As soon as you run 100...you will NOT quit playing ...you WILL want to do it again!
I had a heck of a time getting to 100 or over...I kept counting the balls and when I got close > it got tougher...
The first time I broke the magic number...I was not counting the balls (a friend was) and I ran...believe it or not...161 !!!
Only ran over 100 about 35 times.. my problem is, I loose my concentration when I get in the 70's / 80's.
My high run is 262 but my most proud acheivement is running 102 on a 5' x 10' table with thick cloth, using the old 1940 "mud-clay" type balls!

i210mfu · May 4, 2004

mjantti said:
Personally I don't like behind the rack break shots, because you need to get out of there with the cueball and try to end up in the middle of the table. That usually forces you shoot the break ball with English and avoiding to hit the center (3rd) ball.

I like the regular break shot but with more angle so that I don't have to shoot the break shot so hard to spread the rack. Most of the missed break shots are caused by excess power.

Somehow, these are overlooked. But, you need to make sure that you hit the 2 balls in front of the rack. Hitting the side of the rack will usually lead to a scratch:

START(
%A_6S8%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%HM7N8%IL7O4%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%Pf6O5%UO9O9%V`2R9%Wa1R9%Xe8P0
%Y\5Z5%Z^8T2
)END

One possibility. Prefer to hit the "last" two balls in the corner of the pack:
START(
%AY4X2%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%HM7N8%IL7O4%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%PZ1N3%UD4U6%VO7[2%WQ1[1%XX6W2
%YY0V5%ZY8O1%[I1N5%\C7T6%]I3D6%^I4M9%eC7`9%_Q8K1%`N1G7%aI9C8
)END

And on the secondary break shots the insurance ball is the best way to break the rack open. You will surely have another shot on after the break. One of the most important things in 14.1 is to learn how to avoid leaving the cueball into the cluster/rack you're trying to spread.

Markus, have you been playing in Eurotour ? There's one event this week in Germany...

-Mikko, with a puny run of 63-out (unfinished race to 75) in tournaments and 82 in practice.

PS. Diagrams (START....END thingy) can be viewed at
http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/~wei/pool/pooltable2.html

#

Hi to Finnland

you are right about behind the rack, but I really like using inside or outside english so its not that hard once you know which to apply. I think you second breakshot (see Wei's table) is quite risky since you really have to control the cueball to hit the last 2 from behind.

I am not playing in the EUROTOUR events. I have a wife and a family so pool is "just" recreational. I enter local events once in while. I have to wait till my daughter is older .......

Markus

i210mfu · May 4, 2004

ajrack said:
As soon as you run 100...you will NOT quit playing ...you WILL want to do it again!
I had a heck of a time getting to 100 or over...I kept counting the balls and when I got close > it got tougher...
The first time I broke the magic number...I was not counting the balls (a friend was) and I ran...believe it or not...161 !!!
Only ran over 100 about 35 times.. my problem is, I loose my concentration when I get in the 70's / 80's.
My high run is 262 but my most proud acheivement is running 102 on a 5' x 10' table with thick cloth, using the old 1940 "mud-clay" type balls!

@ ajrack,

quitting was just a joke ! Of course once I've managed I will try to repeat it. Glad to hear that it took you quite some time to reach it

) That leaves me with hope ...
How long did it take you in years playing ??

Markus

Rackin_Zack · May 4, 2004

I too would love to be able to run 100 balls! However, my high run is only 30. Part of my problem is that no one around here plays straight pool. I'd love to get better at it but when I'm playing by myself I find it hard to concentrate for that long. Anyone in Missouri that knows of places where there are 14.1 tournaments or leagues? Thanks,

Zack

efirkey · May 4, 2004

I too like side pocket break shots, but you have to practice them like any other shot or else you will find yourself scratching off the pack frequently. I prefer to make the ball in the side, hit the end rail, and then hit the pack from behind. Making the ball in the side is a given. You just have to concentrate on how you will hit the pack. And you can use quite a bit of power for a good breakshot.
The biggest mistake I see players make with the break shot is to use too little power and not leave themselves good runouts. Every player I know who can run hundred or more, hits them pretty hard.

Bob Jewett · May 4, 2004

>> What is your opinion [of the side of the rack break]?

I like it. Hohman and Feijen shoot it much harder than the standard American style. If they hit the top two balls, the goal seems to be to draw the cue ball off the top cushion and back to the middle of the table. Also, they want no two balls touching after the break shot.

>> What type of secondary breakshots you are looking for?

If you use the "European" style break, there will be no secondary break shots. Of course if you do have to break a cluster, you want to know which ball you will play next, and usually this is an "insurance" ball.

If you are going to study the game, you should get books by Mosconi, Cranfield, Capelle, Byrne and Fels. As importantly, you need to watch current champions.

mjantti · May 5, 2004

If shooting the break ball into side (depicted earlier) I only accept a ball placed in a way that there is a natural angle to the first 2 balls of the rack. Then I don't have to use any follow/draw to guide the cueball and to avoid hitting the side of the rack -> usually scratch. And I prefer to leave a good angle on the break ball so I don't have to shoot hard... Like this:
START(
%A]6U0%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%HM7N8%IL7O4%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%Ph3R2%U_2T1%Vg3R3%W[9Z7%X]3U4
%YO8O8%Z]7T0
)END

I think this break ball position and break shot is often overlooked. I like it because it will always leave me a ball on and almost never stuck on the pack.
Requires confidence about shots into side though...
START(
%AQ4P0%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%HM7N8%IL7O4%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%PQ1W3%UP7Q3%VQ0V3%WO2P0%XP7P7
%YZ8D6%ZQ6N9%[O3K6%\N5O4%eB5`6
)END

IMHO not bad...
START(
%AG2V9%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%HM7N8%IL7O4%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%PT8V8%UH7V0%VS6V4%WC8S9%XG3V0
%YC7[0%ZF5W5%[I1N1%\C6S2%eB9`6
)END

These are just alternative break shots I'm comfortable with. The regular break shot from the side of the pack works fine for me. As Bob mentioned, there are different ways to play that as well. I like to shoot it easy and draw the cueball in the middle of table instead of shooting hard and risking on missing the ball...

i210mfu · May 5, 2004

Thanks Guys,

for all the good replies. Bob is right, I usually try to hit the breakshot as hard as I could without risking to pocket the breakshot. Thorsten really whacks them with WARP speed...

Markus

ajrack · May 5, 2004

i210mfu said:
@ ajrack,

quitting was just a joke ! Of course once I've managed I will try to repeat it. Glad to hear that it took you quite some time to reach it ) That leaves me with hope ...
How long did it take you in years playing ??

Markus

I started way back in 1968 and didn't run the hundred until 1971, but I played almost every day ...while I was in college...as much as 5-6hours.
...and remember, almost everyone played 14.1 in those days.

14/1 Question

i210mfu

Markus

ajrack

AzB Silver Member

i210mfu

Markus

mjantti

Enjoying life

ajrack

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i210mfu

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i210mfu

Markus

Rackin_Zack

Suffering from OCBD

efirkey

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Bob Jewett

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mjantti

Enjoying life

i210mfu

Markus

ajrack

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