1Pocket Break Value

here's a power one pocket break alternative, the breaker's pocket is on the same side as the cueball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAsHMg_Oyvc

If you practice it you might find it puts your opponent in some rough situations. If you're playing a guy who's a little better than you on moving it's a great way to shake them up some.

I was under the impression you had to break from the opposite side of your pocket in one pocket making this not feasible. Have I always had a bad assumption? Nevermind looked up the rules on onepocket.org and the opposite side just eliminates calling your pocket.
 
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One thing I feel pretty confident about is the idea that the value of the break is, in part, dependent on the skill of the player who is breaking. For really weak players, the break may be worth a ball or slightly less. For strong players, it's worth more than a ball, maybe as much as a ball and a half. It seems unlikely to me that it would ever be worth two or more balls unless someone discovers some devastating break technique. Just my $.02.


Good answer right here. Playing against a good player, I would value the break at a ball or two at the most. Playing against a weak player (who can't escape from a good break) it might be worth three or four balls.

Ronnie Allen once confided in me that he felt the break was worth four balls to him, thus being willing to give up games like 10-6 and take the break, against good players. I saw him do that many times and win! But he was an exceptional case, because he ran so many balls the first time he got an opening. Ten and out was not unusual for him.

These guys who were giving up the insane games to Dippy, would have done much better recently if they had taken the break away from him. Breaking all the time would have allowed them to control the game. Not saying they wouldn't have lost anyway, but it would have greatly increased whatever chance they had.
 
I think it depends on the ability of the non breaking player.
Strong players can get out of almost anything. Weak players can not.

By the way I have been experimenting with a new one-pocket break for Simmonis cloth that is overpowering. It moves a lot of balls to your pocket and leaves you opponent snookered behind several balls most of the time. The only way out is a deliberate scratch or an end rail kick.

Takes a little practice though.

Bill Stroud
 
here's a power one pocket break alternative, the breaker's pocket is on the same side as the cueball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAsHMg_Oyvc

If you practice it you might find it puts your opponent in some rough situations. If you're playing a guy who's a little better than you on moving it's a great way to shake them up some.

I love you Jesse, but that break will get you broke playing a good player. :thumbup:
You want to shake someone up, use the one rail kick break into the side of the pack. When done right, the cue ball sticks to the side of the pack and a couple of balls are near your hole. Some places and tournaments will not allow this break. Grady knows this one quite well, I promise you.
 
Good answer right here. Playing against a good player, I would value the break at a ball or two at the most. Playing against a weak player (who can't escape from a good break) it might be worth three or four balls.

Ronnie Allen once confided in me that he felt the break was worth four balls to him, thus being willing to give up games like 10-6 and take the break, against good players. I saw him do that many times and win! But he was an exceptional case, because he ran so many balls the first time he got an opening. Ten and out was not unusual for him.

These guys who were giving up the insane games to Dippy, would have done much better recently if they had taken the break away from him. Breaking all the time would have allowed them to control the game. Not saying they wouldn't have lost anyway, but it would have greatly increased whatever chance they had.

That's a great point Jay. Didn't Scott Frost play Preacher Ron a while back giving a pretty good spot but getting the break?

Steven
 
A little more break info to digest. Sometimes on some tables the conventional break, hitting between the head ball and the second ball, is not working. The remedy - aim to hit between the second and third ball. You can also do the same thing between the third and fourth ball or even the fourth and fifth ball, which is the safest opening break of them all. Practice all these breaks for maximum firepower.

Different breaks work better on different tables. On some tables the conventional head ball break is often a scratch shot. That won't happen if you move down a ball! Just a little more poop for your scoop! :thumbup:
 
Bill, I agree. But I think part of the formula is the skill of the guy who has to volley. If he's weak, he's going to have more trouble getting out of the break. Stronger, less. Do you agree?

Lou Figueroa
Sure, the opponent's strength has to be part of the equation. Strong player breaking against weak player, the break might be worth 2-3 balls. Weak player breaking against strong player (the weak player, btw, scratches on the break about one out of 7-10 times and even when he doesn't scratch, the cue ball is rarely frozen or very near the side rail and may be up near the end rail), the break might be near worthless or surely less than one ball.
 
here's a power one pocket break alternative, the breaker's pocket is on the same side as the cueball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAsHMg_Oyvc

If you practice it you might find it puts your opponent in some rough situations. If you're playing a guy who's a little better than you on moving it's a great way to shake them up some.

I'm READY for the BIG PAYBACK! Corey was first but your repetitions on this break makes me want to try it but it is really the music that has me fired up. :D HEY, get READY for the big payback!
 
Do you remember the name of the commentator and/or their qualifications to make that statement? What was their thought process on throwing out a number like that?

Lou Figueroa

While I didn't say that, 25% of eight balls is two balls and some people say that the break is worth two balls and against weak players that might be true. I doubt that the break is worth 25% against strong one pocket players.......
 
1 ball against good players. 2 maybe even 3 against bad players.

We have a couple guys here in town who use the kick break. They can't beat anyone good !
 
HEY Jay, that's my break.

I've been using that the past few years and used it in a tournament in Dayton. Real old school people remember that break, but a lot of other people hadn't seen it and all but one time I froze them dead to the rack.


I love you Jesse, but that break will get you broke playing a good player. :thumbup:
You want to shake someone up, use the one rail kick break into the side of the pack. When done right, the cue ball sticks to the side of the pack and a couple of balls are near your hole. Some places and tournaments will not allow this break. Grady knows this one quite well, I promise you.
 
Good answer right here. Playing against a good player, I would value the break at a ball or two at the most. Playing against a weak player (who can't escape from a good break) it might be worth three or four balls.

Ronnie Allen once confided in me that he felt the break was worth four balls to him, thus being willing to give up games like 10-6 and take the break, against good players. I saw him do that many times and win! But he was an exceptional case, because he ran so many balls the first time he got an opening. Ten and out was not unusual for him.

These guys who were giving up the insane games to Dippy, would have done much better recently if they had taken the break away from him. Breaking all the time would have allowed them to control the game. Not saying they wouldn't have lost anyway, but it would have greatly increased whatever chance they had.


What about an even match up -- what's it worth then?

Lou Figueroa
 
I think it depends on the ability of the non breaking player.
Strong players can get out of almost anything. Weak players can not.

By the way I have been experimenting with a new one-pocket break for Simmonis cloth that is overpowering. It moves a lot of balls to your pocket and leaves you opponent snookered behind several balls most of the time. The only way out is a deliberate scratch or an end rail kick.

Takes a little practice though.

Bill Stroud


So, Bill, with practice how reliable is it?

Lou Figueroa
also: when is
the unveiling
of said break?
 
I love you Jesse, but that break will get you broke playing a good player. :thumbup:
You want to shake someone up, use the one rail kick break into the side of the pack. When done right, the cue ball sticks to the side of the pack and a couple of balls are near your hole. Some places and tournaments will not allow this break. Grady knows this one quite well, I promise you.


Or the one where you just shoot straight at the head ball and pin the CB to it. I knew about the break but had never seen it used until Piggy used it in a tournament against me up in Chicago a few years back. It threw me a bit. I think he still favors it when the going gets tough, because he used it against me again at the DCC two years ago.

Lou Figueroa
not thrown
the second time :-)
 
I love you Jesse, but that break will get you broke playing a good player. :thumbup:
You want to shake someone up, use the one rail kick break into the side of the pack. When done right, the cue ball sticks to the side of the pack and a couple of balls are near your hole. Some places and tournaments will not allow this break. Grady knows this one quite well, I promise you.

lol. I love you too Jay, but.....I agree with you, it doesn't work against a great one pocket player and I've never used it against them. It does work for an average player who has been playing their friends for years and are about even with them or are subpar movers and want a way to overcome their lack of moving ability.

Let me take this opportunity to be more specific and warn average players:

"do not try this break on a skilled player, you will lose your money, become angry with me and possibly challenge me to a live televised match. You will ask me for weight, I will give you 10-6, we will go back and forth for several hours, then I'll have a banana, win 10 games in a row, and our friendship will be in jeopardy. You will probably toilet paper my house and start threads about what a scumbag I am. So let's avoid that lose-lose situation and just stick to a well established breaking science. Bless you all."
 
pocket size size is a huge factor what a break is worth.....on a loose gc seems like there is always a ball after the break u cant dig
 
lol. I love you too Jay, but.....I agree with you, it doesn't work against a great one pocket player and I've never used it against them. It does work for an average player who has been playing their friends for years and are about even with them or are subpar movers and want a way to overcome their lack of moving ability.

Let me take this opportunity to be more specific and warn average players:

"do not try this break on a skilled player, you will lose your money, become angry with me and possibly challenge me to a live televised match. You will ask me for weight, I will give you 10-6, we will go back and forth for several hours, then I'll have a banana, win 10 games in a row, and our friendship will be in jeopardy. You will probably toilet paper my house and start threads about what a scumbag I am. So let's avoid that lose-lose situation and just stick to a well established breaking science. Bless you all."

Hahahahahahaha!
Get in line, dude! I saw him first.:thumbup:
 
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