8-Ball Barbox break technique

[gpeezy]

I really like to go ahead and crash a rack and try and run out. For me the better smarter play is the second ball. Its easier to me to control the table in 8 ball. Hail mary breaks aren't always the best to me. I'm beginning to get the same feelings toward all the games. Go with whatever plays a better percentage. The second ball break on the bar table will open up good if you ticker with it a little.

 

[JAM]

Hey JAM, why do you use low inside? Just curious.

That's the way Geese, a road player, taught me how to do it.

This break only works on a bar table for me. I have made the 8-ball on the break many times using this break. I don't lose the cueball or have it jump off the table because I cannot hit them as hard as Larry Nevel, as an example.

I will ask Keith when he wakes up why english helps with this break. I tried it on then 9-foot table, moving the cueball up a little to accommodate for the size, but it did not work like it does on the bar table.

JAM

 

[gpeezy]

From what I've seen it keeps you on the end of the table a majority of the balls are on. Also it will cut back through the stack almost as a second break.

 

[pharaoh68]

I like taking the cue ball and placing it about 2-4 inches to the left or right of the headspot (your choice), aiming for the lead ball head-on, and putting everything you've got into it. Try hitting dead center of the cue ball if possible. This spreads them out really well and if you're a decent player, you can likely run out with ease. If you're a smart player, you don't have to. You can run out OR play safe.

I don't like the second-ball break because it tends to push the majority of the rack towards the side you are breaking from. Sure it gets the 8 moving but, you're more likely to break and run than you are to snap the 8 on the break. And if you break like this, you're gonna have a tougher time getting out.

 

[supergreenman]

That's the way Geese, a road player, taught me how to do it.

This break only works on a bar table for me. I have made the 8-ball on the break many times using this break. I don't lose the cueball or have it jump off the table because I cannot hit them as hard as Larry Nevel, as an example.

I will ask Keith when he wakes up why english helps with this break. I tried it on then 9-foot table, moving the cueball up a little to accommodate for the size, but it did not work like it does on the bar table.

JAM

I tried this break last night. I have to admit I have mixed feelings about it. Maybe I need to spend some more time playing with it. I made 1-3 balls off the break but left a huge cluster around the 8ball each time I tried it.

 

[MBTaylor]

In 8 ball break as follows.

Typically I line the cue ball up with the point ball and the 3rd ball in the 4th row and hit the point ball full in the face. I put a "touch" of inside draw on the cue ball.

I have found that, for me personally, this gives me the best spread, best chance of making balls on the break and helps me keep the cue ball from running wild.

In 9 ball, I don't have much of a standard break spot. However, I usually start in pretty much the same spot as my 8 ball break but usually wind up adjusting a little bit depending on how the table is breaking.

 

[cubc]

I never get people who know how to freeze the 1 ball on the rack so I'm wary of hitting head on. Breaking from the second ball seems much safer and i hit with low outside (edit: not much low though just below center left) to get the cueball back through the center then it's pretty safe to do what I want.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I hit the head ball. My only goal is to squat the CB. More often than not, I'm making a ball and moving forward from there. Not to say the CB doesn't get bumped, but it's still better than sending the CB by hitting the 2nd ball off the break.

On the big table, I like hitting the 2nd ball. On the little table, I'd rather squat it and go for the out.

edit: OF COURSE, i'm looking for a tight rack every time.

 

[JAM]

I tried this break last night. I have to admit I have mixed feelings about it. Maybe I need to spend some more time playing with it. I made 1-3 balls off the break but left a huge cluster around the 8ball each time I tried it.

Then I think you may have not executed it according to the description I gave.

If executed right, a perfect 8-ball rack, on a bar table (not 9-footer), the 8-ball should have been heading right for the side pocket.

I may have not provided a good description.

Let me see if I can draw it.

X ----o----o----o----X----o----o----o----X
--------------------------------------O

---------RACK



X----o----o----o----"8"---o----o----o----X


Do you see where the cueball is? Using low inside english, aim directly for the first and second balls of the 8-ball rack, trying to hit them both evenly, with all your might.

That 8-ball will move to the side pocket, where I have inserted an "8," every time.

JAM

 

[Divine Sapience]

My break depends on who racked it for me. I check every rack and I have come to find that like snowflakes no 2 racks are every exactly the same. I always break into the loose side of the rack, hit them hard and pray.

I cannot break the second ball consistent, so I dont use that break. The cue ball either will go flying off the table, or all the balls will end up on one side of the table. There are some very good players who have perrfected the second ball break, and seem to get out very often when using it. But I am not one of them.

 

[supergreenman]

Then I think you may have not executed it according to the description I gave.

If executed right, a perfect 8-ball rack, on a bar table (not 9-footer), the 8-ball should have been heading right for the side pocket.

I may have not provided a good description.

Let me see if I can draw it.

X ----o----o----o----X----o----o----o----X
--------------------------------------O

---------RACK



X----o----o----o----"8"---o----o----o----X


Do you see where the cueball is? Using low inside english, aim directly for the first and second balls of the 8-ball rack, trying to hit them both evenly, with all your might.

That 8-ball will move to the side pocket, where I have inserted an "8," every time.

JAM

Ok, I did missunderstand you. What you're describing is the 2nd ball break I already use with much success.

Thanks for getting back to me Jen.

I'm still going to play around with the break I thought you were describing because I think it has some potential. For the record I thought you meant that you hit the head ball straight on from the spot you described. The low inside spin causes the balls along the outside of the rack on the opposite side of where you're hitting from to peal off towards the far corner.

CueTable Help

I found that the 7, 12, 13, 8, and 3 all stayed clustered in the rack area.

 

[ZeroSkylineX]

I break head on because I get the best spread and I have a higher chance of controlling the cue ball of where I want it to land (typically center of the table once it hops after contact).

I dislike hitting the second row because my spreads are terrible and it ends up to be a very long game.