8 ball break
- Thread starter pacman
- Start date
Same as 10 ball... one of the two balls behind the head ball in the side pocket.
Nothing specific since it's not a rotation. I mainly focus on getting a good spread and making at least one ball.
8 On the Snap
The only ball I'll try to make is the 8 itself. In APA rules, an 8 on the break is an automatic win, so it makes sense to go for it, even if the odds of success are relatively small < 10%. A second ball break with a little draw, looking for the gaps as advised by Joe Tucker (well worth the money for that DVD by the way) will win you a game or two from time to time. Most I've made in a race to five is 2 in a row. I typically only make an 8 once or twice in a session (40-50 games).
Usually with the second ball break I'll make a ball or two, but nothing in particular that I've noticed consistently. The balls are placed randomly (solid/stripes), so I don't know that anyone has done the work like they have with 9-ball to know where each ball typically goes off the break and where to rack each type to give the best odds for a runout (or conversely to give the worst odds of a runout).
I suppose the head ball, or the first two balls would also represent likely targets for pocketing. Head ball in the side pocket or top corner pockets might be something you could make with relative consistency with practice. Similarly the next two balls could be made in the side pockets a reasonable percentage of the time if you practice it (similar to 10-ball breaks I've seen).
- James
The only ball I'll try to make is the 8 itself. In APA rules, an 8 on the break is an automatic win, so it makes sense to go for it, even if the odds of success are relatively small < 10%. A second ball break with a little draw, looking for the gaps as advised by Joe Tucker (well worth the money for that DVD by the way) will win you a game or two from time to time. Most I've made in a race to five is 2 in a row. I typically only make an 8 once or twice in a session (40-50 games).
Usually with the second ball break I'll make a ball or two, but nothing in particular that I've noticed consistently. The balls are placed randomly (solid/stripes), so I don't know that anyone has done the work like they have with 9-ball to know where each ball typically goes off the break and where to rack each type to give the best odds for a runout (or conversely to give the worst odds of a runout).
I suppose the head ball, or the first two balls would also represent likely targets for pocketing. Head ball in the side pocket or top corner pockets might be something you could make with relative consistency with practice. Similarly the next two balls could be made in the side pockets a reasonable percentage of the time if you practice it (similar to 10-ball breaks I've seen).
- James
Same plan for me. Also the two balls in the back row, inside from the corners, can 4-rail but it depends on traffic.
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I agree with McGee! (ha! that rhymes)
I always go for the 8 Ball break by shooting for the second ball as full as I can get it with a little bit of draw. When I get it right, I will always drop the opposite back corner ball and a nice spread with whitey in the middle. Of course, when I get it really right that 8 Ball ends up getting kicked straight down to one of the corners at the head of the table.
A while back, my break was the worst part of my game. I worked on it for a while and I figured out just smashing the hell out of the rack is not the best course of action. Most of the time I would just end up flying that rock right off the table. With a controlled hit and a good draw stroke I have seen much better results. Now there are other parts of my game that are competing to be the worst :grin-square:
I always go for the 8 Ball break by shooting for the second ball as full as I can get it with a little bit of draw. When I get it right, I will always drop the opposite back corner ball and a nice spread with whitey in the middle. Of course, when I get it really right that 8 Ball ends up getting kicked straight down to one of the corners at the head of the table.
A while back, my break was the worst part of my game. I worked on it for a while and I figured out just smashing the hell out of the rack is not the best course of action. Most of the time I would just end up flying that rock right off the table. With a controlled hit and a good draw stroke I have seen much better results. Now there are other parts of my game that are competing to be the worst :grin-square:
Funny you mention the opposite corner ball in the corner pocket. Corey Deuel was doing that last week against Shane in New Town. Shane showed us it is not possible to make that ball in the corner unless the rack is tilted. It was an interesting conversation between two guys who understand the rack as good as anybody.
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i always try to make the one in the side on all breaks (8,9, and 10 ball) when i'm feeling "it." but when i'm not, which is most of the time, i go for a real smooth hard break and try to place the cue ball in the center of the table. the placement of the cue ball on the break is far more important than trying to make a specific ball on any break, including 1 hole. that's just my strategy though.
