http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF-QHEI69s8&feature=related
Did he hit the 2nd ball? What can we learn from this video?
Did he hit the 2nd ball? What can we learn from this video?
8 ball on break 3 consecutive times
- Thread starter berlowmj
- Start date
That break reminds me of a guy that I talked to at a tournament, he was telling me in 8 ball if you hit the second ball with low right hand english (breaking from the right side) it gives you the best chance at making the 8 ball on the break. Tried it a couple times, never seemed to work, scratched more than anything but maybe it's time to try it again and see if I can actually get it down. lol
I have a good bud who has breaking like this for years.From the foot rail he sets the cue on the string and near the right rail.Then he plays low left on the cue.The idea if to catch the second ball as full as possible....almost a mini,fast moving masse if you will.
He does scratch more then a headball breaker.The cue ball is more prone to leave the table altogether as well....but he's made more 8s on the break then anyone I know.
Fwiw,if the scratch doesnt happen or the flight across the room ....it usually makes for a pretty good break even if the 8 stays up.
He does scratch more then a headball breaker.The cue ball is more prone to leave the table altogether as well....but he's made more 8s on the break then anyone I know.
Fwiw,if the scratch doesnt happen or the flight across the room ....it usually makes for a pretty good break even if the 8 stays up.
Just got really lucky..............it tells me that without the 8 on the first 2 I was out 
Eric.
Eric.
Using the 2nd ball break I once made 2 or 3 in a row. My Dad taught me to break that way when I was a kid. But when I started playing more I realized I couldn't control the cue ball. But that night I just decided to use that break, and it worked out really nicely.
The thing I remember is that on the last break the cue ball flew off the table. The guy was fuming mad. We were playing for like $5 a game, but it seemed like big bucks at the time!
The thing I remember is that on the last break the cue ball flew off the table. The guy was fuming mad. We were playing for like $5 a game, but it seemed like big bucks at the time!
Definitely the second ball break from the side.
This generally works best on 7' tables. I break this way everytime. It keeps most balls on the lower end of the table and you are fairly certain to make a corner ball as well. It does take some practice not to scratch.
I have played a race to 2 tournament and made it once each set the entire tournament.
I have seen a friend playing a single game tournament win all but 1 game on the break (4 out of 5).
Best instance of this was a friend playing $5/game winner stays. An opponent racked. My friend made the 8. New player, friend wins. Original opponent racks, 8 falls. New player, friend wins. Original guy racks again, says, "Man, I don't care about the $5 I just want to shoot this time. No more 8s on the break." Here's how the eight went:
It's not 3 in a row, made it even better, like it just really wasn't the opponents night.
This generally works best on 7' tables. I break this way everytime. It keeps most balls on the lower end of the table and you are fairly certain to make a corner ball as well. It does take some practice not to scratch.
I have played a race to 2 tournament and made it once each set the entire tournament.
I have seen a friend playing a single game tournament win all but 1 game on the break (4 out of 5).
Best instance of this was a friend playing $5/game winner stays. An opponent racked. My friend made the 8. New player, friend wins. Original opponent racks, 8 falls. New player, friend wins. Original guy racks again, says, "Man, I don't care about the $5 I just want to shoot this time. No more 8s on the break." Here's how the eight went:
It's not 3 in a row, made it even better, like it just really wasn't the opponents night.
Blackjack has a sweet diagram of the second ball in the apex break. Very clear and concise.
He'll post it if you ask him nice I'm sure.
That said, this is a break, imo, that you really need to practice and work on before showing up at a match our tournament with it. Easy to scratch in the far pocket if you thin the second ball.
A few keys, as per Blackjack;
Control is #1. A firm medium hit with full hit on the second ball is the most effective way to break the balls. Again; full hit. It's not as easy to do as said.
He'll post it if you ask him nice I'm sure.
That said, this is a break, imo, that you really need to practice and work on before showing up at a match our tournament with it. Easy to scratch in the far pocket if you thin the second ball.
A few keys, as per Blackjack;
Control is #1. A firm medium hit with full hit on the second ball is the most effective way to break the balls. Again; full hit. It's not as easy to do as said.
I usually break from just behind the second dot in the kitchen on the left rail using left slight bottom english and make the 8 maybe 1 out of 10 - 15 breaks. However the last 2 weeks in match play both time I actually made the 8 I scratched. Some times luck goes my way though. I break with a 1 pc phenolic tip so cue ball control is tough when you use any kind of english.
That may be the idea, but it's definitely not what's happening. There's no way any masse happens on a shot the speed of a break shot.
There's also no need or advantage to putting any kind of sidespin on this break shot. All it does is reduce consistency.
pj
chgo
Still Sooooo much luck involved. Pretty cool, though. I once saw a guy, hill - hill, make seven balls on the break in a nine ball set. He was hooked behind the nine, shooting at the four ball. He was actually frozen to the nine and the four ball was five inches in front of the far corner pocket. Just enough out of the pocket so it might not be kicked in without an act of God. Cost him two hundred... nowhere to push to.
pharaoh68
Banned
The second ball break IS the best way to make the 8 on the break. But the odds of doing it with any consistency are so low that it becomes worthless. And those who tell you they can do it 3 or 4 out of 10 times, tell them "Ok. Show me" and see what happens.
For the best break, I say line the cue ball up about an inch to three inches (to the left or right) from the head spot. And snap topwards the center of the lead ball. If you give it the right stroke, you'll get an incredible spread and have an easier time running out than you would snapping the 8 on the break.
For the best break, I say line the cue ball up about an inch to three inches (to the left or right) from the head spot. And snap topwards the center of the lead ball. If you give it the right stroke, you'll get an incredible spread and have an easier time running out than you would snapping the 8 on the break.
8-ball break
This is my normal 8-ball break. I have made 3 8-balls in a row during league play. Yes it is easy to scratch on this break. This break is the main reason I wanted hard leather on my BK2 break stick.
As far as the scratches go, from my experience it is while trying to hit the 2nd ball too full that the cue clips the 1st ball just before hitting the 2nd ball giving it the corner pocket trajectory.
The outside english does not effect the hit of the rack in the least. The reason for the outside english is to pull the cue ball back off the side wall and into the eight ball putting the 8 ball directly into the left side pocket (I break from the right). At least for me that is where it usually goes. I average about an 8-ball per 7 or 8 breaks.
Hope this helps, Flettir.
This is my normal 8-ball break. I have made 3 8-balls in a row during league play. Yes it is easy to scratch on this break. This break is the main reason I wanted hard leather on my BK2 break stick.
As far as the scratches go, from my experience it is while trying to hit the 2nd ball too full that the cue clips the 1st ball just before hitting the 2nd ball giving it the corner pocket trajectory.
The outside english does not effect the hit of the rack in the least. The reason for the outside english is to pull the cue ball back off the side wall and into the eight ball putting the 8 ball directly into the left side pocket (I break from the right). At least for me that is where it usually goes. I average about an 8-ball per 7 or 8 breaks.
Hope this helps, Flettir.
I've come close to this myself - was three eights in four breaks, breaking from the side rail into the second row.
The thing I've found with that break, to avoid launching the cue ball, is to break with about 3/4 the power that I use when not breaking off the rail.
The thing I've found with that break, to avoid launching the cue ball, is to break with about 3/4 the power that I use when not breaking off the rail.
I remember in an APA mini mania tournament in a race to 5 (two SL7s), my opponent made an 8-on-break the first three racks. Kinda gets you a little bit dispirited!
You should get Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets.
The reason this guy is making the 8 ball is no surprise. The guy racking is not giving a tight rack. If there is a gap between either or both balls next to the 8 ball, then 8 in the side is easy.
Although, he did get lucky on the 3rd break. The 8 should have gone in the other side pocket. It just goes to show that both balls next to the 8 were loose.
I have given this type of loose rack to my teammates (SL3's), and they can make the 8 on the break consistently.
The reason this guy is making the 8 ball is no surprise. The guy racking is not giving a tight rack. If there is a gap between either or both balls next to the 8 ball, then 8 in the side is easy.
Although, he did get lucky on the 3rd break. The 8 should have gone in the other side pocket. It just goes to show that both balls next to the 8 were loose.
I have given this type of loose rack to my teammates (SL3's), and they can make the 8 on the break consistently.
I doubt this. We all tend to overestimate our successes.
pj
chgo
On new cloth i find that I make the 8 a lot more.
I use the 2nd ball break and to be honest I PREFER a looser rack per racking secrets.
Last night a guy made the 8-ball on my on the first game in the side. the Balls FLEW into the pocket.
I use the 2nd ball break and to be honest I PREFER a looser rack per racking secrets.
Last night a guy made the 8-ball on my on the first game in the side. the Balls FLEW into the pocket.
Secaucus Fats
Banned
I've done three consecutive eight balls once and only once, it was on a 7ft bar table.
I was playing a hot-headed kind of guy. Lately he'd been struggling to control himself and stay calm. Anyway, we were just playing for sh*ts and giggles.
He racked the first rack and I broke from the right to the second ball. The eight ball made a beeline for the left side pocket and dropped in. My opponent let out a sigh, and said "good game".
He racked again, same rack, and I broke exactly as before and Bingo, the eight goes in the left side. My opponent yells WTF!, throws in a couple of g*d damnits and was now visibly exasperated.
He racked again, looked at me and said "F you, you're mine now! You won't make it this time." Well I broke the same again. The eight ball headed for the side again then it got kicked off the line by another ball.....straight into a kiss off a ball, smack into the corner.
I laughed so hard! My opponent went off on a total conniption and left the pub. I could swear I saw smoke coming out from under his hat.
Fats
I was playing a hot-headed kind of guy. Lately he'd been struggling to control himself and stay calm. Anyway, we were just playing for sh*ts and giggles.
He racked the first rack and I broke from the right to the second ball. The eight ball made a beeline for the left side pocket and dropped in. My opponent let out a sigh, and said "good game".
He racked again, same rack, and I broke exactly as before and Bingo, the eight goes in the left side. My opponent yells WTF!, throws in a couple of g*d damnits and was now visibly exasperated.
He racked again, looked at me and said "F you, you're mine now! You won't make it this time." Well I broke the same again. The eight ball headed for the side again then it got kicked off the line by another ball.....straight into a kiss off a ball, smack into the corner.
I laughed so hard! My opponent went off on a total conniption and left the pub. I could swear I saw smoke coming out from under his hat.
Fats
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