8ball rack Gaps to look for and/or avoid on 2nd ball break

[Brandon79ta]

Yes in a perfect world their wouldn't be any gaps. Problem being I live in bar box country, which means sometimes a perfect rack is pretty much impossible.

So when trying to make the corner ball has anyone figured out what gaps hurt the chances of the corner ball?

In my search here before making this thread I found a couple of posts saying the rack must be tilted for it to be wired?

Or does the rack just need pulled back from the footstring a bit? As that would explain why some tables seem to give up the corner ball and others don't.

Does the fullness of the hit on the 2nd ball make any difference? I've been aiming at the center of the middle ball in the back row. I found that tip here I believe and since doing so I can't recall the last time I scratched and I can draw the ball to the rail and back into the rack getting a pretty good spread.

 

[TheBook]

There is some good pointers and advice in Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets video and another DVD by Runout Media called Break and Run.

Luck plays an importantly part in making a ball on a break but that luck can be improved if you know how to use a rack to your advantage.

Even knowing the little secrets there is no 100% success rate as can be seen by the stats from The recent Turning Stone tournament.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=404941

would highly recommend those two DVDs

 

[Tony_in_MD]

When I use the second ball break in 8 ball I look for two things.

A gap between the head ball and first row. If there is a gap I break to the side of the gap because it will allow me to get a fuller hit on the second ball.

The second thing I look for is the rack being tilted. If the rack is tilted it is easier to get a fuller hit on the second ball.

As far as any other gaps in the rack for 8 ball, I don't look for them. I have been slugged before, and am used to it.

Yes in a perfect world their wouldn't be any gaps. Problem being I live in bar box country, which means sometimes a perfect rack is pretty much impossible.

So when trying to make the corner ball has anyone figured out what gaps hurt the chances of the corner ball?

In my search here before making this thread I found a couple of posts saying the rack must be tilted for it to be wired?

Or does the rack just need pulled back from the footstring a bit? As that would explain why some tables seem to give up the corner ball and others don't.

Does the fullness of the hit on the 2nd ball make any difference? I've been aiming at the center of the middle ball in the back row. I found that tip here I believe and since doing so I can't recall the last time I scratched and I can draw the ball to the rail and back into the rack getting a pretty good spread.

 

[Brandon79ta]

There is some good pointers and advice in Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets video and another DVD by Runout Media called Break and Run.

Luck plays an importantly part in making a ball on a break but that luck can be improved if you know how to use a rack to your advantage.

Even knowing the little secrets there is no 100% success rate as can be seen by the stats from The recent Turning Stone tournament.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=404941

would highly recommend those two DVDs

Do the dvds have much new information about 8ball compared to the books?

I bought "The Great Break Shot" book that has Joe Tucker's original book in it a couple years ago hoping for useful 8ball information but it was mostly 9ball and 10 ball. The few pages about 8ball breaks doesn't mention the corner ball only making the 8 on the break and where the cue ball may end up.

A lot is said about getting the fullest hit on the 2nd ball as possible. Is that just due to the fact the fuller hit transfers the most power to the rack? Or does that have an affect on the angle the corner ball comes off?

At this point I don't care about a killer spread, I just want a ball so I can control the table after the break. Heck I tried the corner ball bank for a couple hours one night but it's too low % when going from table to table room to room.