9 On The Break

[Pidge]

I played match of 9 ball last weekend and made the 9 4 times in a row. I broke from the left side, on the middle diamond around 5 inches from the side rail and hit the ball as hard as I could with 1and a half tips low and half a tip left english using a magic rack. But here's the thing...I can't remember where I was aiming on the 1. Infact I don't know if I was aiming on the one, more just aiming to hit the 1 'fullish'.

The outcome was the same 4 times in a row, and the other 2 times I made the 9 in that match. Right wing ball flew in the corner, the 9 rolled in the same corner, but only just had the legs for the pocket and the 1 flew up table and ended up tied to the left rail in the bottom half of the table.

I'm away from home right now and so i can't try it out again. If anyone could give it a go and post your findings that would be great.

Probably more down to complete luck than it being an exact science but what are the odds of 4 in a row?

 

[hang-the-9]

If the 9 ball went into the same corner, and the wingball, chances are very good that the ball behind the 9 was loose and the wing ball was loose from the ball behind it. Since this is actually the same ball in your case (both went in the same corner) I'm thinking this is 90% certainty is the case. This can happen even with the magic rack if the balls are older or if the table is bumpy or even if the guy racking is not good at using the magic rack.

Did you notice if both balls went straight in or were kicked in? If not kicked in, you can raise the loose ball theory to 95%.

If all the balls are tight in a magic rack, I have never seen the 9 move more than a few inches unless kicked in. What I have seen a bit with the magic rack is that the 9 gets kicked into the side or up table to go into the opposite corner due to a ball doubling the corner and hitting the 9 as it sits there in the middle. Had the 9 kicked in the side twice in a row against me in a Joss Tour set, on the streaming table even hehe.

 

[Pidge]

The wing ball and 9 went straight in. The only times after the 4 I didn't make the 9 is when it got kicked away from the path.

You might be right about the loose ball. The magic rack was my own so ill be sure to see if the balls are loose when racking. I've got other magic racks too so ill try it with them also. The balls were old and not in great condition. The table was extremely quick too, like playing on ice. Even then the 9 only just dropped.

 

[hang-the-9]

The balls were old and not in great condition..

This is probably why, they are pretty much guaranteed to be different sizes. Heck, some rooms have mismatched sets, the Jillians near me in MA has two sets of balls, Centennials and some cheap ones. I often see them mixed in together in the same rack.

Also, some magic racks are not perfect, I have seen many where the front ball did not like to freeze to both balls behind it. Still broke well, you just need to break towards the side where they are tight.