Basic Question for running 14.1 balls
- Thread starter CarlB
- Start date
Carl:
14-ball rack, break-ball to start, for me. And most 14.1 "high run contests" are run this way as well. A hard 15-ball break does nothing for you, because 1.) a hard 15-ball break like that is NEVER used in 14.1, and 2.) you're not practicing your real 14.1 break shots.
If you're going to go for a hard break -- or want to try to make a ball out of a 15-ball rack, why not practice this oldie-but-goodie (thanks for the video, Dave!):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=i-C8Qa_HJLs
(Watch that apex-/head-ball and where it goes.)
At least this type of break has a targeted ball and pocket. A "smash 'em / crack 'em" 8-ball style break doesn't.
-Sean
Break
Hey Sean! Thanks for the video link. That sure brings back memories. If you're going to play totally unconventionally that's a good opening break. Another is clipping about a quarter of one of the corner balls pretty firm and banking it full table.
But as for the original question, I too start out with 14 racked balls, the 15th ball in a good break shot position and ball in hand with the CB. 99.9% of the time I'll put the break ball about even with the head ball and 8 inches or so away from the side rail. The CB I'll put about 4 inches off the rail just below the side pocket. It gives me a nice break shot that allows me to use high right (outside in this case) english and really open up the rack. I've played this shot so many thousands of times I'd never miss it in a game. In fact, I'm so comfortable with it, that if I have the opportunity I leave a break ball and a key ball in positions that will give me this break shot. The truth of the matter, though, is you should bounce around the rack playing various opening break shots to familiarize yourself with all of them. Maybe I should take my own advice.
Ron F
Hey Sean! Thanks for the video link. That sure brings back memories. If you're going to play totally unconventionally that's a good opening break. Another is clipping about a quarter of one of the corner balls pretty firm and banking it full table.
But as for the original question, I too start out with 14 racked balls, the 15th ball in a good break shot position and ball in hand with the CB. 99.9% of the time I'll put the break ball about even with the head ball and 8 inches or so away from the side rail. The CB I'll put about 4 inches off the rail just below the side pocket. It gives me a nice break shot that allows me to use high right (outside in this case) english and really open up the rack. I've played this shot so many thousands of times I'd never miss it in a game. In fact, I'm so comfortable with it, that if I have the opportunity I leave a break ball and a key ball in positions that will give me this break shot. The truth of the matter, though, is you should bounce around the rack playing various opening break shots to familiarize yourself with all of them. Maybe I should take my own advice.
Ron F
Hi Ron!
I know whatcha mean. That is indeed a nice break shot angle into the pack. One thing's for sure -- by practicing your break shots using the "14-ball rack and break ball" approach (instead of the "crack 'em / smack 'em" 8-ball break on a rack of 15 balls), you can practice breaking the pack from any angle.
To the OP's original question about approaches to running the balls, I like to do these, mixing them up any way my mood suits me:
A. Rack the 14 balls, place the break ball and cue ball, and go. I run until I miss. If I miss, I rake all the balls, rack the 14 balls, place the break ball, and start again. Sort of like a little bit of "disciplinary action" for missing / losing my concentration. And, you're building up your vocabulary of break shots!
B. Or, if I miss in approach A, maybe I won't rake the balls. I'll play them where they are, as if I were the "opponent" in a match getting out of his chair to begin his turn at the table. Or perhaps I'm trying to sink into a subconscious state of mind when playing, and don't want to interrupt my rhythm by racking/racking the balls and starting over. I use this approach when I've had a hard day at work, and I'm just trying to forget about things (i.e. "Calgon, take me away").
While practicing with this "manually-placed break ball" approach (Approach A), you'll want to try various break ball shots. Try behind-the-rack break shots (one of my personal favorites). Try that break shot where the break ball is on the head spot (e.g. as when happens when the last ball ends up in the racking area). Try side pocket break shots. You get the idea. This is practice after all, and the best time to experiment!
-Sean
sausage
Banned
always start by giving yourself the break-ball of your choice.
Originally I always started with 14 racked and a good break ball.
But recently I have been struggling a bit with my "end patterns" so I changed it up a little. I throw out 6 or 7 balls and force myself to create a GOOD end pattern to start. I basically used blackjacks end pattern drill idea.
Two things have happened. 1) It is forcing me to concentrate on developing a good end pattern game 2) I feel a little more invested prior to the first break shot of the run. Seems to be helping for me.
Still searching for the century though...............
Mike
But recently I have been struggling a bit with my "end patterns" so I changed it up a little. I throw out 6 or 7 balls and force myself to create a GOOD end pattern to start. I basically used blackjacks end pattern drill idea.
Two things have happened. 1) It is forcing me to concentrate on developing a good end pattern game 2) I feel a little more invested prior to the first break shot of the run. Seems to be helping for me.
Still searching for the century though...............
Mike
If I'm not practicing something specific, like end patterns or dealing with clusters/problem balls, I always start with various continuing break shots too. Hey, you're practicing straight pool so why not practice break shots? Let me add one thing - if I miss it I re-rack and shoot it again. I never continue the rack on a missed break shot.
Also, I try to set up a good number of break shots from the off side, opposite the favored side for a right handed shooter like myself. The tendency is to always set up the break shot from the favored side but obviously in an actual match this won't always be possible and I want to practice from the off-handed side enough to be comfortable with these shots.
Also, I try to set up a good number of break shots from the off side, opposite the favored side for a right handed shooter like myself. The tendency is to always set up the break shot from the favored side but obviously in an actual match this won't always be possible and I want to practice from the off-handed side enough to be comfortable with these shots.
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These are both EXCELLENT points. In fact, the bolded one is, I feel, one of the most important. I don't know if it came across that way, but in my post above, when I mentioned "Approach B" whereby one continues to shoot for the purposes of keeping in a rhythm, I was referring to the balls post-break. I didn't mean the break shot itself. If you miss *THAT*, obviously, rake the balls and start over -- you need to find out why you missed that particular break shot.
And that's a great point about practicing "off-handed" break shots as well. Methinks it was Blackjack that was lambasting (perhaps too strong a word) someone for always trying to select a break shot from one particular side of the table, to tickle his "familiarity" bone. Blackjack's right -- you take what the table gives you, and stop trying to nudge and massage balls into "your" familiarity zone. Practicing off-hand break shots is great, because it helps grow the "Oh, I've done this; this is no biggie" shot vocabulary in the mind. Funny, I practiced break shots from the righthand side of the table (some consider this the "break shot for lefties") for so long, that I'm completely at home with them.
Practice break shots with the mechanical bridge, too! That is a VERY important skill to have.
-Sean
Yeah, the break shot by it's very nature carries a heightened pressure with it - there's a pause in the action while the balls are being re-racked, and the sell-out nature of a miss. It's funny how in practice knowing that you want to avoid re-racking the balls can re-create a little bit of that pressure. :grin:
I practice a lot differently than most of you. If I'm working on break shots, then I'll just shoot those. If I'm working on end patterns I'll just toss 6 balls out on the table run them out setting up for a specific type of break shot.
However if I'm just running the the balls in practice, I play a game against myself. I ALWAYS start with a proper opening break and then try to run them from there. When I miss, I keep going if I have shot otherwise I practice safeties on myself. I find this is a fun way to practice and you get to work on lots of different skills. You always get some end pattern practice, cluster management, safety practice and opening break practice.
However if I'm just running the the balls in practice, I play a game against myself. I ALWAYS start with a proper opening break and then try to run them from there. When I miss, I keep going if I have shot otherwise I practice safeties on myself. I find this is a fun way to practice and you get to work on lots of different skills. You always get some end pattern practice, cluster management, safety practice and opening break practice.