Best way to break in straight pool?

J

Jeff Rosen

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm tired of starting a match minus two but when I aim for the corner balls I almost always scratch, even with spin!!
 
To answer your question would require an assumption on the part of the person answering that you are advanced enough to execute the required actions of breaking in straight pool.

In other words, if you are a beginner or have even advanced to the beginning levels of intermediate player, you may not be able to control the break no matter what was explained.

The break in straight pool can vary from player to player or equipment to equipment also. But basically, I like to come in about a diamond and a quarter from the pocket on the short rail, and right up to the headstring.

My focus is almost totally on the corner ball opposite the one I'm going to contact. My envisionment is that that ball will go straight out to the long rail and back into the pack. Then when I get down to shoot at corner ball on the opposite side I do so with high outiside spinning english. You want the CB to hit the bottom rail, side rail and then opposite side rail.

Failing to hit the opposite long rail will result in the CB hitting the bottom rail, side rail and head rail which will have the CB running back toward the center of the table.

Hitting bottom rail, side rail and opposite side rail will kill the CB and allow it come to rest on the head rail.

There are plenty of videos on youtube that discuss the straight pool break, Search for it on youtube. But again, saying it and executing it are two different things. :shrug:


EDIT ... After reading your post again, I thought of something for you to try to help evaluate your stroke. Place the CB on the headspot ( no other balls on the table) shoot the CB straight across the footspot to the bottom rail with enough sidespin to try to hit the long rail BEFORE the side pocket. Try not to shoot with a lot of forward speed. More smooth touch. How low on the long rail can you consistently go with that shot?
 
Last edited:
put the CB even with the corner ball you intend to hit....then play a half ball hit on the corner ball with no spin and the only thought is enough speed to get the CB back to the end rail. I have been using this method for years! I learned it years ago from a VERY good player up here in 14.1 land.

thank me later! :)
G.
 
The standard break is the best way to do it. There are a few offensive breaks, such as banking a corner ball or playing the head ball in the side pocket but they are very, very iffy. Not something to try against any opponent who can play a bit. Unless you hate your cash, of course;)
 
BeiberLvr said:
Interesting using high outside as I've always used low outside to get the desired CB results. Anytime I've used high outside, the CB always travels long and hits the opposite short rail first.
Click to expand...

That's the first time I've ever heard of anyone hitting the opening break with low outside. I was taught high outside. I was also taught to hit bottom rail, side rail, opposite side rail, head rail.
 
BeiberLvr said:
Interesting using high outside as I've always used low outside to get the desired CB results. Anytime I've used high outside, the CB always travels long and hits the opposite short rail first.
Click to expand...

I say high, above center might have been a better description. I want the CB rolling and avoiding any sliding into the rack. I picture trying my break with low outside and I feel I'm going to hit too firm on the rack, and too early on the 3rd opposite long rail. So long as the touch is right, the CB should be rolling by the time it gets to the balls anyway, so it's all in our delivery.

Try that spin shot from headspot, over the footspot and to the side long rail before the side pocket. If you develop a good touch, you should be able to spin the CB while addressing it parallel to the table surface with above center, running english, center, or below center, contact the long rail before the side pocket and have the CB come to rest without touching any other rails somewhere near the middle of the table. The below center may give you a kind of drag draw effect that really slows the CB as it approaches the first rail. Seems like more to worry about than just rolling it with spin.

For me the spinning english on the opening break ( and I mean quite a bit with much slower forward speed) allows the CB to "roll" off the corner OB rather than "rub" off it. Rolling off it makes it easier to to have that corner ball follow a squarer path to the bottom rail and back to the stack and seems to transfer the energy along the last row of balls to the opposite corner ball better so it can react better.

But if there is one thing I've learned in this game, we all play very differently. :thumbup:
 
Visualize the back row of 5 balls as one Giant Combination. Your goal is, to bank the opposite corner ball back to where it once was and cue ball four rails to table head. Your cueing needs a horizontal plane, utilizing a 9 or three o'clock punch spinner (left or right side) to accomplish the needed results, and often a good safety.
 
Island Drive said:
Visualize the back row of 5 balls as one Giant Combination. Your goal is, to bank the opposite corner ball back to where it once was and cue ball four rails to table head. Your cueing needs a horizontal plane, utilizing a 9 or three o'clock punch spinner (left or right side) to accomplish the needed results, and often a good safety.
Click to expand...

This is how I feel, 3 or 9 o'clock.
If you hit a bit high or low, it's worn off by the time whitey gets to the pack.
The only significant effect you want is the side spin.
 
Jeff Rosen said:
I'm tired of starting a match minus two but when I aim for the corner balls I almost always scratch, even with spin!!
Click to expand...
If you are playing the standard 14.1 opening break safe -- and we don't know yet that you are -- if you are getting the object ball you hit to a cushion and the cue ball is scratching in the diagonally opposite corner after two cushions -- the most likely scenario, but I'm guessing -- then you need to use more outside spin or move the cue ball closer to the center of the table.

Here is a break shot at the start of a match with good commentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZJN1G0-n2U

Is that what you're trying to do?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top