Big 9 ball break

[dr_dave]

I have been working hard on my break lately but still not getting the results that I want. I watch videos of Shane and even Fedor Gorst. When they break, the cue ball jumps off the table at least 3-4 inches. Is that due to just hitting the cue ball very hard with center English?

As others have pointed out, this is due to hitting down on the CB (with unavoidable cue elevation) at fast speed, with a square hit on the 1. For more info and demonstrations, see the break CB hop and squat resource page.

I am right handed and usually break from the left side rail. Does anybody have any good 9 ball break techniques that I can work on to have a more consistent break?

Lots of good advice for improving your break can be found on the break technique and equipment advice resource page.

Enjoy, and good luck,
Dave

 

[Cornerman]

The cueball jumping, is a result of them stroking down, causing the cueball to leave the table in route to the headball, thus a bounce.

Not saying this is totally wrong, but there’s more to it or else when mike dechaine’s 35mph hits the rack, that cueball would go forward. But it always goes straight up .

Ive got to a lot to say on this subject, but I’m still in the middle of the study and this forum is maybe not the best to make a first pass

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Not saying this is totally wrong, but there’s more to it or else when mike dechaine’s 35mph hits the rack, that cueball would go forward. But it always goes straight up.

If he hit it with a non-hopping stop shot, the CB would rebound off the greater mass of the rack back toward center table, right? Could that rebound also make what would otherwise be a forward-moving popup into a straight up one?

pj
chgo

 

[diazr3]

As someone who spent months trying to do anything and everything to improve the break I can only say what has worked for me because what works for me may not work for everyone.

I could never manage to really spread the balls with so much control until I made these adjustments on my break shot:

1.) Short controlled back-stroke.

2.) Choking up (around 10-12 inches from the butt)

I began using a shorter back-stroke after watching Joe Tucker's videos on breaking. He found that very many pros never really get their power from a big long back-stroke like you see from most people. It instantly changed my break. I went on youtube and sure enough, the best breakers never reached out way back to get their power. I started watching the people at my pool hall and again, almost all of the best breakers had a short back stroke that never went far back at all.

An very knowledgeable instructor once told me that choking up could help my break. I tried it at first, hated it. I felt it was way too high and very unnecessary. Especially around 10 inches. Months down the line I was playing 8 ball and tried it again, this time with a shorter, controlled back stroke. I got down, lined up, pulled back about 4-6 inches and let go. The cue ball made a loud crack as it hit the rack and popped up a few inches into the air and rolled back to center table. Balls scattered everywhere. Choking up still felt very weird, but it's something I am getting more comfortable with.

Before these adjustments I was never able to break this well with so much control and with so little effort. I was honestly shocked at the outcome and how much of an impact those adjustments made on my break. This allowed me to forget about trying to blast the cue ball and focus on my mechanics. Tip placement, Staying in line, making a full hit on the headball etc.

Hope this helps

 

[claymont]

I have been working hard on my break lately but still not getting the results that I want. I watch videos of Shane and even Fedor Gorst. When they break, the cue ball jumps off the table at least 3-4 inches. Is that due to just hitting the cue ball very hard with center English?

I am right handed and usually break from the left side rail. Does anybody have any good 9 ball break techniques that I can work on to have a more consistent break?

Read and watch Colin's material; might help.

How to Create Power!

Power Breaking Instruction

 

[KMRUNOUT]

I typically break from the left side rail. I'm not as worried about getting the cue ball to jump as just making solid contact with the one ball. When I use a magic rack, I typically make 1-2 balls on the break. When I'm not using the magic rack, my break is just wild and not consistent.

Then it sounds like racking is your problem, not breaking. If you're racking your own, spend some time learning to get the rack frozen. Invest in Joe Tucker's "Racking Secrets".

KMRUNOUT

 

[KMRUNOUT]

The CB hopping after contact with the rack isn't something you want to accomplish - it's something you want to avoid if possible. That's because the energy that pops the CB up would be put to better use moving object balls around.

Where the energy is directed is more important than how much energy there is. This is especially true with 9 ball (which requires little more than a firm stop shot speed to have an effective break). A pop on the break causes a different reaction from the rack than a flatter cue ball. It also creates different behavior from the cue ball. Those things are far more important to me than how much total energy I direct into the 1 ball parallel to the table surface.

As such I respectfully disagree with your two quotes statements here.

KMRUNOUT



Sent from my iPhone using AzBilliards Forums

 

[measureman]

As others have pointed out, this is due to hitting down on the CB (with unavoidable cue elevation) at fast speed, with a square hit on the 1. For more info and demonstrations, see the break CB hop and squat resource page.

Lots of good advice for improving your break can be found on the break technique and equipment advice resource page.

Enjoy, and good luck,
Dave

Dr. Dave do you have a resource page for old guys that injure themselves breaking?
I used to twist my body like boxer throwing a punch to get everything into the break.
About a year ago I pulled a muscle in my thigh that caused me a lot of pain for a couple months.
Now i just arm break.
Got to make adjustments at 71.

 

[dr_dave]

Dr. Dave do you have a resource page for old guys that injure themselves breaking?
I used to twist my body like boxer throwing a punch to get everything into the break.
About a year ago I pulled a muscle in my thigh that caused me a lot of pain for a couple months.
Now i just arm break.
Got to make adjustments at 71.

You don't need to crush the balls to play at a high level in 9-ball. There's nothin' wrong with a controlled "arm break."

As for a resource page, here you go: Ibuprofen.

Regards,
Dave

PS: I won't see you this year at Felt for our BU Summer School Boot Camps. We're now doing them in Fort Collins (MatchUps) instead.

 

[dr_dave]

As others have pointed out, this is due to hitting down on the CB (with unavoidable cue elevation) at fast speed, with a square hit on the 1. For more info and demonstrations, see the break CB hop and squat resource page.

Lots of good advice for improving your break can be found on the break technique and equipment advice resource page.

Dr. Dave do you have a resource page for old guys that injure themselves breaking?
I used to twist my body like boxer throwing a punch to get everything into the break.
About a year ago I pulled a muscle in my thigh that caused me a lot of pain for a couple months.
Now i just arm break.
Got to make adjustments at 71.

Here's another resource page with "alternative" options:

pattern racking, ball-gap strategy, and soft breaking

Enjoy,
Dave