Biggest "leak"- 9Ball the Break.

Beware_of_Dawg

Beware_of_Dawg

..................
Silver Member
Ok so I'm a fairly decent 9 ball player, (strong APA5 speed). My biggest leak for sometime now is the break. It has improved significantly but still is easily the weakest part of my game. I've tinkered with a bunch of breaks but always seemed to knock the cue ball off the table or I scratched constantly. So I did some research online as to a recommended break for 9ball... I came upon the below break using dead english and a fairly soft stroke. Aiming just a hair right of center one the 1 ball.. It's very weak and I can't consistantly get those two balls in the diagram moving in those directions (as the article I read suggested they would be doing) BUT.... I do keep the ball on the table and my scratch percentage is much lower.

CueTable Help



I played with someone a month or so ago that used the below break with a extreme power stoke lower left english on the CB aiming left on the 1ball and they were getting a ton of action and consistantly potting 2+ balls on every break. Again, I've been using this break from time to time with very mixed results... some days I have trouble keeping the CB on the table and my scratch % is obviously higher than with the above soft break. So in a match Im using the soft break but still unhappy with the results...

But to the point... MY BREAK SUCKS. Pleez help. Reccomendations please.

CueTable Help



But to the point... MY BREAK SUCKS. Pleez help. Reccomendations please.
 
From your description it sounds like you are jacking up on your break. I am guessing that you are breaking from the left rail with your hand bridging on the rail? Try moving the Cue Ball to the right a little so your hand is on the table bed apposed to the rail.

On another note, quit trying to break like king kong and get your break dialed in before you start puting a lot of power behind it. Only time I do a power break is when I am playing 8 Ball. I would say I use 70% on my 9 Ball break because you can predict were the cueball is going to go if you are hitting the rack more consistently. Welp Im not sure if this helped but I tried!
 
BVal said:
Four words for you.
JOE TUCKER"S RACKING SECRETS!
BVal
Click to expand...

I was hoping for some advice from you nice folks... Advice other than go buy a book, lol.

But Thanks, Im sure its helpful and I will look into it.

Anyone have any actual game advice for me? I don't even mind if you quote straight from the book above anything at this point is appreciated.

I'm going to practice for a 3 hour session in an hour or two and would like to practice with any insite/advice you guys can offer up...

thnx

~D4\/\/G~
 
Pushout said:
What is "dead english"???
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it is another way to say no english and center ball. Just a guess but that is the way I interpeted it.

BVal
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
I was hoping for some advice from you nice folks... Advice other than go buy a book, lol.

But Thanks, Im sure its helpful and I will look into it.

Anyone have any actual game advice for me? I don't even mind if you quote straight from the book above anything at this point is appreciated.

I'm going to practice for a 3 hour session in an hour or two and would like to practice with any insite/advice you guys can offer up...

thnx

~D4\/\/G~
Click to expand...
You can dismiss it if you want but I just bought the DVD and it is a MUST have if you play a lot of 9 ball especially. It will answer all of your questions and more. The best $25.00 I ever spent. Sorry I couldn't be of more help to you.

BVal
 
BVAL, dont get me wrong Im not dismissing it at all. I do appreciate the tip.

I going to practice in an hour or two, so it's kinda unpractical right now.

Hoping for some "quicky" advice I can take with me this evening.
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
I was hoping for some advice from you nice folks... Advice other than go buy a book, lol.

But Thanks, Im sure its helpful and I will look into it.
thnx

~D4\/\/G~
Click to expand...

The book or the DVD, which wasn't available when I bought the book, will teach you about reading the rack, which a ton of people still don't understand.

Move the cue ball more toward the spot, hit 1/2 tip below center, hit the one full in the face, maybe not full speed, but close. The whole idea is to get a shot at the one after making a ball.
I still break from around the spot most of the time, but this isn't accepted as the best method any more. Works for me.
 
plshrk22 said:
Try breaking from different areas in the Kitchen. Find what works for YOU!
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I have been all over the kitchen and bought the shirt... lol.

The above break has been what I've found is giving me the highest (still unacceptable) rate of staying on the table and out of the pockets with the CB and still potting a ball or 2 every 3rd break or so...
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
BVAL, dont get me wrong Im not dismissing it at all. I do appreciate the tip.

I going to practice in an hour or two, so it's kinda unpractical right now.

Hoping for some "quicky" advice I can take with me this evening.
Click to expand...
Gotcha. Try hitting the cue ball and the head ball as square as possible no matter where you break from behind the head string. In my opinion any english (left or right spin) will take power away from your break. The closer to the middle of the table you break from - the more evenly the energy will be transfered to the rack. If you are flying the cue ball off the table you are doing two things (one or both).
1. hitting to high on the cue ball
2. hitting the head ball too thin (not square)

I recommend buying Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets ASAP and you will start pocketing balls on your break with predictability.

BVal
 
From your description it sounds like you are jacking up on your break.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. This is probably why your cue ball jumps off the table and scratches so much.

...Try moving the Cue Ball to the right a little so your hand is on the table bed apposed to the rail.
Click to expand...

Or just work on keeping your cue more level.

pj
chgo
 
Okay

That break is referred to as a 'Side Break' in 9 ball. You do not aim for the very front of the 1 ball. You aim straight to the 1 ball like the 2nd diagram indicated, and I use 3/4's tip below center. (because the 1 comes uptable, and a little low brings the cue ball back some for a good first shot on it).

It works for either side. If your opponent racks the balls high on the spot or in front of the spot, that break will be dead in the water. Or, LMAO, they tilt the rack, but they always tilt the rack the wrong way, and it ends up helping the side break.

For all those that have never figured it out, when the balls are high on the spot, you want less angle on the break. Too much angle if the balls are racked high will jump the cue ball off the table no matter what english is on it.

So, when one of my opponents racks high on me after side breaking, I switch to one of my front breaks (since I read racks real good), and always make 2-3 balls everytime. You see, a racker can nullify 1 break, but it optimizes for another type break.

So, when they rack, trying to do little things to the rack, and I simply switch my break to another that will work with the way they racked, and keep making balls, it tends to drive them nuts, and I enjoy that ... a lot ...

And in the end, they always come back to a good centered rack because they can not outsmart me.
 
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