Break shot voodoo

F

Fastolfe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am bad at breaking balls at 9- or 8-ball. As in abysmally bad. I must pocket a ball every 10 racks, if not worse. The breaking advices I've come across here and there seem like cheap tricks that works only for the people who advocate them, on their own table with their own balls, or at the poolhall they patronize. I've never applied any such trick successfully and consistently myself.

It's getting to be a problem when I play league matches against people who can run tables. I need an edge, and the break shot is it. I do two things to offset my breaking weakness:

- I break like a sissy and leave a mess, if I know I'm stronger than my opponent at straight-pool-style play. This can quickly turn against me though, and isn't very sportsmanlike.

- I keep a small notebook in which I jot down what kind of shots I should play on what table/poolhall, like for instance "poolhall X, table Y: aim apex ball, 3/4 ball right, 1 tip follow + right english".

The notebook in particular seems to help quite a bit, but it requires playing in known areas, which isn't really practical.

I'm tired of voodoo breaking. I want to know what to do to improve. I don't want recipes or unexplainable tricks, I want to understand how to read a rack properly, and why/how small gaps between balls in a rack can improve my success rate.

I want to understand the mechanics, not apply some method, because that's the only part of the game I don't really understand. I'm sure there are notions of probabilities somewhere in the line of reasoning, but that's okay with me if I know where to find the good odds.

Also, I'm sure if I can "decode" a rack rationally, I'll be able get successful shots out of fresh straight pool racks, something I've seen some of my opponents do. I'm so jealous when I see a guy look at a seemingly tight rack for 5 seconds, call some ball, whack another and presto, the ball goes in nice and clean. I haven't seen it done often, but I want to know when and how I can do it to :)

I'm hungry for knowledge. Can someone point me to well documented material (or books that aren't out of print) that can help me? or if you feel generous, post what you know about rack mechanics?
 
Have you ever noticed that some tables play faster or slower than others? Some rooms polish the balls every day while others let them stay dirty. Rainy days play different than dry ones.

There are a lot of factors that will impact the way the balls break. There is no set system accept to learn a few concepts that will help you recognize and adapt faster than the other guy.

Tony is right to recommend Joe Tucker's book "Racking Secrets." It is a great text that provides information you can use immediately. You can spot and predict situations to control the break outcome and you can guard yourself against a bad rack.

All I can advise is to learn perfect consistency so you will have a predictable starting point. Hitting harder or softer, from one side or the other, spinning the cue ball all work under different situations. If you pay close attention to exactly how you break every time, and what variations work under what conditions, you'll improve.

As for Vodoo, I employ the break cue with the most mojo available: made by Pete Ohman.
 
Thanks for the advices guys. I will get Joe Tucker's DVD and get working on my technique :)
 
Different tables like different things. Try moving the cue ball along the head string in search of a sweet spot. If there is a burn mark on the cloth from previous breakers, start there. Some tables dont like hard breaks, so start with a medium hit to start with, if you are making balls stick with it, if not, hit them harder or softer trying to find the right speed for how the table is racking.
But the most important thing is make sure that you are getting a solid hit on the head ball. This will allow you to control the cue ball better.
Chuck
 
I concur on Joe Tucker's DVD as the book version of Racking Secrets is out of print. If you still want it in print form, you'll need to get Charley Bond's book, The Great Break Shot includes a complete reprint of Racking Secrets. So far, I found this to be the only book out there concentrating on the break shot, and I believe the author invented something called the breakrak, allowing you to practice the break shot without racking any balls.

You may want to invest in a lesson with a house pro check your stance, as that may prevent you delivering enough power through your stroke. Develop your library of safeties, from my experience its more effective against higher level players than lower level players.
 
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