break shot? why so much emphasis on smashing the rack?

[chandler1968]

Bear down on your break. It is super important to focus on the spot on the object ball so as to park the cue all. Parking the white rock usually means a solid strike.

 

[Baxter]

The one thing I will say about the break, is that I don't understand the correlation between the power and the quality of someones break. I thought that Corey already proved that you don't have the smash the bejesus out of every rack to have a great break. Everyone who plays with me even semi-regularly, comments on how well I break the balls. I don't smash racks. I hit my 10 ball break between 70-80% power, pocket either or both of the balls behind the head ball, and play shape for the 1 in either the bottom right corner or the side pocket (depending upon the table).

I don't think you have to hit the break hard to be a good breaker. In fact, I think the opposite is true for most people. I think most people's breaks are inconsistent because they try to hit them too hard.

Harvey Penick was a legendary golf instructor. One of the greatest to ever live. He said that 85% was the perfect number. If you swing the club at 85%, your rhythm and timing will be perfect, and as a result, you most often will actually hit the ball further than you would swinging at 100% because you will strike the dead center of the clubface more consistently. He said that 85% also gives your body enough time to subconsciously correct on the downswing any flaws you may have on the backswing.

I firmly believe that same idea translates from golf to pool, especially on the break.

This is what I had to say in a different thread on the same topic.

 

[bdorman]

I medium-to-fast break for 9- and 10-ball (8 and 9 foot tables; I don't play barboxes) because a good controlled break will almost always pocket one of the "wired" balls. I also find that I scratch less with a controlled break (not much you can do about getting kicked in, but a controlled break can result in CB squat).

I smash away at an 8-ball rack because it doesn't seem like any of those balls are wired for a natural roll. But I can't "pop" the CB on an 8-ball break...too much chance of flying it off the table.

My break cue isn't for power. It's to save my player's soft tips.

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

Hitting them harder doesn't always make more balls, in fact, sometimes I think the velocity will prevent balls from going into the pockets.

Very true, but what this is also saying is that sometimes hitting them harder does make more balls.

It all comes down to what's working on that particular table at that time.

This is what I had to say in a different thread on the same topic.

Thing is though Baxter, that in golf if my 100% is farther than yours than my 85% is too because I'm closer to the green. And if at that power level we both hit the fairway say 80% of the time, then I can dial down to maybe 75% power and up my fairways hit. So I still benefit. While power is quite often not needed in golf, it sure is a nice thing to have for those occasions when it can come in handy.

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I agree that power is not the most important thing on the break. Certainly not as important as accuracy and control, especially in games like 9 and 10 Ball where a shot on the one is important. This is why I don't work on increasing my speed, because accuracy and control are more important to me and I've not mastered either of them yet. But I can't deny that, especially in a game like 8 Ball, there are times where a powerful break can be an advantage if you need it because that's what is working. I only wish had had one.