Break Speed

[BRKNRUN]

I am wondering if anyone has any breaking hints or tricks to share. I have not really had a problem with breaking, as I follow through almost to the side pockets, but this one thing has been bothering me. I was in Vegas for a tournament and they set up a table with a velocity meter on it and had a break speed contest. I felt great at 25 miles per hour, but was astounded when a guy reached 35 miles per hour. It was quite impressive! The difference in the snap was profound and I have always wondered what allowed him to get that velocity. It looked and sounded a lot like Tom Cruise's (stunt double) breaking at the beginning of the Color of Money. I have actually even thought of taking martial arts classes to increase my break speed.

Any ideas??

This is like asking why some people run faster than others....

Obviously technique and (body build) play a role...but some will have the advantage over others as far as break speed....

This is the only area other than "reach" where I think body type has an advantage or disadvantage at pool....

I don't care how much time or technique Karen Corr puts into her break...she will never be able to achieve the same break as Johnny Archer....

Just like I will never be able to run as fast as Carl Lewis.....(unless he is chasing me with a knife.... )

 

[StormHotRod300]

I will agree that its all in technique, cuz i see, some of the skinniest guys just crushing the rack, but they hardly have any CB control.

But i will say, break speed is over rated, and people need to put more thought and work into controlling the CB, and making balls, and getting a decent spread on the break.

the best thing i have done to achieve the best break power, is to start out slow, and slowly work, your way up, untill you lose control of the CB, and then you will find how hard you should be breaking and keeping control of the CB.

dave

 

[1pRoscoe]

Control not speed......

EXACTLY!!!!

What's funny is I have found that I acutally make more balls on the break with a controlled break rather than a forceful break, and I can break probably in the 26-29mph range.... If I put force into it and that's all, I greatly feel that my odds of running out are less than if I break at 65% and control the cb.

 

[pillage6]

At the All Japan Open just completed, they had a radar gun and there was a kid breaking at 42 MPH!! I understand that a video is available and it will be posted in the next day or two with a link here.

You sure it wasn't 42 kph? I would imagine if they were in Japan they would be using the metric system. If he was breaking that hard in a tournament he must have some crazy cue ball control too.

 

[Matt_24]

It has nothing to do with velocity. Never sacrifice accuracy for power. Work on your accuracy. As long as you keep control of the cue ball and make a ball you will keep shooting. I have an article on this web site "Breaking to Win", also look at Charlie Bond's book, there is good stuff in there.

Blackjack is correct. Jimmy Reid taught me this principle. If you're not accurate..speed means nothing. Hitting that one ball SOLID and controlling the cue ball is EVERYTHING. Now, I'm specifically referring to the 9 ball break when I say that I use medium power and focus on hitting the one ball accurately and parking the cue ball in the center of the table. Doing this, I usually consistently make a ball (or two if the rack is really tight) and usually have a good opening shot. The percentages are in my favor when I break this way...and isn't all pool a game of percentages?

 

[Nostroke]

You sure it wasn't 42 kph? I would imagine if they were in Japan they would be using the metric system. If he was breaking that hard in a tournament he must have some crazy cue ball control too.

I was pretty incredulous too- I didnt ask him that specific question but he did say Busta was under 35 and Ralf too which would indicate MPH i think. Maybe today he will post somethng about this.

 

[mnShooter]

Anyways to actually answer your question to get the most speed-

If you are breaking off the rail put the cueball as far out as you need to so your cue is as level as possible, otherwise you won't keep it on the table. I can hit the cueball as hard as I can and not have it go off the table.

Make sure you hit center cue ball or maybe a tip below center and hit the head ball dead center.

Address the cueball with a little more of a sideways stance so that the body doesn't get in the way (opposite of snooker stance)

Get your body closer to the cueball. Bend your bridge arm a little bit. If the cueball is too far away you will not hit it solidly.

Rack the balls when practicing instead of just throwing them on the table. The break is the most important and frequent shot you will ever take.

To help consistency (not necessarily speed) some will advise to pause in the backstroke and follow through all the way to the joint of the cue.

Do not try to lunge forward. It may happen but just let it happen. Do not force it.

I haven't been radared in a while but I know I can break 28+mph.

 

[Slowhand]

Slowhand has left the building

 

[pillage6]

Another good reason for using the rail is that it doesn't move. When your bridge moves it causes you to strike the cue ball in an unintended spot which might have catastrophic results.

Thanks for the tips guys, this is some quality information.

 

[iacas]

Remember, you can drive a nail easier with a heavy hammer than a light hammer so you need to not only maximize the speed of the stick but also the force at contact.

Actually, you generate more force by going faster. Golfers using heavier clubs can't swing as fast as golfers using lighter clubs. There's a tradeoff - heavier = slower (but often more controlled), lighter = faster.

Since force = mass x velocity^2, you're better off upping your velocity. Consider this:

20 oz stick swung at 20 MPH = 8,000 units
18 oz stick swing at 22 MPH = 8,712 units

The lighter stick swung only two MPH faster generates more force.

There are some other physics that come into play here (cue stick-cue ball contact is not perfectly elastic nor is it perfectly inelastic), but those really only account for very small differences in the numbers.