Break Strength and Speed

[Tiny10-0]

Guys I need help. I have been playing pool for about 12 years now and I have never been able to perfect my break. When I learned, my job was to usually rack as we played winner breaks ( 8 ball). Now I am starting to feel that my game is suffering from my lack of power on the break. I have tried several different breaks, some work some of the time, some dont work at all. I have a good friend that suggested something different for me to try, but before I scramble up what little I can make happen on the snap, I would like opinions on what to do.

I almost always ( 95 percent of the time) shoot 8 ball. My stance is such that my cue runs on the right side of my chin, about even with the right side of my nose. My bridge on the break is an on the rail, between my #1 and #2 fingers. The break I used most often is 2 ball widths right of the left front side diamond onto the second ball back, with 3/4 tip of bottom left English. It ok but will scratch on occasion, sometimes make a ball, and most of time leave the balls clumped up on the left side of the table.

I consider myself a pretty strong player, shoot BCA ranked a 9 in three different leagues, including 1 Vegas league. The break is holding me back and I cannot seem to figure out how to up the power without miscueing. My friend suggested I try standing up on the last forward stroke with a center table break. I need help, any that could be given would be greatly appreciated. -Tiny

 

[Tony_in_MD]

Is it possible for you to video yourself breaking? It will help us, help you.

 

[FranCrimi]

Guys I need help. I have been playing pool for about 12 years now and I have never been able to perfect my break. When I learned, my job was to usually rack as we played winner breaks ( 8 ball). Now I am starting to feel that my game is suffering from my lack of power on the break. I have tried several different breaks, some work some of the time, some dont work at all. I have a good friend that suggested something different for me to try, but before I scramble up what little I can make happen on the snap, I would like opinions on what to do.

I almost always ( 95 percent of the time) shoot 8 ball. My stance is such that my cue runs on the right side of my chin, about even with the right side of my nose. My bridge on the break is an on the rail, between my #1 and #2 fingers. The break I used most often is 2 ball widths right of the left front side diamond onto the second ball back, with 3/4 tip of bottom left English. It ok but will scratch on occasion, sometimes make a ball, and most of time leave the balls clumped up on the left side of the table.

I consider myself a pretty strong player, shoot BCA ranked a 9 in three different leagues, including 1 Vegas league. The break is holding me back and I cannot seem to figure out how to up the power without miscueing. My friend suggested I try standing up on the last forward stroke with a center table break. I need help, any that could be given would be greatly appreciated. -Tiny

Tiny, even though you've been playing pool for 12 years and you feel like you've been working on your break, you haven't practiced your break enough.

Trust me: It takes more work than you think to find it. Keep at it. Study Youtube clips of great players breaking. When it comes to breaking, there is no substitute for hard work and perserverance. Also, keep in mind that you should have at least 2 or 3 different types of breaks in your arsenal to adapt to different conditions.

Here's a tip: Try over-extending your follow through. Imagine hitting the rack with your pool cue.

 

[PGHteacher]

I don't have one of those monster breaks either but before I did these few things I had a terrible power break, I (just like you) started to really work on my break right around 15yrs of serious play.

My stance is such that my cue runs on the right side of my chin, about even with the right side of my nose.

This may not be 100% standard but it works for me, don't be afraid to adjust your stance once you get aimed (watch video closely).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW1tsONEI_U

My bridge on the break is an on the rail, between my #1 and #2 fingers.

(note pay no attention to this if you mean that your bridge is on the long rail

I recommend that you try to break from the string, you are sacrificing getting closer to the pack for added stability of using a rail bridge if you watch the pro's 99% of them do not make this sacrifice.

The break I used most often is 2 ball widths right of the left front side diamond onto the second ball back, with 3/4 tip of bottom left English. It ok but will scratch on occasion, sometimes make a ball, and most of time leave the balls clumped up on the left side of the table.

The 8ball break is a good one (if the 8ball counts as a win) especially on small tables, one of the best pieces of advice I got ever was to eliminate the english from that break. What is that left english for? In a power shot like a break you are going to get more variance of contact points on the CB than on softer shots; I recommend that you just use draw and cut out the english out all together, the main reason is that the more english you use the less action you can generate, you want that 8ball to come back at you more than you want it to go to a specific side, so IMHO you should just cut out the left english.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB705q8EwBg&playnext=1&list=PLAC2E67F4728C3DF8&feature=results_video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4-0nsfXbwQ

The break is holding me back and I cannot seem to figure out how to up the power without miscueing.

Probably another residual from the english, simplify the recipe and you will get a more consistent soup; any chef will tell you that.

My friend suggested I try standing up on the last forward stroke with a center table break. I need help, any that could be given would be greatly appreciated. -Tiny

I would never suggest that you just "do" something unless there is a very good reason for it, just trying to stand up could screw with you timing and cost you power. I asked a guy one time why he "popped" up on the break like that. His timing was terrible it was costing him an enormous amount of power and he said "because that's how the pro's break" in my mind I said to myself "that may be how it looks to you but none of them have that poor timing, what they are doing is for a purpose that is very clear in their minds".

Some finish up, some finish down, some finish forward. For the most part I will make a bet that what you see is an evolution and I suggest that you let your break evolve.

 

[FranCrimi]

I don't have one of those monster breaks either but before I did these few things I had a terrible power break, I (just like you) started to really work on my break right around 15yrs of serious play.



This may not be 100% standard but it works for me, don't be afraid to adjust your stance once you get aimed (watch video closely).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW1tsONEI_U



(note pay no attention to this if you mean that your bridge is on the long rail

I recommend that you try to break from the string, you are sacrificing getting closer to the pack for added stability of using a rail bridge if you watch the pro's 99% of them do not make this sacrifice.



The 8ball break is a good one (if the 8ball counts as a win) especially on small tables, one of the best pieces of advice I got ever was to eliminate the english from that break. What is that left english for? In a power shot like a break you are going to get more variance of contact points on the CB than on softer shots; I recommend that you just use draw and cut out the english out all together, the main reason is that the more english you use the less action you can generate, you want that 8ball to come back at you more than you want it to go to a specific side, so IMHO you should just cut out the left english.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB705q8EwBg&playnext=1&list=PLAC2E67F4728C3DF8&feature=results_video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4-0nsfXbwQ


Probably another residual from the english, simplify the recipe and you will get a more consistent soup; any chef will tell you that.



I would never suggest that you just "do" something unless there is a very good reason for it, just trying to stand up could screw with you timing and cost you power. I asked a guy one time why he "popped" up on the break like that. His timing was terrible it was costing him an enormous amount of power and he said "because that's how the pro's break" in my mind I said to myself "that may be how it looks to you but none of them have that poor timing, what they are doing is for a purpose that is very clear in their minds".

Some finish up, some finish down, some finish forward. For the most part I will make a bet that what you see is an evolution and I suggest that you let your break evolve.

I feel strongly about two things here:

1."I would never suggest that you just "do" something unless there is a very good reason for it, just trying to stand up could screw with you timing and cost you power."

Sometimes it's good to just try something without a very good reason. We my find out later that there was a good reason after all, but we didn't know it at the time. I'm sure many great things were discovered that way. The worst that could happen is that it doesn't work and we learned something from it.

2."I suggest that you let your break evolve."

Yes! Just don't get too complicated and try too many things at one time. Too much information can hurt a player more than help them.

 

[PGHteacher]

Sometimes it's good to just try something without a very good reason. We my find out later that there was a good reason after all, but we didn't know it at the time. I'm sure many great things were discovered that way.

You know I will be in with you here, good point.

The worst that could happen is that it doesn't work and we learned something from it.

I will have to disagree I have seen many players that have developed misconceptions because they "tried" something and it "worked" once or twice. Granted these are generally bangers but I have seen this with league players to.

2."I suggest that you let your break evolve."

Yes! Just don't get too complicated and try too many things at one time. Too much information can hurt a player more than help them.

Yup, I agree I suggested that he "not complicate the recipe", 1 thing at a time etc.. I hope you don't think I gave him TMI, TMI is a big mistake most people make when they start to teach, but he isn't in "class" I am just answering him. I actually suggest that he watch lots of break training videos but only try 1 thing at a time. Trying to implement too much IS harmful, having TMI? Yea maybe, maybe not; depends on your personality.

 

[Scott Lee]

I would try and break with better control of the CB. BTW, for a different opinion, the suggestion of more of a massively extended followthrough (trying to hit the rack with your cue) is not recommended by some instructors, including myself. The CB is gone from the tip as soon as it touches it, so the extended followthrough doesn't do anything to provide a better quality break. I would quit breaking off of the back rail, and move your bridge hand up to the head string. Second, work on hitting a dead CB (no top, no bottom, no sidespin), and contacting the head ball as square as possible. I'd back my speed off some, until you can do this 9 out of 10 breaks. When you can control the CB that well, you can start adding more speed back into your break. On a barbox sometimes a 2nd ball hit on the rack will yield making a ball. That said, not even the top pros make a ball on the break every time, playing 8ball.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

 

[Tiny10-0]

Wow I think you nailed it on the head. You found my break, and just what my friend was telling me on the stand up part. Its the same timing break that the video called eccentric power breaking. Looked like a good smash to me. I have a pretty serious league match tonight, but afterwords I am going to stick around and work on it for a while. Thanks a million man. I hate the break, always have, but my first 52 and 54, and several zeros made it very clear the break is very very important of the game.

 

[Scott Lee]

Tiny10-0...If you want to improve your break, you have a great instructor right there in Atlanta...Rufus Carter. He posts here as dr9ball. He can help you improve your break, and many other things.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Wow I think you nailed it on the head. You found my break, and just what my friend was telling me on the stand up part. Its the same timing break that the video called eccentric power breaking. Looked like a good smash to me. I have a pretty serious league match tonight, but afterwords I am going to stick around and work on it for a while. Thanks a million man. I hate the break, always have, but my first 52 and 54, and several zeros made it very clear the break is very very important of the game.