Break this (1)

Steve Lipsky said:
Great idea, Spoons. This one looks pretty natural to go from the 10 to the 7 to the 9. You'll break the cluster with the 9, going off the one rail.

Some very important things to note:

1) While using a rail to break clusters is not often ideal, when the cluster is already disturbed like it is in this diagram, it's perfectly reasonable. Going off the rail can actually be preferable in these cases, because you have more leeway in using side english to affect exactly where you hit the balls. This is critical and leads me to #2.

2) When using the 9, you want to "choose" which side of the cluster you're going to break. You should either choose the 2-11 or the 12-2. The 12-2 is probably preferable, but there are benefits to both. The important thing here is, as a general rule, you never want to go into the bottom ball of a cluster. You usually want to keep it there as a possible next shot. They don't look like classic insurance balls but in fact they are.

If you can clip the 12-2, you might have the 6, for example. Also maybe the 5. Going into the 2-11 is a little riskier because you won't have the 6 or the 5 as insurance, though you may come out with a shot on the 11.

- Steve
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So, where were you when I was 19?:)

This post demonstrates the value of the forum - and why I am so glad it was created. IMHO - the concepts you explained in this single post
would justify reading the forum for the whole year.

Can't say enough 'thank yous' for what you 100 ball runners
are willing to share.

Dale<100 ball runner in his dreams>
 
spoons said:
Thanks for all the replies. There's been some really good discussion so far!

I'm glad you folks like the idea. To be honest, it's a little self serving in that lately I've found myself having a hard time getting the balls open to where I have more than one shot option. And, I'm looking for some help with that part of the game. But, I figured that if I'm having a hard time with it, maybe someone else is too.
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Don't feel lonely - break shots and opening clusters, what some
call 'secondary break shots' is pretty much what separates the
men from the 9 ball players.

One humble request - how about some diagrams dealing with playing
the all important 'final four or five' balls to get on a good break shot.

Dale
 
Looking at it again, I think I would still go right into them off of the 7. If I felt that the 9-ball was going to be hit, I would try to account for that with the shot on the 7, but it just doesn't look easy enough to hold the cueball for the shot on the 9. And if you do hold it up, you may be shooting over a ball in the stack. Does anyone else see it this way?
Another thing in favor of doing it Steve's way is that if you follow too far off of the 10, you have a straightish shot on the 14 uptable with draw to possibly have another go at the angle on the 7.
 
3andstop said:
After shooting the 7 I'd be trying to hit the cluster on the near side of the 6 and into the 12 gently. The cue ball should run right around and open up the five also. Then two rail position to the center of the table would be natural from the 9.

It just seems slightly higher percentage to me, to leave the 9 for a safety valve than it does shooting it off prior to going into the cluster. Thats the only reason I'd be trying to roll easy to position on the 7 first.
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You have my choice of shots, except I would use a little high left and split the 2/11, firm but not hard. 9 is safety ball, 11 will be near the corner pocket also. Can't miss position on something, even if your a little off.

Mike
 
Dave Nelson said:
What's wrong with a stop on the 10 then the 13 6 combo? The angle doesn't look to bad.

Dave Nelson
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The 13-6 is lined up to hit about a half diamond away from the bottom left pocket. In order to make the combo, you'd have to cut the 13 and you don't have room to do that with the 15 right there. I believe the 15 actually blocks part of the 13 ball.

If the combo was dead, that's not a bad option though. You could go into the 15 which would loosen the pack a little bit, and depending on the angle in, you might be able to draw back to the side rail (below the 14) as insurance.

I still like Steve's idea of going into the 12-2, but I'm not sure I have the precision to get into those two balls off of the 9. I'm probably more likely to end up going into the 2-11 or hit the 6 on my way into the pack.
 
Yep, a closer look shows me that it's a bad shot. I'm a sucker for stuff like that which is why I'm a c player.

Dave Nelson
 
No worries Dave. You should see some of the shots I convince myself I can make on Cuetable. Put it on a real table, and I'm usually about 50-1 against running it out the way I diagrammed it.

Still fun to try though, isn't it? ;)
 
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