Breaking advice?

Its more important to hit that head ball dead on than it is to whack the cue ball as hard as you can. Pull off a bit on power, start with something like 60% and work on hitting the head ball dead on. Slowly add power as you continue to strike dead on.
 
Practice, practice. Thn more of the same!

As said, contact point is crucial to success. Aiming at the point where the front ball touches the table is helpful for determining actual point of impact.

Also, each table breaks differently, so you may want to move the CB around to find a good spot on a given table.

Finally, sometimes raising the butt end of your stick so there is more hop to the CB changes the initial impact of the break shot, resulting in different outcome. You will need to hold back a bit on the power when jacking up- compared to that of a more level stroke- but that results in a bit better CB control.
 
Never sacrifice accuracy for power.

Watch the players that have the body type and mechanics that are similar to yours. Interpreted - if you're built like Marcus Chamat, Francisco Bustamante, or Jose Parica, don't try to emulate Buddy Hall or Shannon Daulton.

Being a big man doesn't always mean you need a big break. Buddy Hall has never really crushed the balls. Buddy hits them firm, but he never lets go of whitey. He's a big man, but watch how PURE he hits the balls - it's one of the most beautiful strokes you will ever see.

Buddy Hall - Side Rail Break

Buddy Hall - Slam Break

Buddy Hall - Breaking from the box

Tony Ellin did more than crush the balls, he killed them. Tony had the gift of pin point accuracy with his break - and I believe that gift is given to one in every one million pool players.

Some of the most effective and powerful breaks come from the smaller players. I bring up Bustamante, who may weigh 125 pounds after dinner and dessert.

Francisco gets his power from his mechanics (watch his back leg) and his follow through (watch how far he follows through). I can guarantee you that before he added power, he worked on his accuracy first.

Bustamante Break - DCC 2007


Bustamante Break - Alternate Angle - DCC 2007

In contrast, look at the mechanics and the accuracy of Ralf Souquet's break in this instructional video (using the X-Breaker - Just for the record, Ralf is now using a Samsara jump/break cue)

Ralf Souquet- X-Breaker break shot instruction

Here is a short video of Johnny Archer giving Fast Mikie a lesson on the 9 ball break. Johnny is very tall, with long arms and that enables him to exaggerate his follow through. I like the points that Johnny makes in this video.

Johnny Archer Break Lesson

I learned a lot by watching this guy too -

Mike Sigel Break 1

Mike Sigel Break part 2

I hope these videos help you find out what is best for you.
 
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Blackjack said:
Yes. You shouldn't break with your playing cue for a lot of reasons.

As far as break cues go, I would highly recommend the Sniper II

SniperII BreakJump Cue

Or the Scorpion Break Jump -

Scorpion BreakJump Cue
Click to expand...

nice

2nd one is more in my range, being a student means i dont have a fat wallet. BUt im in the uk, might have to try and find an ebay store or try the same store i got my Lucasi from which was a very cool ebay one in usa.

yeah for the replies, im a quite short.
 
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briskx said:
nice

2nd one is more in my range, being a student means i dont have a fat wallet. BUt im in the uk, might have to try and find an ebay store or try the same store i got my Lucasi from which was a very cool ebay one in usa.
Click to expand...

Tony Crosby posts on this site and sells the Sniper II (screen name is tonyc) - you might want to talk with him. I'm pretty sure Tony knows how to get his products to the UK.

:wink:

Th Sniper II is a bit more expensive - whatever you do, shop around for quality or you will quickly be purchasing a break cue upgrade as your skill increases.
 
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It's not about the break it's about the rack in 9ball.

GO BUY A COPY OF JOE TUCKER'S RACKING SECRET'S..

and don't let someone say there break is better find out what works for your game, I play and break with the same cue in 9ball and 9ball only but I also use a medium break shot...

Jackal
 
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After you watch all the videos, learn what a good/bad rack is (gap, tight balls etc). Also try to set balls in a pattern and follow them after break. See where they hit the rails and which pockets the balls go for.

Many times hitting the 1 harder/softer will change the angle for balls to find pockets. Other times changing the angle hitting the 1 will do it. This take loads of practice. I also heard Joe Tuckers book and DVD is good.
 
gwjackal said:
...I play and break with the same cue in 9ball and 9ball only but I also use a medium break shot...

Jackal
Click to expand...

If you always break the same speed then you aren't getting the best result...Unless you play on the same table all the time.
 
Joe Tucker & I have written a book called "The GREAT Break Shot". It is 208 pages of info, about the Break Shot. The books covers the development of your break shot stroke & just about all the games you'll play.
 
Okay so having put in a lot of hours i just cant control the white ball, it just spin it too much and it usually comes off the breaking rail and bounces off or one of the side rails by the breaking rail. I'm not cueing straight down and drawing it lol.

My automatic assumption is too not aim low, so i aim mid ball and still happens. Maybe im just not sitting the whiteball mid ball or slightly above...

what you guys think?
 
www.insidepoolmag.com has LOTS OF GOOD VIDEOS on pool instruction. Anyone that wants to improve their game should check out the new web page which has a library of matches and pool instruction.

JoeyA
 
Dave...I love ya buddy, but I have to respectfully disagree here. Every cuemaker worth their salt says the same thing...if you can't break with my cue, it isn't worth the wood it's made out of. I break with my playing cues, with no detriment to the cue. Part of that is indeed knowing HOW to break.

That said, I will agree that with new technology, there may some good reasons to acquire a break cue. I hit a few racks yesterday, here in Chicago, with a J&J break/jump cue belonging to AzBr spoons. It had a phenolic tip, but it didn't sound anything like many of the cues with phenolic tips (which, for the most part, sound like fingernails on a blackboard to me)...and it cost about $50.

While in Minneapolis last week, I hit a few breaks with Hollywood's break cue, and I'll tell you with no uncertainty, it was without question, the BEST feel of any break cue I've ever seen! It was from the P.I., and he was kind of tight-lipped about it. It was the bomb, and I'd love to have one (hint, hint...Xmas is coming Hollywood! Maybe we can barter for a lesson? :grin:).

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Blackjack said:
Yes. You shouldn't break with your playing cue for a lot of reasons.
Click to expand...
 
briskx...You likely have some flaws in your delivery, particularly in how you're gripping the cue. This will account for a lot of error on where you THINK you're striking the CB, versus where you ARE striking the CB. A lesson with a qualified instructor could probably help you here, and in other areas of your pool game as well.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

briskx said:
Okay so having put in a lot of hours i just cant control the white ball, it just spin it too much and it usually comes off the breaking rail and bounces off or one of the side rails by the breaking rail. I'm not cueing straight down and drawing it lol.

My automatic assumption is too not aim low, so i aim mid ball and still happens. Maybe im just not sitting the whiteball mid ball or slightly above...

what you guys think?
Click to expand...
 
ceebee said:
Joe Tucker & I have written a book called "The GREAT Break Shot". It is 208 pages of info, about the Break Shot. The books covers the development of your break shot stroke & just about all the games you'll play.
Click to expand...


Where can I get this book?
 
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