Breaking Critique

[NewStroke]

For about the last 2 weeks the majority of my breaks 8 and 9 have been pretty darn good. I took the advice from these boards, keep a light grip, keep my eye on the cue ball (about a tip below center) and hit the first ball dead center. The only part of my body that moves is my stroke arm.

Here's what occurs after I hit:

The cue ball bounces about 12" into the air and lands nearly dead center of the table with good ball spread. Unless the cue ball gets kicked I have pretty good position afterward.

My question is, what is the deal with the cue ball popping straight up off the head ball? Am I doing something wrong? To be honest, I think it looks cool .

Let me know what you think please.

 

[tjlmbklr]

For a head on break it's sounds like you're doing everything just right. The CB jumping up is quite normal. As the tech guys like Dr. Dave to give better analysis, but it has to do w/ the CB being slightly off the cloth when it hits the stack. Then the difference in the head ball vs. the CB makes whitey jump up. If it doing this and parking in that spot you're doing just fine!

 

[dbyap]

hop

I believe it is caused because the cue ball is actually off the table when it hits the rack, which is perfectly normal because you want to impart all the power to the rack, my breaks do that to, if I hit right

 

[NewStroke]

Thanks guys, I am going to continue to practice this so that it becomes a bit more consistent.

 

[chin0]

a downward stroke would cause it to jump. Tom Rossman explained this on one of his videos on youtube.

 

[Big Perm]

I believe it's been stated that SVB gets the same result, regarding the cue going straight up off the rack.....I think I remember seeing it in pics.....he breaks a ton, sounds like you are on target.....

When I'm breaking well (yeah, it's rare) I get the same result, but my bounce is only about 6 in....

 

[rayjay]

A full tip below center is too much. Try a half or a quarter or an eighth and see if it makes a difference. Verticle spin will cause a hop on a hard break especially if the cb is airborn when it hits the headball.

 

[Neil]

..............

 

[poolfoole]

My question is, what is the deal with the cue ball popping straight up off the head ball? Am I doing something wrong? To be honest, I think it looks cool .

Let me know what you think please.

Your cue stick is probably not level. This causes the cue ball to skip across the table like a rock over the surface of a river when you throw it. The cue ball is airborne when it hits the head ball, causing it to jump in the air. It also causes you to hit the head ball off center, giving you less action on the break or sometimes launching the cue ball off the table.

 

[MitchAlsup]

When you put draw on the cue ball, the cue stick cannot be completely level. If you hit the cue ball hard enough with the non-level stick the cue ball will jump up off the slate and fly towards the rack. The cue ball with then bounce off the slate a couple of times and reach teh head ball ever so slightly above the table. This causes the cue ball to jump even higher as it bounces off the rack.

 

[stevee]

When the wing ball on the side I'm breaking from goes in, and the one and cue behave I'm happy as a clam; anything else is gravy. I find this happens most often when the rack is hit with a little low just off of solid to the side your'e breaking from. If the cue flies up I know I'm out of control and praying to the pool gods who never seem to listen.

 

[RRfireblade]

My question is, what is the deal with the cue ball popping straight up off the head ball? Am I doing something wrong? To be honest, I think it looks cool .

Let me know what you think please.

Like others have said , your jumping the CB into the rack. Your losing force of impact and generally lucky the CB doesn't leave the table. The fact it jumps straight is at least a good sign your hitting the head ball square.

It happens to many strong breakers on occasion but of course is not ideal and can be eliminated. Most likey your hitting down on the CB during the break so just level the stroke out and it should stop.

IMO