The break shot in 9-ball is one of the more fascinating aspects of our game.It is nothing like a bar box 8-ball break,where you stay down and concentrate mainly on striking the second ball squarely.It is mostly an arm and hand motion with very little body movement.Your speed is really coming from the quickness of your arm and hand.
But the 9-ball break is quite different I find.The body is used much more.It is actually controlling the arm and hand.In a sense,it is much like a golf swing,where the power comes from the inside and is dispursed out to the extremities.
I noticed that the top breakers of today all use this concept,but each in different ways.For example,Johnny Archer's right arm is straight at the end of his follow through,as where Jon Kucharo's right arm never straightens,but maintains the angle it had at address.Obviously,there are some differences in the two.
One other thing I would like to mention is this similarity that I seen between Jon Kucharo and the late Tony Ellin(probably the best break I ever saw).At the very end of their follow through,the right arm is way up and to the side!Like they are playing sidearmed.And again,like I said,it's not straight at all and never straightened,but remains cocked.I think this is an indication of good rotation in the body throughout the stroke.
I would love to hear others take on this subject.Especially if you are a good breaker with lots of power.
But the 9-ball break is quite different I find.The body is used much more.It is actually controlling the arm and hand.In a sense,it is much like a golf swing,where the power comes from the inside and is dispursed out to the extremities.
I noticed that the top breakers of today all use this concept,but each in different ways.For example,Johnny Archer's right arm is straight at the end of his follow through,as where Jon Kucharo's right arm never straightens,but maintains the angle it had at address.Obviously,there are some differences in the two.
One other thing I would like to mention is this similarity that I seen between Jon Kucharo and the late Tony Ellin(probably the best break I ever saw).At the very end of their follow through,the right arm is way up and to the side!Like they are playing sidearmed.And again,like I said,it's not straight at all and never straightened,but remains cocked.I think this is an indication of good rotation in the body throughout the stroke.
I would love to hear others take on this subject.Especially if you are a good breaker with lots of power.