Breaking

Blue_Suede

Blue_Suede

Blue Suede UK
Silver Member
Hi Keith,

Was watching (again) your US Open match against Shane Van Boeing and noticed that you were coming up dry on most breaks. Unfortunately I wasn't at the tournament (see my last post) so I don't know if this was typical or not.

My question is this. If you were playing in a 9-ball tournament where there was no break box, would you break from the side or the center?

The reason I ask is because if I break from the side, I will get the 1 in the side about 65% and I'm getting pretty consistent at holding the cue ball somewhere nere the center-table. But... if I break from the center (maybe about an inch 1/2 from the center spot) I'll get 2,3 maybe 4 or more balls down from the break but I find it difficult to control the cue ball.

So, I guess what I'm saying is, should I concentrate on the side break where 'practice makes perfect' like Neils Feijen, Mika Immomen etc... or should I work on the center break where I know I can hit pretty hard but leave a run-out opportunity on less occasions?

I think I've answered my own question, but I'd be interested to know your opinion. Are more tournaments ruling that the players break from a 'Break Box' for instance? Which do you prefer? I've seen you break in tournaments before and felt that you had a mighty break from the middle...

In sport.

BS

Martin.
 
Martin, to be very honest, I like to break from the side, and I try to make that 1-ball just like you do, but the object is keeping the cue-ball square to where you don't lose it.

As far as breaking in the D, I would rather play tournaments breaking from the D. It seems like the players have a harder time making balls on the break from the box than it does from the side.

My break has plagued me all my life. I wish I could break the balls like Earl Strickland or Francisco Bustamante. When they find the sweet spot, it looks like they're playing 6-ball instead of 9-ball.

I've been working with a new break cue I received at the U.S. Open from Todd Elkins of Parrot Cues. The balls are starting to mix a little better. I am hoping to get my break down for the Skins Billiard Championship next week in Atlantic City. We'll see how it goes. :)

Keith
 
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Do you find that your new 25lb handcannon breaks significantly better? Or is there just a marginal difference between that and breaking with a normally weighted/shaft-diameter stick?

Keith McCready said:
I've been working with a new break cue I received at the U.S. Open from Todd Elkins of Parrot Cues. The balls are starting to mix a little better. I am hoping to get my break down for the Skins Billiard Championship next week in Atlantic City. We'll see how it goes. :)

Keith
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