Breakshot jitters

hang-the-9

hang-the-9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Anyone have tips on how to focus on the break ball better?

I'm a solid B player, have strung 3 in 9-ball, high run in upper 20s in straight pool. What gets me all the time is the break shot. I'd clear a rack, then miss the break shot (I mean the OB does not go in, and I break open the rack for my oponent). That stops my run obviously :D . I have practiced just the break shot positions with a single ball, and can pocket them much much better than when in a game with the rack there. Even practicing with a rack and a breakshot I miss more than with just one ball. I think my issue is that I look at the rack at the last second to see where the cue will go, or focus on the spin of the cue ball more than the object ball. I have tried ignoring the rack like it was not there, but that seems to make it worse for me as I am now thinking "don't think about the rack" hehe. Any suggestions?
 
just hit it softer (say, 60-70%) til you're more comfortable. i had a huge problem with this, and it gets better with repetition.

-s
 
I'm probably around your level and often struggle with those >60 degree break shots.

It's funny, some days I can't make one to save my life, even the close ones! However, the other night I was making all of 'em, even with the cueball sitting near the headrail and shooting 6 feet into the rack at 70-80 degrees.

I can't explain it, but for me it seems to just be indicative of how I am shooting spot shots that night. I don't dwell too much on the rack when I'm breaking, just the .1 ball.

I think for me it's mental, especially my pre-shot preparation. The other night I had a tough, long break shot to get me into the 3rd rack. Before lining it up, I thought to myself "you're going in you little bastard". I made it, and got a decent half-table spread with two or three options to choose from. Then I proceeded to miss a one foot reverse cut "gimme" footrail shot into the corner.

CRAP!!
 
I think you answered your own question when you said you look at the rack a split second before you fire. That is done in prep before you get down on the shot, you should already know exactly what you are going to do before your down on the shot. Secondly, I would suggest taking any side spin your using off of the cue ball, and simply use a tip of follow or a tip of draw.
 
halhoule said:
Why Do You Think The Object Ball Should Always Go In The Pocket . ??????
Click to expand...
because we utilize one special aiming system which always works like a charm!
...sorry, couldn't resist
 
I was gripping a little harder right as I was shooting and over-cutting and missing sometimes. John Schmidt told me to concentrate on a light grip and delivering the cue level.

It's a shot we usually should be able to make and because of the break consequences, some of us have a tendency to tense up right before impact.
 
hang-the-9 said:
Anyone have tips on how to focus on the break ball better?

I'm a solid B player, have strung 3 in 9-ball, high run in upper 20s in straight pool. What gets me all the time is the break shot. I'd clear a rack, then miss the break shot (I mean the OB does not go in, and I break open the rack for my oponent). That stops my run obviously :D . I have practiced just the break shot positions with a single ball, and can pocket them much much better than when in a game with the rack there. Even practicing with a rack and a breakshot I miss more than with just one ball. I think my issue is that I look at the rack at the last second to see where the cue will go, or focus on the spin of the cue ball more than the object ball. I have tried ignoring the rack like it was not there, but that seems to make it worse for me as I am now thinking "don't think about the rack" hehe. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

It's obvious - you are being punished for playing all that 9 Ball.

But seriously folks, one thing you might try is to watch the OB
go in the pocket. I have mixed feelings about this standard advice.
It always seemed to me that shifting your eyes from the OB at rest
to the OB going in the pocket wasn't really all that different from
shifting your eyes to the CB, but that is a subject for another day.

Thinking about not thinking - this is a pretty common delima.
It seems to me the rack is influencing you - one way or another.
With more practice should come more confidence till you
eventually feel comfortable(enough) on break shots.

BTW - secondary break shots are really the same animal.
Do you have the same level of difficulty with them?

In closing - the answer is within you, grasshopper.

I'm just going to bet you once had the same type of problem
pocketing the 9 ball. Remember all those Nines you missed, that,
if it would have been the same exact shot on the 5, you would
have fired in?
What did you do to get over that hurdle? IMHO - that is the key
to your answer.
Or, to paraphrase Jay - go hit 10,000 break shots and then get
back to us.

Dale<closet 9baller>
 
Make sure you stay down on the shot

And stop worrying about what will happen if you miss. Your brain will manefast a bad shot from negative energy. Instead think about the positive outcome of making the break shot

It's hard to make the break shot if you are thinking about what an easy rack of balls your opponent is going to have if you miss.

Do you make the break shots when you practice alone?
 
efirkey said:
Make sure you stay down on the shot

And stop worrying about what will happen if you miss. Your brain will manefast a bad shot from negative energy. Instead think about the positive outcome of making the break shot

It's hard to make the break shot if you are thinking about what an easy rack of balls your opponent is going to have if you miss.

Do you make the break shots when you practice alone?
Click to expand...

I tend to make any of the "standard" break shots without the rack in place pretty well. With the rack there I miss twice as much. I think the key for me is to just keep doing it, my problem seems to be not playing straight pool enough to train myself to not think about the break shot and to just do it.
 
The next level of the problem

I could be the OP, right down to the high of a 3-pack of 9-ball (included one combo on the 9). But my problem's one stage more advanced. Now that I can usually make the break shot, the balls won't spread apart.

I can either:

(1) Blast the break shot in and break the rack apart, while missing the break shot half the time (very bad)

(2) Make the break shot 90% of the time but shoot only semi-hard, and the rack remains a big fat cluster, and the CB often ends up on the end rail, where I rarely have a shot.

It doesn't help that the halls I play at tend to have bad equipment. I see pros using medium speed and the balls fly everywhere. Not where I play, they don't. Any ideas on how to adapt?
 
Still_Learning said:
I could be the OP, right down to the high of a 3-pack of 9-ball (included one combo on the 9). But my problem's one stage more advanced. Now that I can usually make the break shot, the balls won't spread apart.

I can either:

(1) Blast the break shot in and break the rack apart, while missing the break shot half the time (very bad)

(2) Make the break shot 90% of the time but shoot only semi-hard, and the rack remains a big fat cluster, and the CB often ends up on the end rail, where I rarely have a shot.

It doesn't help that the halls I play at tend to have bad equipment. I see pros using medium speed and the balls fly everywhere. Not where I play, they don't. Any ideas on how to adapt?
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I do/did.

As I mentioned earlier John Schmidt said I was probably tightening my grip right before I blasted the pack. he said you have to hit it hard but concentrate on a light grip, and smooth level delivery.

On the balls, wipe down the table with a wet cloth before you play. And clean the balls and wipe them down with a rag and you may be pleasantly surprised.
 
hang-the-9 said:
I tend to make any of the "standard" break shots without the rack in place pretty well. With the rack there I miss twice as much. I think the key for me is to just keep doing it, my problem seems to be not playing straight pool enough to train myself to not think about the break shot and to just do it.
Click to expand...
honestly watch the Racking Secrets DVD by Joe Tucker... I have it at the hall when you come in. I was doing the same thing but once I watched it the light came on...Yeah we know where the CB is going but we still are unsure or trusting of what it will do. The DVD brought to light some interesting aspects that once I really knew what to expect I didn't worry about the pack and began making mnore breakout shots. Also you talk to Jeff but alot of what I've gotten from him I had just heard on the video. I talk to you in person next time you come in.
 
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