Can't find it.

G

Gio Sr.

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm trying to find some videos or tips on the first shot (safe). Most guys I play with hit the right side corner ball and try to get back to the left corner on their end. When I try it I either bounce off and go straight into the corner pocket or I don't get the CB back far enough leaving an easy shot. Just a bunch of old guys playing straight pool and 101.

All I'm finding is break shots in my searches here and on Youtube.

Would someone post a link or help with a tip?

Thanks
 
Tips...

I'm just starting out but...

On the break, I position the CB about halfway between the head spot and rail on the right side of the table. I use right english and aim to hit that corner ball pretty solid. The deflection and my own poor aiming usually hits it thinner than I aim for.

As for speed, I hit it about medium to make sure I drive two balls to the rail and get the CB back up to the head of the table. I consider my break a success if my CB is within an inch or two of the head rail or side rail. If the latter, I want also want it close to the left corner pocket. At my current ability, I don't worry as much about where rest of the balls end up.

Before you break you should inspect the back row of the rack to make sure all the balls are touching.

The break requires a lot of practice which is hard (for me) for two reasons:
1. It's one shot in a long game and I tend to undervalue it.
2. It's just plain tedious to rack-break-rack-break, etc.

However, I think the practice pays off when I hit a great break shot and my opponent exclaims "oh damn...!"
 
Take your CB and place it on the headspot, shoot it slow to medium speed straight down the table through the footspot using side spin and hit the long rail ( either side ) before the side pocket.

That will give you an idea of the speed and english you should experiment with to go three rails and rest on the fourth (headrail) during your opening break.

Remember, slow to medium forward speed on the CB. Hard in N/G. Once you are comfortable with that, set up the rack of balls, move your CB over to about the first diamond on the headrail and on the headstring, and aim to hit about 1/3 of the corner ball.

Focus some concentration on the path of the opposite corner ball in the rack. (The ball on the other side of the bottom row.) See it in your mind's eye going to the long rail and back into the rack as you hit the original corner ball with the stroke I tried to describe.


edit ..... "Level Cue" Parallel to the table bed. :)
 
Last edited:
Thanks Krupa, That's what I been trying to do but I'm not getting it.

Thanks 3andstop. It sounds like a good way to get it together. Heh just like your handle huh. :thumbup:
 
Opening Break

Hey guys,

I don't recall ever seeing any type of video or DVD dedicated to picking apart the opening break. Good idea though! But the advice 3AndStop gave you is pretty much perfect.

What you can do, however, is go to youtube and search "2011 World Straight Pool Tournament". That'll bring up about 2 dozen videos listed consecutively - each of which start out with, you guessed it - an opening break shot. Fortunately the shots are super easy to find so you can watch the opening break of every match played on the TV table in short order. Or, if you or someone you know is good at editing video, you can create a Opening Break Compilation video and have them all appear consecutively in one file.

Ron F
 
I am returning to pool after decades of not playing. I played 14.1 and one pocket; I play alone at this point. I figure it will be a year before my stroke and mind are back in shape to play others. When I break while playing alone I break from the area of B or C (graphic in 1st post) with left english and try to only have two or three balls at the most out of the rack for the next shot. The left english of course brings the corner ball out and toward the side pocket. In other words I quit trying for the perfect break long ago and am happy with what I do.

I am pleased to have found this forum and look forward to the help in getting my game back.

Frank
 
3andstop said:
Take your CB and place it on the headspot, shoot it slow to medium speed straight down the table through the footspot using side spin and hit the long rail ( either side ) before the side pocket.

That will give you an idea of the speed and english you should experiment with to go three rails and rest on the fourth (headrail) during your opening break.

Remember, slow to medium forward speed on the CB. Hard in N/G. Once you are comfortable with that, set up the rack of balls, move your CB over to about the first diamond on the headrail and on the headstring, and aim to hit about 1/3 of the corner ball.

Focus some concentration on the path of the opposite corner ball in the rack. (The ball on the other side of the bottom row.) See it in your mind's eye going to the long rail and back into the rack as you hit the original corner ball with the stroke I tried to describe.


edit ..... "Level Cue" Parallel to the table bed. :)
Click to expand...

I practiced this for an hour or so today with out the rack. I started to get it.

I have messed around for a couple of years, but I'm just starting over with the basics. So I'm thinking about everything until I get some "muscle memory"
 
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