Checklist for 9ball break.

[third_i]

actually, i literally make it 4 out of 5 times. there are times when I break 6 or 7 times making the ball each time. But I should clearify, I make it about 4 out of 5 times when trying to make this break. I have a total of about 5 different breaks in 9 ball.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

actually, i literally make it 4 out of 5 times. there are times when I break 6 or 7 times making the ball each time. But I should clearify, I make it about 4 out of 5 times when trying to make this break. I have a total of about 5 different breaks in 9 ball.

If you make a ball on the break 80% of the time, why have 5 breaks? You already break better than anyone in the world!

 

[third_i]

Well I wouldn't say that because the spread isn't incredible all the time. Also, it depends on the racking(remember that it has to be a good rack on the spot). It kinda sucks if you make a ball on the break 80% of the time but the balls are clumped together at the foot rail. Oh and btw, the spot(for this break) is off of the center of the 1 ball, but very slightly.

 

[Black-Balled]

9 ball has a very good setup for breaking, I can call a ball on the break and make it 4 out of 5 times if the rack is in the right spot...

If the ball is in the right spot...you obviously have a good read on the table. I would bet you BIG BUX you can't do it on more than 3 tables in any given room.
are you rackin' em like this?
START(
%AN7O5%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GL0M3%HM7N8%IL7O4%Pg6Q6

)END

 

[Eric.]

Ok, this situation is obvious. Now, you can see the 1-ball so why push? A simple and effective safety is to cut the 1-ball toward the rail. Not only will you likely leave it safe behind the 5-ball but even if he can see it, where can he make it?

Sorry, I goofed on my WEI table. I was trying to illustrate a typical push situation and forgot to put a blocking ball in.

Now, let's assume that you just didn't bother to hide the cue-ball when you created this diagram. Then, you just leave that combo for your opponent and leave it long. Put the cue-ball on the head-rail and you'll minimize his options. If it's passed back to you, once again, you play the safety I just mentioned. From that distance, the safety probably won't be as good so you're in for a battle but a battle is really what you want. If you're lucky, he'll take an aggressive stab at that combo. If you're not, you may need to get tricky on him to regain control but it's well within reach.


You DO NOT set up that jump shot. That's just suicide. Getting over that 7-ball is going to require a jump-cue and a hard hit. There's no real offensive solution and defense is all but out of the question. Basically you just safed yourself.

Let's try the same layout again, WITH say, the 6 ball blocking the path to the 1.

I still like my push. Personal preference, but I'm comfortable enough with my jump cue to get the CB over the 7 and back onto the table soon enough to hit the 1 ball without the CB still hopping. The jump is easy(with a jump cue) and the distance gives you plenty of green to let the CB settle down. I would jump to hit the 1 ball on the right side and try to send the 1 up table while leaving the CB down table hoping for a roll. Like I said before, I feel you're at a slight disadvantage pushing and IMO, the jump push option is no worse than pushing to a kick safe; it's still a coin toss on who gets the advantage after the shot. It comes down to execution and a little luck which is what you want out of a push, right? If you push to a somewhat easy kicksafe, whats to say that your opponent doesn't execute the kick safe on you? If I pushed to a kick safe, I would push to a shot where the outcome of a good safe would still be a cointoss.


Eric >happy the Transit strike is over

 

[Egg McDogit]

The SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT piece of advice I can give you about breaking is this:

if you have gas, don't try to hold it in while you break.

I beleive that the weakest part of my 9ball game is my break.

Could anyone provide a list of best practices for the 9ball break?

Thanks!!!

 

[third_i]

If the ball is in the right spot...you obviously have a good read on the table. I would bet you BIG BUX you can't do it on more than 3 tables in any given room.
are you rackin' em like this?
START(
%AN7O5%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GL0M3%HM7N8%IL7O4%Pg6Q6

)END

Umm it's a regular rack... If the rack is tight and the table is straight I will hit it 4 out of 5 times. If I'm watching the rack and I approve of the table(ie no big dents in the path of the ball) I would be happy to bet "big bux."

 

[Str8PoolMan]

You gotta play guts 9-ball

There's only 3 rules when I play 9-ball:
Hit 'em fast, hit 'em low, and hit 'em hard!
And if they get up, hit 'em again!

No, wait... that's football... nevermind...