Diagnose my break problems (videos)
- Thread starter BRussell
- Start date
Joe T
New member
First off, you look pretty good. I can see how the cue moving up above center is going to drive you nuts and lose you some power. If you look at the angle of your cue at the back of the back stroke, it looks fantastic and that's very close to the angle you would actually like to hit the cue ball at, maybe a hair less. That's going to be difficult to do but totally worth you trying.
I would try 3 things;
#1 and hate saying it but it may help, get 2-3 inches closer ONLY because that'll make it easier to keep the cue slightly elevated at impact.
#2 Try a weird bridge that is higher. I actually tuck my middle finger under my forefinger. My forefinger is not not on top of middle finger but is actually slightly in front of it. Had a funny conversation with Earl about this in US Open parking lot, funny because we were both doing the same thing but different and both because of Shane. Earl was using a sandbag in an effort to make his bridge higher and I had been practicing putting a 3/4 inch book under my bridge hand. Earl says "Shane, he's got those friggin big rubber pencil fingers!" Anyways, try to make bridge a little higher so you can come straight down thru the cue ball striking it a half tip high but following trhu the center of it.
#3 Try to get a little separation between your right should and your back hand by standing up slightly and slowly as you start you backswing. You can see how that works simply by getting into your break stance, freeze your back hand and don't move it as you simple stand a little taller you'll see distance start to get created and your arm will extend a little more, giving you a little more stroke or whip.
#4 I know I said 3 but more comes to mind as I start typing this. Keep the backhand soft for as long as possible, loose muscles move faster. I don't think you'll have a problem with that as your back hand does look pretty soft already. I think about bringing the backhand to the front hand as fast as possible and that works for me.
You're not that far off, I think a couple inches in the right direction and you'll be poppin whitey back to a stop. Good luck.
Thanks Joe! I'm going to make a point of getting one of your books now
You're in good hands with Joe Tucker....
...he might've had more influence on breaking than Corey.
Second one looks good to me.
I see a lot of great breakers, live. The top ones aim low and raise that tip on that final stroke, due to dropping the elbows, leaning their hips, etc.
If you're hitting the balls squarely, then adjust your initial aim higher or lower depending on what your desire outcome is. I normally aim at the base of the cue ball.
You're fine.
Freddie
I'm no expert but I usually strive for the following with a square hit 8-ball / 10-ball break...
I'm guessing the lack of shifting forward / standing up is why you're getting muscle in the break stroke which is causing the cue ball to hit the rack flat (and drawing back or spinning forward) instead of jumping off the slate by .5" or so.
Otherwise I don't feel qualified to comment on the scooping occurring with your shaft. I expect some vertical motion in the break stroke but I'm not sure it should be flicking-up like that. I believe the final moments of contact should be more through the ball.
- If you are cutting the ball at all, take power off until your aim sharpens
- Get power from an exaggerated follow-through (you seem good here)
- Don't muscle your break (it looks like you are a bit)
- Hit with marginal elevation, creating a mini jump shot so the cue ball pops up (and back) when hitting the rack
- Hit with half a tip of top so the cue ball comes forward after bouncing back
- Experiment with transition from being down on the shot into standing up and shifting you weight and hips forward with your transition to a forward stroke
- Explore bridging from the rail while trying to get other body mechanics crisp
- Agonize of getting a tight rack (if racking your own) as gaps will undermine your efforts with a dead on break
- If you have gaps, learn from Joe Tucker
- Slowly explore breaking from different angles (3" off center, 1 diamond off center, 1.3 diamonds off center, etc.)
I'm guessing the lack of shifting forward / standing up is why you're getting muscle in the break stroke which is causing the cue ball to hit the rack flat (and drawing back or spinning forward) instead of jumping off the slate by .5" or so.
Otherwise I don't feel qualified to comment on the scooping occurring with your shaft. I expect some vertical motion in the break stroke but I'm not sure it should be flicking-up like that. I believe the final moments of contact should be more through the ball.
That makes me feel better about what I said.
I was thinking about what I said and thinking about your little swoop/dip thing in your stroke. I felt naive afterward thinking a suggestion of mechanics would solve it.
While mechanics can help that I'm guessing that stroke is pretty well ingrained in your game not just your break, is that right?
It would be something I'd be working on eliminating. Aa I said the mechanics of your stance and bridge, all that can and may need adjusting but that swoop/dip won't just magically go away w out a conscious effort.
You might try using a mini stroke before final stroke and concentrate on a straight, level stroke coming out of it.
Mechanics
I'm by no means an expert in mechanics by any stretch of the imagination but it seems pretty obvious from the slow-mo that your tip is starting off high, then drifting below center then coming up high again and finishing up way above center. Sort of like a sideways S shape......like this: ~ Basically, the path of the cue tip is over the charts. I think the ~ shape comes from raising and lowering your back hand as you move the cue forward. It can also come from raising your head too soon, having your entire body rise up too soon, shifting your weight too soon etc. It can also come from gripping the cue too tightly at various points in the stroke. You squeeze....the tip of the cue rises up especially as you're just about to make contact. My suggestion...try focusing on finishing the stroke with the cue pointed in a more pronounced downward angle and lighten up the grip. Just one guy's opinion.
V.
I'm by no means an expert in mechanics by any stretch of the imagination but it seems pretty obvious from the slow-mo that your tip is starting off high, then drifting below center then coming up high again and finishing up way above center. Sort of like a sideways S shape......like this: ~ Basically, the path of the cue tip is over the charts. I think the ~ shape comes from raising and lowering your back hand as you move the cue forward. It can also come from raising your head too soon, having your entire body rise up too soon, shifting your weight too soon etc. It can also come from gripping the cue too tightly at various points in the stroke. You squeeze....the tip of the cue rises up especially as you're just about to make contact. My suggestion...try focusing on finishing the stroke with the cue pointed in a more pronounced downward angle and lighten up the grip. Just one guy's opinion.
V.
