I think whatever gets the most consistency out of your stroke is what you should do because there is obviously more to the break shot than just slamming the balls.
Do you need to throw your body into the break?
- Thread starter the420trooper
- Start date
This is almost exactly Shane Van Boening's style. Stalev just takes him arm back a bit more.
Also, I have yet to hear anyone accurately describe the purpose of the "ballerina" kick. There is only one real purpose for it. It is a counterbalance. For many, they are trying to rotate their hips and/ or shoulders around their spine. The problem with this is that it requires a lot of body strength to maintain the *location* of your body while rotating like this. By kicking the leg back, you are providing a counterbalance to the rotation happening at the middle or top of your body. The kick adds nothing for power itself, but it offers the ability to rotate the other parts more aggressively without losing your alingment on the shot (without changing the position of your torso so much). I agree many do it for display purposes. This is easily observed in bowlers. In order to maintain the position of their upper body and their alingment while rotating a heavy bowling ball in an arc they need to kick their leg back. They are actually *rotating* their leg around their spine the opposite way that their arm is moving. If you want to try out a kick like this, at least try it for a good reason. Is it the most dependable way to break with control? Well, if you plan on breaking very hard (25 mph +), I would have to say that for me it adds control, since I can maintain my body position better. The only drawback is that it takes a LONG time to learn the timing of this motion, so it will likely cost you initially.
Hope this helps,
KMRUNOUT
Do you know how fast your maximum speed is? If you are already approaching 25 MPH, I wouldn't worry about whether you arm or body break. But if you pretty far under that, you might consider playing with different things to increase/maximize cueball speed until you find out what your max speed is. Then can simply adjust down from your maximum to the fastest controlled cueball speed. Keep in mind, that some tables break better at 15 MPH than 20+ MPH. But, you just might need to uncork the hammer sometime.
Personally, I have a substantial increase in cue ball speed when "using" my body (including the upper part) on the break and I cannot hit 20+ without moving my body.
-td
I found a break i think its really ok. I dont use that much power, but i hit the balls real good and have great controll on the cue-ball. Works great for those players that doesnt like to jump (ala Jeff De Luna) or take a kick-off with your foot (like Bustamante).
Taped it om my mobile phone, so tha video-quality is crap, but you could se my movements.
Movie (watch in full screen):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAZpkzQaRKM
Taped it om my mobile phone, so tha video-quality is crap, but you could se my movements.
Movie (watch in full screen):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAZpkzQaRKM
How much practice do you put in, trying to develop accuracy & speed. In the Break Shot, there are lots of moving parts that have to simultaneously "be there". I think practice is required to develop your rhythm & coordination, to go along with your knowledge.
The Break shot is important, because it's the "LINK" between games. Three things are needed for success in this arena: #1 knowlege of where the rack needs to be hit, to make a ball, #2 where is the next object ball going to be & #3 how to control whitey.
Knowledge & practice is a big requirement...
The Break shot is important, because it's the "LINK" between games. Three things are needed for success in this arena: #1 knowlege of where the rack needs to be hit, to make a ball, #2 where is the next object ball going to be & #3 how to control whitey.
Knowledge & practice is a big requirement...
8ball-alex:
Although the video screen original is very, very small (and the quality declines rapidly when maximized to full screen), what immediately struck me is that you have a stroke much like Mika Immonen's -- what's called a "locomotive stroke" (i.e. circular/elliptical "pumping" of the cue). This type of break, because you're committing yourself to a "forward" movement of your arm via the "pumping" motion, certainly negates any need to throw your body into the break. IMHO, I think it's a good habit, because Mika has a really good break without any "wild flailing" of the body. I say continue on with what you're doing -- it looks effective.
Hope this is a helpful synopsis,
-Sean
Thats got to be positive since he won the US open:thumbup:
---but it will never happen to me. Thanks for the comment=)
---but it will never happen to me. Thanks for the comment=)
Again , solid and controlled is first priority.
I use a fair amount of my body in the break but I always start out dialing in the control before anything else. If I'm doing that well then I will start amping it up until I feel it's getting wild and back off a bit. Then I will stay there as long as it's working. Really depends on the day. Some days I'm breaking off the rail and crushing the rack with CB parked dead center and some days I can only break from a bridge with no more force than a firm draw shot. But as long as I'm square on the head ball then it's usually no worse than 'pretty good' so I never deviate from that.
I use a fair amount of my body in the break but I always start out dialing in the control before anything else. If I'm doing that well then I will start amping it up until I feel it's getting wild and back off a bit. Then I will stay there as long as it's working. Really depends on the day. Some days I'm breaking off the rail and crushing the rack with CB parked dead center and some days I can only break from a bridge with no more force than a firm draw shot. But as long as I'm square on the head ball then it's usually no worse than 'pretty good' so I never deviate from that.
Sometimes, (rarely) I start some good threads, and I thought this one deserved the ol' bumpity-bump.
How do you guys get the best results with your break shots?
How do you guys get the best results with your break shots?
I use about 10 different breaks...........
it all depends on the table. When I go to a tournament or matching up I work to see which break will work the best. it's not one type of break fits all.
Most good players modify what they are doing to fit the table. If the humidity goes up for instance you might have to break altogether different right in the middle of a match.
Or what worked 2 hours ago won't work at all.
But the main thing regardless is to get maximum power on your break you need to hit the balls square and with a power stroke that goes down. Even if you don't hit them hard.
I have one break that I used on the bar table with that big cue ball. I called it the shovel break. Boy, did it work great. Sometimes I use it today. It all depends.
Bottom line is though hitting the head ball square with no side spin. If the ball is spinning after the break you lost alot of power.
it all depends on the table. When I go to a tournament or matching up I work to see which break will work the best. it's not one type of break fits all.
Most good players modify what they are doing to fit the table. If the humidity goes up for instance you might have to break altogether different right in the middle of a match.
Or what worked 2 hours ago won't work at all.
But the main thing regardless is to get maximum power on your break you need to hit the balls square and with a power stroke that goes down. Even if you don't hit them hard.
I have one break that I used on the bar table with that big cue ball. I called it the shovel break. Boy, did it work great. Sometimes I use it today. It all depends.
Bottom line is though hitting the head ball square with no side spin. If the ball is spinning after the break you lost alot of power.
You're a smart dude, Geno. Good post, and thank you for the tips.
RunoutKing
Registered
I have tried throwing my body into the break and had horrible results. The cue ball almost always flew off the table! Now, instead of trying to break hard, I try to focus on getting the straightest possible stroke+a good square hit on the one ball. So far it's been working(2-4 balls on the break almost every time). :thumbup:
