"Educated" luck!

[Billy_Bob]

Lately I've been able to break out trouble balls more and more. I'm basically sending the cue ball into a cluster or at a trouble ball after a shot.

I don't know *exactly* where the cue ball will hit the trouble ball most times. I just know I'm sending it that direction. So I frequently don't know what the outcome of the shot will be - where exactly the trouble ball will go.

But many times I wind up breaking out the trouble ball so I can make it then or later in the runout.

My first thought is "What a lucky shot!"

But then I think "Well it was not all luck. I was trying to break it out and that is what happened. The nice spot the object ball moved to is the luck part!"

So I guess it is not all luck. I'm doing things which help to cause the "luck" to happen more frequently!

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Lately I've been able to break out trouble balls more and more. I'm basically sending the cue ball into a cluster or at a trouble ball after a shot.

I don't know *exactly* where the cue ball will hit the trouble ball most times. I just know I'm sending it that direction. So I frequently don't know what the outcome of the shot will be - where exactly the trouble ball will go.

But many times I wind up breaking out the trouble ball so I can make it then or later in the runout.

My first thought is "What a lucky shot!"

But then I think "Well it was not all luck. I was trying to break it out and that is what happened. The nice spot the object ball moved to is the luck part!"

So I guess it is not all luck. I'm doing things which help to cause the "luck" to happen more frequently!

Breaking out clusters can be a lot like kicking - The more you do it, the better you are at reading what will happen. I mean, when I'm kicking, I know which half I'll likely hit and will calculate which speed will give me the best chance for a positive result. Is it luck if I respond with a successful kick-safe? Yes but not as lucky as some people might realize.

 

[Southpaw]

There is a big difference in sending the cueball in the direction intended and turning the cueball loose and hoping for a fortuitous outcome. Sounds like you are controlling the cueball and giving yourself the chance to run out...nothing lucky about that.

Southpaw

 

[seymore15074]

So I guess it is not all luck. I'm doing things which help to cause the "luck" to happen more frequently!

Exactly. My breakouts have gotten better and better over the past two years, but that doesn't mean I've become luckier and luckier. If you keep playing break outs (in 9-ball, for example) you will get proficient with them... While some players will claim that it was a risky shot or that you have gotten lucky, it's not as if you haven't had experience with breaking balls out before...you knew what you were doing, risky or not.

9-Ball is a very offensive game, I prefer to play break outs over safeties whenever possible. I do not want my opponent to step up to the table, safed or not. Sometimes you play safe and your opponent will kick it in and get out, I would rather just break them and run out myself...

 

[buzzsaw]

Lately I've been able to break out trouble balls more and more. I'm basically sending the cue ball into a cluster or at a trouble ball after a shot.

I don't know *exactly* where the cue ball will hit the trouble ball most times. I just know I'm sending it that direction. So I frequently don't know what the outcome of the shot will be - where exactly the trouble ball will go.

But many times I wind up breaking out the trouble ball so I can make it then or later in the runout.

My first thought is "What a lucky shot!"

But then I think "Well it was not all luck. I was trying to break it out and that is what happened. The nice spot the object ball moved to is the luck part!"

So I guess it is not all luck. I'm doing things which help to cause the "luck" to happen more frequently!

Like you said it was an educated guess. I practice a lot setting up breakout shots trying to get a handle on where the CB will end up based on speed and then on english emparted on the CB. I find that I have better luck hitting dead center than putting english on the CB. Of course that depends on where the CB and OB are in relationship to each other.

 

[seymore15074]

I would also just like to mention that it is absolutely amazing how accurately you can control the cue ball when you're on your game. Think about those shots that you use another object ball to stop the cue ball for you after it rebounds from a rail...you have to hit it dead on to get it to stick where you want it...when I catch a stroke, I can't help but wish that everyone else could know how it feels...it's amazing what you can do with that rock.

 

[Jigger]

Luck goes to the prepared mind doesn't it BillyBob?

My breakouts of trouble balls has improved considerably since I started using Dr. Dave's 90 degree and 33 degree rules. The two guidelines/rules help me visualize the path of the cueball more accurately. Don't have access to the video site here at work but will post links soon for those unfamiliar with it. It's the Colorado State Univ. site with videos.