Pelican said:
Hum, 8 on the break wins in APA and in all bar rules games I have ever played.
Tell ya what Capt JR, look for the challenge I am fixing to post.
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It's always been the rule of the people, make the 8, you win. Try and tell some body in a bar they did not and you will eat the butt of a cue. The BCA says you don't if you can believe that. They say its a luck shot so it must spot up. The BCA people who write these silly rules are so out of touch with reality and none of them can play any way. I say, If I can prove this can be made in the same pocket 10% of the time, it is not a luck shot, but a controlled skill shot. These same BCA people using the same logic, say if you make the 9 ball any where you win, and that is a total luck shot. Their logic, is that of a ape.
A fair rule on both games would be you would win at either 8 or 9 ball only if you call the pocket the ball goes into. That would reduce the luck factor and allow the skill breaker to have a reward for making a called skill shot.
bamakid, this side break is not a sleezy break, it is a very smart break. As a 7 I broke many different ways depending on the skill levels I faced. 2=3=4's I showed no respect to, just break them down the middle one half diamond left of center, make a ball, spread them well and run out on them. These people can never run out on you so this is a safe way to break. I am out in 2 or 3 innings every time and they are usually only getting one inning or at best 2 to shoot. For them to win against me they have to play at 7 speed and out in 1 to 2 innings which is why they all lose.
Against some experienced 5's strong 6's and fellow 7's, one must be careful, these people can and will run out from any open table. Practice the lag, insist on a lag and no coin toss, taking control and having the opening shot and break is huge.
I would break down the middle trying for a spread and to run out a couple of racks. I want to be very aggressive early on and try and scare the opponent. I know if I get up 2=0, I will statistically win 80% of the time from that position. I don't want to blow that lead. Right now I controlling the game and the opponent, he does not get to shoot.
The problem is if I keep breaking down the middle, I am not going to make a ball eventually, leave a run out table and the opponent then is given the opportunity to run back on me a rack or two and all I achieved is then lost plus my momenteum. I wish to prevent that and him getting back in the game. So I sit on my lead, begin to frustrate him leaving him no shots. I also become defensive now, ducking and playing a lot of safes unless the shot is a lay down.
From that 2-0 postiion, I began to side break, which does two things, if I make the 8, he usually folds right then on the spot. Also I donot want a run out table, I want congestion, a table, me as a 7 can get out on, but the 5 and most 6's cannot. Don't poo pah using the side break, it can be a very smart move in the right time. Try it, you might learn to like it.
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