Flying cue ball on the break

[dr_dave]

I was hitting balls with a friend last night and we were talking about breaking and the cue ball jumping off the table. He was saying that it happens because something was loose in the rack, and I was saying that it happens because the cue ball is actually in the air a little when it hits the rack. Is either of us correct here? Both correct? Maybe another explanation?

FYI, thorough answers to these and related questions, along with several video demonstrations, can be found here:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/break.html#hop​

Enjoy,
Dave

 

[Hierovision]

A cue ball struck perfectly level with zero elevation but above the center [like shooting with top] will cause the cue ball to jump. Breaking from the side rail (even with a perfectly level stroke) can still result in the cue ball jumping off the table since you are hitting the ball above center. No elevation required.

-td

Maybe hitting the CB above center is deflecting it downward, causing it to jump? I really doubt it's hitting the head ball and jumping solely due to top spin. I would have to watch a video to believe it.