Frequent scratches on breaks

Halfjack87

Halfjack87

In Training
Silver Member
I'm not really a functional pool player yet, but am trying to develop my basic skills.

Often, when I shoot a break shot, aiming at the center of the cue ball and at the apex object ball, I get very little dispersion and the cue ball slams into the right pocket.

While this was weird the first time it happened, it's now an annoyingly common occurrence.

What am I doing wrong, and how do I stop doing it?

Thanks!
 
Halfjack87 said:
I'm not really a functional pool player yet, but am trying to develop my basic skills.

Often, when I shoot a break shot, aiming at the center of the cue ball and at the apex object ball, I get very little dispersion and the cue ball slams into the right pocket.

While this was weird the first time it happened, it's now an annoyingly common occurrence.

What am I doing wrong, and how do I stop doing it?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Start by setting the cue ball on the left side of the table. I doubt you'll scratch in the right side pocket doing that. Obviously, that's not the total fix but it will stop the scratch as you continue to work on your stroke.

The real fix is to work on your stroke. Don't try to over hit your break shots until you improve your accuracy. One way to work on your break shot stroke is to try to over-extend your follow through in a straight line. This will help your break shot stroke timing and your accuracy.
 
BilliardsAbout said:
Much depends on where the cue ball is when you break! Can you post a drawing or diagram?
Click to expand...

This is my basic break-shot.

Basically, I rack the balls on the foot dot, put the cue ball on the head dot, or sometimes pulled back a bit from the head dot, but still centered.

(sorry no diagram)
 
The science behind the impact of the cue ball tells us that if the cue ball travels to the side then the object ball was struck on that side.

Now you just have to figure out if it was stroke, alignment or both which failed you. In most cases a new player will over power the stroke during the break making the stroke inaccurate.

Follow Fran's advice and work on stroke accuracy.

Best of luck with it!

Ken
 
I would agree with Okie's information here. The OP is very likely death-gripping the cue on the break (and likely rushing the transition to the forward stroke), therefore causing him to slightly miss where he thinks he is aiming, both on the CB and the OB. Stroke accuracy is imperative...overextending the the followthrough is not, and imo counterproductive to a good break (of course it depends on how far you overextend...a few inches is okay, a few feet isn't).

To the OP...try moving the CB to other parts of the table to break from.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Okie said:
The science behind the impact of the cue ball tells us that if the cue ball travels to the side then the object ball was struck on that side.

Now you just have to figure out if it was stroke, alignment or both which failed you. In most cases a new player will over power the stroke during the break making the stroke inaccurate.

Follow Fran's advice and work on stroke accuracy.

Best of luck with it!

Ken
Click to expand...
 
So to sum up:

1) I must be hitting the OB on the right side which is causing the deflection
2) I should focus on accuracy
3) I should break with the cue ball on the left side of the table
4) I should maybe over-extend by no more than a few inches, or not (not sure how to over extend, though)
5) I should try a new tip.

Thanks Guys, hopefully I'll never have this problem again!
 
Halfjack87...A couple more helpful hints...stop your tip at the CB for a second, before you start your backswing...then SLOW down your final backswing, and try to keep a loose grip on the cuestick (almost like you're going to "throw" it through the CB). Also, back off on your break speed until you start getting a more accurate hit. If you hit the front ball of the rack square, your CB shouldn't have to go to a side rail, regardless of where you break from. You hope to have a complete transition of energy from the cuestick to the CB to the rack. There should be NO spin on the CB! Hope this helps! :D

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Halfjack87 said:
So to sum up:

1) I must be hitting the OB on the right side which is causing the deflection
2) I should focus on accuracy
3) I should break with the cue ball on the left side of the table
4) I should maybe over-extend by no more than a few inches, or not (not sure how to over extend, though)
5) I should try a new tip.

Thanks Guys, hopefully I'll never have this problem again!
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Break practice

Can't remember where I came across it but something that worked for me in determining how hard I should be hitting the break was;
Set the cue ball at the head string where you break from then place an object ball at the foot string straight into the corner pocket. Hit the shot as hard as you can stopping the cue ball dead.

I find that a 15mph break hit perfectly square is much better than an 18mph break that is slightly off.
 
Halfjack87 said:
So to sum up:

1) I must be hitting the OB on the right side which is causing the deflection
2) I should focus on accuracy
3) I should break with the cue ball on the left side of the table
4) I should maybe over-extend by no more than a few inches, or not (not sure how to over extend, though)
5) I should try a new tip.

Thanks Guys, hopefully I'll never have this problem again!
Click to expand...

By over-extend I mean as far as you can push your cue through. You can even allow it to come out of your bridge hand as long as it goes straight and not up towards the ceiling or sideways.
 
Direct on the "head dot" is a recipe for poor breaks. For right handers, I like putting the cue ball one cue ball's width to the left of the spot. From there, you can hit a break as soft as if you're putting a stop shot on the head ball of 15 and get super results, as well as several other harder and fuller breaks.

The head spot is often worn thin and there are tracks leading from there on the cloth that can further mar your break.

I like your idea of moving the ball back a shade when the break isn't working. It's a smart move rather than going lateral when a favorite break isn't spreading, and can help with timing.
 
Well I played again last night, starting with practicing a few breaks - all of them had the CB positioned slightly left of the head dot, and pulled back towards me a little.

Results were pretty good last night, but I did slam one CB into the (Left) corner pocket - I think I just need to keep practicing...

Thanks for all the posts!
 
Halfjack87 said:
So to sum up:

1) I must be hitting the OB on the right side which is causing the deflection
2) I should focus on accuracy
3) I should break with the cue ball on the left side of the table
4) I should maybe over-extend by no more than a few inches, or not (not sure how to over extend, though)
5) I should try a new tip.

Thanks Guys, hopefully I'll never have this problem again!
Click to expand...

Hello sir.

One thing you should always do is plant your bridge hand. Get your bridge in place, then pick a finger and press into the cloth slightly as you stroke. Not just on the break, on every shot.

A solid bridge will eliminate one variable. If you're doing this right, most of your feel should be in your grip hand.

I agree with Mrs. Crimi, start slow and build your speed up. As a matter of fact, I recommend practicing your stroke in super-slow motion, make sure its straight and slowly speed up until you can stroke straight at full speed.

Another note... your break should be hit at around 75% of your full speed. It is more important to hit the apex ball square than it is to hit it hard.

One last thing... have fun with it! You'll play much better if you have fun, laugh at your own mistakes and learn from them.

- Andy
 
gregcantrall said:
Can't remember where I came across it but something that worked for me in determining how hard I should be hitting the break was;
Set the cue ball at the head string where you break from then place an object ball at the foot string straight into the corner pocket. Hit the shot as hard as you can stopping the cue ball dead.

I find that a 15mph break hit perfectly square is much better than an 18mph break that is slightly off.
Click to expand...

I second this advice as well. There's a direct relationship between how full you hit a ball and how much energy is transferred to said ball.

Don't forget... set that bridge! Your bridge needs to be solid. That doesn't mean white knuckling it, just make sure you're planted on the cloth. :)
 
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