Getting On The Break Ball

[Blackjack]

Every so often we are able to get perfect on our KEY BALL and BREAK BALL - but more times than not, we either end up with the wrong angle, too much angle, or a multi-rail positional shot to get on the break ball.

Here are a few that I have encountered recently - I figured I would pass them on to you just in case you find yourself in similar situations.

I hate it when this happens...

CueTable Help

In this situation it almost look like a routine 2 rail shot to get on top of the 5 ball. The problem here is that the 2 rail route is risky because I could

a)contact the 5
b)Pass the 5 and come out too far
c)end up in some other bad spot

I knew I had to do something else or I would be in danger of having a break shot that would have trouble getting into the stack.

Instead of going 2 rails, I put a twinge of inside english on the cue ball, and punched the cue ball out 1 rail as illustrated in the diagram. It actually worked out much better than expected.
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I've had to do this more than once

CueTable Help

If you are going to use a side pocket shot as your key ball, you better make sure that you land correctly on it, or you will be forced into doing something like this. Go ahead and laugh - I deserve it, but I stayed at the table!
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Lost Pattern

CueTable Help

On the shot above, I just came a little too far when playing position on the 13. I was trying have the cue ball come off of the top rail and back out, but it did this instead. I remembered this shot and afterwards I set it up a few times. It's actually a pretty easy and very reliable key ball shot.
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I do this a lot too

CueTable Help

This is a simple cross side bank with follow. As long as you have the speed down, it's a lifesaver of a shot.
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The importance of leaving 2 break balls

CueTable Help

I did this yesterday. I missed position on the 12 ball, and had to shoot the 9 ball instead. A simple follow shot and I settled for the back of stack break shot.

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2 rails instead of 1

CueTable Help

I have had this one many times. Going 2 rails is the key to staying above the break ball. Many times you will see players try going 1 rail with this shot and they end up going too far. By going two rails, you take some pace off the ball and you make sure that you get where you need to.

Those are just some of the ones I have had recently - go ahead and share some of your own - its great to learn new shots.

 

[Irish634]

Lost Pattern

CueTable Help

On the shot above, I just came a little too far when playing position on the 13. I was trying have the cue ball come off of the top rail and back out, but it did this instead. I remembered this shot and afterwards I set it up a few times. It's actually a pretty easy and very reliable key ball shot.

In the scenario above, I did this last night (different balls of course).

CueTable Help

I suppose my line of thinking was that I stood less of a chance to run into the 5 going two rails as you have shown. Of course the angle on the corner ball (13) might have been different too. It worked out ok, I made the break ball, then 3 more until I got out of line and had to play safe (I'm working on it though )

The end result was that I ended up perfect on the break ball, but is the better shot as you have it drawn? Meaning, will I have a better success rate using two rails instead of the route I chose?

Thanks,
Craig

 

[Blackjack]

Craig

I have noticed that on tables with the faster cloth, it is wise to to take 2 rails on shots like this rather than 1.

My reasoning is this:

If it has the possibility of rolling too far over towards the rail - then why not just use the rail???

That's just my thinking and others may not agree with it, but I figure that if it has the chance to come into play, I should use it to my advantage instead of taking the risk of falling short or going too far.

 

[Irish634]

Craig

I have noticed that on tables with the faster cloth, it is wise to to take 2 rails on shots like this rather than 1.

My reasoning is this:

If it has the possibility of rolling too far over towards the rail - then why not just use the rail???

That's just my thinking and others may not agree with it, but I figure that if it has the chance to come into play, I should use it to my advantage instead of taking the risk of falling short or going too far.

Thanks Dave. Makes perfect sense, as usual. I'll set it up and practice it when I can.

 

[Blackjack]

Thanks Dave. Makes perfect sense, as usual. I'll set it up and practice it when I can.

Give all the credit for that advice to Nick Varner. I learned that from his commentary on an Accu-stat match.

 

[CueAndMe]

I do this a lot too

CueTable Help

The other shots you posted were helpful, but I can't seem to figure out how this one isn't a difficult trick shot. What do you think of these two options if you don't like the white-bread one-railer:

CueTable Help

The second option of going 3 rails would give the player a ton of a margin for error on the angle coming into the 5-ball break shot. Actually, once the cueball has passed the upper side pocket on it's way around the table, anywhere it may stop leaves a legitimate angle on the 5. That's about 9 feet to screw up within.

Jeff

 

[CueAndMe]

I think I see where the problem is. Was this what you meant to show?

CueTable Help

 

[Bob Jewett]

... I did this yesterday. I missed position on the 12 ball, and had to shoot the 9 ball instead. A simple follow shot and I settled for the back of stack break shot. ...

There must be something wrong with the diagram (or my computer). It shows the 9 ball being cut to the right and the cue ball moving to the right of the cut line. Of course this is impossible without masse. Does this shot look right to others?

 

[CueAndMe]

There must be something wrong with the diagram (or my computer). It shows the 9 ball being cut to the right and the cue ball moving to the right of the cut line. Of course this is impossible without masse. Does this shot look right to others?

I see it as off too.
I'm assuming he just posted it quickly and didn't double-check that he got the shot angle dead on.

Jeff

 

[Vahmurka]

Blackjack, thanks for sharing your experience.
I think you forgot to paste another layout though: "This is a simple cross side bank with follow" - I see position from the previous example, no bank there.