Help With Straight Pool Breaks

Nine Ball

Nine Ball

Certified Rail Tester
Silver Member
All right, Here's the deal..


I'm not a straight pool player at all.. Played it less than 20 times total. High crappy run of 86.. Many 40's and 50's..

Came up playing 9 ball.. Can play all games well. 8 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball, 15 ball, one pocket, snooker, and play banks decent I guess..

But I'm a horrible straight pool player. I've got no clue as to what english works best when you make your break ball and go into the stack. There are many flaws in my straight pool game and I would like to chip at them one by one.

I've been using inside and drawing off the stack to the side rail and out or down to the bottom rail and back up.

Anything else I seem to get stuck in the stack.

I'm above an "A" player level so I will not need a step by step guide on what to do. Don't take that the wrong way. I just say it so anyone who makes a comment on the break knows they do not have to break it down for me to understand it.

Playing the game almost makes me feel like a "C" player again. It's the only game I do not play well and that bothers me.
 
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If its a backcut, or if you can only catch the corner ball, use a lot of follow with a touch of inside and a solid speed, all else draw medium speed with a touch of outside. From behind the rack is a different story of course. Overall, most breakshots are follow shots. JMHO.
 
Josh

Feel free to come don to Orlando any time for my 14.1 Course. Send me a PM and I'll send you my number.

If you can run 40's and 50 pretty regularly, we can strengthen that and perhaps get you operating on all cylinders.

I have also posted a lot of material on break shots in this forum if you do a search. Also get with Danny Harriman (Noncrookedpool) - he is an awesome authority on how to contact the stack.
 
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In John Schmidt's new DVD he discusses each break shot on the way to his end of run at 164. He mostly uses follow and a firm stroke, but having said that, experience has taught him when to use draw and why. He is miced and explains his thought processes all the way. Well worth the money...Tom
 
Grady Mathews has a good video titled "Break Shots & Key Balls" that covers breaks from all around the rack. I got it a long time ago from Accu-Stats, but can't find it there now.

pj
chgo
 
Hesitant as I may be to give advice to someone who thinks a high run of 86 is 'crappy':)

Jim Rempe made two videos that would prolly be most helpful to you:

'How to Run a Rack' -deals with just what you asked
and, 'How to Run a Hundred' - more general 14.1 topics

Dale
 
I would like 86 to be my crappy high run. My crappy number is ony 39 :D . It will improve. I wish I was closer to Florida, I would like to attend the 14.1 school BlackJack speaks of.
 
Nine Ball said:
All right, Here's the deal..


I'm not a straight pool player at all.. Played it less than 20 times total. High crappy run of 86.. Many 40's and 50's..

Came up playing 9 ball.. Can play all games well. 8 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball, 15 ball, one pocket, snooker, and play banks decent I guess..

But I'm a horrible straight pool player. I've got no clue as to what english works best when you make your break ball and go into the stack. There are many flaws in my straight pool game and I would like to chip at them one by one.

I've been using inside and drawing off the stack to the side rail and out or down to the bottom rail and back up.

Anything else I seem to get stuck in the stack.

I'm above an "A" player level so I will not need a step by step guide on what to do. Don't take that the wrong way. I just say it so anyone who makes a comment on the break knows they do not have to break it down for me to understand it.

Playing the game almost makes me feel like a "C" player again. It's the only game I do not play well and that bothers me.
Click to expand...

86 is a decent high run and i don't think many c players could do it. one day i hope to complain about how bad i play with a high run of 86

you should buy grady's video on break shots and key balls. it's very informative
 
The Grady Mathews video you mentioned i just bought about two months ago from Seyberts on there closeout special page.Your right ,It is a very good video on break shots and key balls.
 
Nine Ball said:
All right, Here's the deal..


I'm not a straight pool player at all.. Played it less than 20 times total. High crappy run of 86.. Many 40's and 50's..

Came up playing 9 ball.. Can play all games well. 8 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball, 15 ball, one pocket, snooker, and play banks decent I guess..

But I'm a horrible straight pool player. I've got no clue as to what english works best when you make your break ball and go into the stack. There are many flaws in my straight pool game and I would like to chip at them one by one.

I've been using inside and drawing off the stack to the side rail and out or down to the bottom rail and back up.

Anything else I seem to get stuck in the stack.

I'm above an "A" player level so I will not need a step by step guide on what to do. Don't take that the wrong way. I just say it so anyone who makes a comment on the break knows they do not have to break it down for me to understand it.

Playing the game almost makes me feel like a "C" player again. It's the only game I do not play well and that bothers me.
Click to expand...


86! You must be a heckuva good shooter.

Vids mentioned by others are all good. Rempe, Schmidt, Grady.
Also Mike Sigel Perfect Pool and Mike Sigel run out Pool. These are the old ones not the perfect pool for sale on the ipt site which sucks.

Joe Tuckers racking secrets volume 2 goes into great detail on break shots and what english to use and why.

Phil Capelle's book on straight pool again goes into great detail on break shots.

Blackjack's work is very good. Search this forum for his posts. When his book comes out I expect it to help all of us.
 
Blackjack said:
Josh

Feel free to come don to Orlando any time for my 14.1 Course. Send me a PM and I'll send you my number.

If you can run 40's and 50 pretty regularly, we can strengthen that and perhaps get you operating on all cylinders.

I have also posted a lot of material on break shots in this forum if you do a search. Also get with Danny Harriman (Noncrookedpool) - he is an awesome authority on how to contact the stack.
Click to expand...

David,
Can you give details on your course, please?
You can PM if you would rather not post in public.

Thanks
Dale
 
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pdcue said:
David,
Can you give details on your course, please?
You can PM if you would rather not post in public.

Thanks
Dale
Click to expand...


No problem - just be advised that I require my local students to attend my basic fundamentals course prior to attending any of my advanced course.

The 14.1 course is divided into 4 parts as well - 4 separate classes that I give on Wednesdays. During each Class, the topics are demonstrated and the student is evaluated on proper form and technique.

I will not be conducting a 14.1 Class in June, but I will start it back up in July.


Class 1
(Introductory Topics)
Stop Shots and Drills to Minimize Cue Ball Movement
Opening Break Shot
Examining The Stack
Intro to Key Balls and Break Balls
Intro to Break Shots
Intro to Patterns & Shot Sequence
Intro to 14.1 Safety Play
Identifying Secondary Break Shots
Insurance Balls

Class 2
(Advanced Topics)
Dealing With Clusters in the Rack Area
Patterns and Shot Sequence
Manufacturing A Break Ball
Nudging Balls
Table Management
Identifying Set Up Balls, Key Balls, and Break Balls
Dead Balls in the stack & Combinations
Secondary Break Shots (off the rails)
Identifying Patterns and Shot Sequence

Class 3
(The Break Shot Class)
Break Shots
Using Follow, Draw, & Stun on the Break Shot

Various Break Shots
a) Side of the stack (high & low)
b) Behind the stack
c) Above the stack
d) Side pocket break shots
e) Parallel Break Shots
d) High Angle Break Shots

Contacting The Stack
Where Not To Hit the Stack
Where To Hit The Stack
Controlling the Cue Ball
Controlling Rack Dispersement

Class 4
(Advanced Topics)
Comfort Zone
Cue Ball Control
Break Shots
Advanced End Patterns
Dead Balls & Combinations
Running Balls
Student Evaluation

Get with me if you have any questions about the course - I am currently knocking around the idea of putting it all on DVD at some point and making it available for those who are unable to make it down here.
 
Dave Nelson said:
I doubt that even John Schmidt would describe a run of 86 as crappy.
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I call it crappy because I was looking to break 100. I hit a follow through the rack shot bad and got locked up in the back of the stack with no shot.

Looked over the rack and basically had to shot into the stack to play a ball off of another ball and down table in the corner.

Missed it by about an inch..
 
dmgwalsh said:
86! You must be a heckuva good shooter.

Vids mentioned by others are all good. Rempe, Schmidt, Grady.
Also Mike Sigel Perfect Pool and Mike Sigel run out Pool. These are the old ones not the perfect pool for sale on the ipt site which sucks.

Joe Tuckers racking secrets volume 2 goes into great detail on break shots and what english to use and why.

Phil Capelle's book on straight pool again goes into great detail on break shots.

Blackjack's work is very good. Search this forum for his posts. When his book comes out I expect it to help all of us.
Click to expand...


I said I was above an "A" players level. Been asked a zillion times when I'm gonna go pro. But that's another story... and no I'm not talkin myself up.. I don't even have much interest in pool (again that's another story) but straight pool has brought it back a little.

Never read any books or any of that so I appreciate the comments on vids and books. Just not my thing. I'm more of a learn it on my own type. and as for taking lessons, I have many ask when I'm going to start giving lessons. So I pass on the lessons. But I'm no teacher..

Hope none of this sounds bad to others. I don't mean it that way and I'm not cocky or anything like that by no means.
 
Josh,

Don't feel bad. When I ran my 212 in 2000, I missed ball number 213 like this (I think) lol

CueTable Help



I got a funny angle on the 2, I tried to follow for some reason, and the 2 ball bounced off the side pocket tip and ricocheted off the cue ball. I tried to doagram it - God knows what really happened, all I know is that I missed the friggin shot.

All great runs come to an end, and an 89 is a great run!

Be proud of that!
 
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Blackjack said:
Josh,

Don't feel bad. When I ran my 212 in 2000, I missed ball number 213 like this

CueTable Help



I got a funny angle on the 2, I tried to follow for some reason, and the 2 ball bounced off the side pocket tip and ricocheted off the cue ball. I tried to doagram it - God knows what really happened, all I know is that I missed the friggin shot.

All great runs come to an end, and an 89 is a great run!

Be proud of that!
Click to expand...


Man what a shot to miss on a 200 run. :eek: I would have to slap myself. hehe

I actually find myself duckin up a 30-40 ball run by missing the break ball at times.. Paying more attention to hitting the rack.. Really makes me wanna just kick myself in the head. :eek: :D
 
Nine Ball said:
Man what a shot to miss on a 200 run. :eek: I would have to slap myself. hehe

I actually find myself duckin up a 30-40 ball run by missing the break ball at times.. Paying more attention to hitting the rack.. Really makes me wanna just kick myself in the head. :eek: :D
Click to expand...

Get with John Schmidt and ask him about some of the crazy - shitty-ass shots that have ended some his high runs... lol

That man has some 14.1 war stories!
 
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