I NEED TO IMPROVE MY BREAK!! Some days i have a killer break but sometimes its just not there. I can't figure out why it keeps coming and going. Last wednesday in the local tournament I sunk 3 balls for 6 breaks in a row, but later in the same night i couldnt make a ball on the break if my life depended on it, infact I scratched 3 breaks in a row at one point. Can anyone give me some tips on how i should adjust my stance, stroke, or anything else that might help. I try and through my body behind it but if I try to hard i usually end up miscueing. I was also told to stand up a little higher but i miscue there too... anyone got any ideas? If i can't fix this im gonna give my life savings to Fast Larry to teach me his 8 balls on the break shot... hehehe.
How do i improve my break?
- Thread starter fxskater
- Start date
S
SuperDave
Guest
Hint: If your break isn't consistent, your stroke isn't consistent. Something's changing. I suspect you're stroking the break harder than your control of the tip is allowing you to be consistent - you're not contacting the CB the same way every time, even if it feels like you are. For me, that involved switching from an open bridge to a closed one on the break, about a year ago. The change in the consistency of my break was immediate.
Have someone watch this to be sure.
Have someone watch this to be sure.
Last edited:
I don't think its a stroke problem... I have a pretty perfect stroke. I could be wrong though. I can have whole nights where i sink 3 balls every break and then other times i cant get near as much velosity. I can hammer the ball straight up and down a snooker table with a snooker tip and it comes back within a half inch of the tip every time. I think that is a pretty good test of my stroke.
S
SuperDave
Guest
OK, we'll concede that it probably isn't your stroke. Pool, however, is a game of strict physics - the same input, under the exact same circumstances, should reliably have the exact same outcome, every time.
If something happens different, then the initial conditions are different. Either your stroke is changing, the quality of the rack is changing, or the table conditions are changing.
It's pretty hard for someone to get a rack identical, on a repeated basis. Unless you've got a Sardo rack, that is.
Even so, are you playing good tables, with a nice flat spot, so the ball placement can be consistent?
How about atmospheric conditions? Varying levels of humidity niticeably affect ball roll.
Bottom line is, if you are consistent, something else isn't.
If something happens different, then the initial conditions are different. Either your stroke is changing, the quality of the rack is changing, or the table conditions are changing.
It's pretty hard for someone to get a rack identical, on a repeated basis. Unless you've got a Sardo rack, that is.
Even so, are you playing good tables, with a nice flat spot, so the ball placement can be consistent?How about atmospheric conditions? Varying levels of humidity niticeably affect ball roll.
Bottom line is, if you are consistent, something else isn't.
T
thewolf
Guest
Hi,
A lot of times on the break players try and hit the balls too hard losing control and not striking the balls solidly.Maybe this is your problem. Body movement increases when u try hitting them hard , maybe ur body is making some negative movements.. try thrusting ur body through straight .... and try timing ur body with ur stroke ,, thrusting through at the same time the tip makes contact with the cueball... maybe even subside a lil power if its necessary.. hope this helps
A lot of times on the break players try and hit the balls too hard losing control and not striking the balls solidly.Maybe this is your problem. Body movement increases when u try hitting them hard , maybe ur body is making some negative movements.. try thrusting ur body through straight .... and try timing ur body with ur stroke ,, thrusting through at the same time the tip makes contact with the cueball... maybe even subside a lil power if its necessary
.. hope this helps
T
thewolf
Guest
Hi,
I had a talk with Jonny Arche, not long ago about his break.. he said his main concern is tyring to keep the cue as "LEVEL" throughout the stroke as possible... that is a good tip as well... it works for me.... by the way do u give private lessons LARRY?.. thanks
I had a talk with Jonny Arche, not long ago about his break.. he said his main concern is tyring to keep the cue as "LEVEL" throughout the stroke as possible... that is a good tip as well... it works for me.... by the way do u give private lessons LARRY?.. thanks
I worked on my break over a period of months. My break was inconsistent too. Two things I focused on.
Making sure I was aiming for a perfect full hit on the ball in the rack I was shooting at. (ie front or second depending on game)
Making sure I was aiming perfect centerball and a little low.
It gradually got better. Then when that part was decenter and I was keeping control of cb not scratching, keeping it close to where it was supposed to be, gosh I used to scratch all of the time.,I got the body into it and a little more power.
Considering the level I am at, my break is okay, sure it will get better as I get better,just feel pretty okay about it for the short time I have been playing and considering my other shortcomings in my game.
At one point, thought I was never going to get the hang of it.It is nice to be sort of okay at something.
Lots of great suggestions here. I always learn a lot here.
Don't know if this is where you are coming from. it was not the stroke problem for me either. Mine imo was the 'eye' thing and lack of perfect aim and then there is that timing and weight shift thing that I see good breakers do that I also need to do further work on.
Laura
Making sure I was aiming for a perfect full hit on the ball in the rack I was shooting at. (ie front or second depending on game)
Making sure I was aiming perfect centerball and a little low.
It gradually got better. Then when that part was decenter and I was keeping control of cb not scratching, keeping it close to where it was supposed to be, gosh I used to scratch all of the time.,I got the body into it and a little more power.
Considering the level I am at, my break is okay, sure it will get better as I get better,just feel pretty okay about it for the short time I have been playing and considering my other shortcomings in my game.
At one point, thought I was never going to get the hang of it.It is nice to be sort of okay at something.
Lots of great suggestions here. I always learn a lot here.
Don't know if this is where you are coming from. it was not the stroke problem for me either. Mine imo was the 'eye' thing and lack of perfect aim and then there is that timing and weight shift thing that I see good breakers do that I also need to do further work on.
Laura
It is important to note that on the break shot, accuracy is more important than power. NEVER SACRIFICE ACCURACY FOR POWER. Many of the players that have the most powerful breaks weigh less than 150 pounds (Bustamante, Archer).
If you watch guys like Bustamante and Archer, their balance is phenomenal. Their push off foot (shooting side) transfers their body wieght evenly and assists them in the full extension of their body on their follow through. This is where they are maximizing the transfer of energy. They maintain their accuracy by keeping their eyes on the target and staying down.... by this, I mean that their bridge hand remains stationary, which aids in their accuracy. Many cue balls become projectiles due to the player raising their bridge hand or mis-hitting the cue ball due to their body raising up and off the cue ball.
Larry gives excellent advice in saying that you should leave about 20% of your power in your pocket. With some students, I have them take about 40-50 % off of their power to start off. This is done to show them that power doesn't get the balls into the pockets (sometimes power causes the balls to rattle in and pop out). I train them to hit the balls accurately, and then gradually build the power into the break. Many players do the complete opposit. They first see how hard they can blast the balls, then worry about accuracy when they can't pocket anything.
There is a way to make the 1 ball consistently in the side as well as increasing your chances for the corner balls to drop in the top corner pockets. I have an article on this site that explains how to do that. It is important to know where to hit the cue ball, AND---- it is also important to know where you need to hit the head ball in the rack. If you don't hit the one ball where you need to, all the proper body mechanics won't help you a bit.
Proper body mechanics start at the top of your head and end at the tips of your toes. A properly balanced body, and a body that moves fluidly through the stroke will have much more success than a body that executes a jerking blast type of break shot. Practice the break every day. I videotape myself during every practice and go over a checklist. When I get a poor result, I know what to look for in my stance and body mechanics. This makes it easier to remedy the situation. This is why it is extremely inportant to know your game inside and out.
If you watch guys like Bustamante and Archer, their balance is phenomenal. Their push off foot (shooting side) transfers their body wieght evenly and assists them in the full extension of their body on their follow through. This is where they are maximizing the transfer of energy. They maintain their accuracy by keeping their eyes on the target and staying down.... by this, I mean that their bridge hand remains stationary, which aids in their accuracy. Many cue balls become projectiles due to the player raising their bridge hand or mis-hitting the cue ball due to their body raising up and off the cue ball.
Larry gives excellent advice in saying that you should leave about 20% of your power in your pocket. With some students, I have them take about 40-50 % off of their power to start off. This is done to show them that power doesn't get the balls into the pockets (sometimes power causes the balls to rattle in and pop out). I train them to hit the balls accurately, and then gradually build the power into the break. Many players do the complete opposit. They first see how hard they can blast the balls, then worry about accuracy when they can't pocket anything.
There is a way to make the 1 ball consistently in the side as well as increasing your chances for the corner balls to drop in the top corner pockets. I have an article on this site that explains how to do that. It is important to know where to hit the cue ball, AND---- it is also important to know where you need to hit the head ball in the rack. If you don't hit the one ball where you need to, all the proper body mechanics won't help you a bit.
Proper body mechanics start at the top of your head and end at the tips of your toes. A properly balanced body, and a body that moves fluidly through the stroke will have much more success than a body that executes a jerking blast type of break shot. Practice the break every day. I videotape myself during every practice and go over a checklist. When I get a poor result, I know what to look for in my stance and body mechanics. This makes it easier to remedy the situation. This is why it is extremely inportant to know your game inside and out.
Last edited:
T
thewolf
Guest
Thanks Fast...arpeciate it
Top Muscle Pool
Registered
the real answer
The REAL answer to a great break shot is to look at the NINE BALL when breaking. After all THATS the TARGET!!! Line up and start stroking and then on about your last 2-3 strokes stare right at the nine and go for the kill.Then its just a matter of tuning in your english to stop the cue in the center of the table.Try this and see what happens.This is a very protected secret of the top champions of the game. Try it and tell me how you like it...My lessons are free.LOL
man of a thousand ideas
The REAL answer to a great break shot is to look at the NINE BALL when breaking. After all THATS the TARGET!!! Line up and start stroking and then on about your last 2-3 strokes stare right at the nine and go for the kill.Then its just a matter of tuning in your english to stop the cue in the center of the table.Try this and see what happens.This is a very protected secret of the top champions of the game. Try it and tell me how you like it...My lessons are free.LOL
man of a thousand ideasTo those who teach a no elbow drop on the stroke, well i have had lessons and practiced the stroke so much, it is next to impossible for me to drop my elbow.
The only time i can do this is on the break and only when i throw my weight into it. And I dont throw all of my weight because then I would miscue or something like that. The throwing of weight came after the other things I practiced about aim and I still dont think I throw more than 50% of my weight.
I never heard about looking at the object ball on the break. I always heard look at the cue ball.Interesting idea.
I am not expereinced at pool and do not have a big time investment into doing things a certain way so am open minded. I mean shucks, what do I have to lose?
Laura
The only time i can do this is on the break and only when i throw my weight into it. And I dont throw all of my weight because then I would miscue or something like that. The throwing of weight came after the other things I practiced about aim and I still dont think I throw more than 50% of my weight.
I never heard about looking at the object ball on the break. I always heard look at the cue ball.Interesting idea.
I am not expereinced at pool and do not have a big time investment into doing things a certain way so am open minded. I mean shucks, what do I have to lose?
Laura
Thanks for all the great advice. Im gonna start working on my break a little more. I just hate re-racking over and over. I was thinking about hiring a little kid for $5 an hour to just rack the balls over and over until i perfect my break. Thanks for the great advice. Im gonna try and take a little off my break and learn how to put the 1 in the side consistently. Thanks again for all the great advice everyone!!