Depends on what you're trying to achieve.
If you want more power, then you need more tip speed, which means you need more torso, arm and wrist speed. I prefer breaking off the rail, or better yet, off the side rail in the traditional 9 ball cut break.
Bridging on the rail makes it easier to generate a more powerful and longer follow through. It is less hindering and restrictive of generating more cue speed. Whereas a closed bridge in the middle of the table is more restrictive. Also, your forearm and hand position breaking off the rail can be much straighter and longer - which gives you a longer stance for a longer backswing and follow through. If you see some pros powerbreak from the rail, the cue tip actually leaves the back side of their rail bridge during their final backswing. Then on follow through the cue's joint (give or take) has reached their bridge hand, which at that point is not on the table. Another reason why closed bridge middle table breaking is more restrictive.
The "smash break" which is being in the center of the table - makes up for it a tiny bit by being geometrically the closest to the 1 ball. But it doesn't make up for it enough. The other factor is that it's a more direct hit on the rack as opposed to the cut break from the side rail. More on efficiency below.
The main reason any pro breaks from the center of the table (meaning anywhere in the "box" zone) ...is that they are intending on executing a type of "SOFT" break. They want a very specific break speed, a very specific angle of impact into the rack because they are trying to make a particular ball into a particular pocket and also control the spread of the rack, especially if they are pattern racking which is common.
What is soft? A pro's soft break can range from 18 to around 21 mph. Which is about as strong as most amateur's full power break. There is some variance, some pros have broken very soft (Deuel) in some matches, where they were down around 15-16 mph. A typical hard break from a pro is around 23.5 - 25 mph.
Another aspect of the soft break other than pattern and spread control, is taking that much off the break allows them a significant increase in accuracy. And accuracy is far more important when trying to make a specific ball on the break.
The faster you swing the cue, the less accurate you will be. Everyone has a threshold. Pros have a very high threshold, meaning they can swing the cue very fast and still be very accurate. However, no matter what your skill level is - breaking a little slower than your max speed increases accuracy and control. This is just the facts of body mechanics and muscle control. True in every sport.
A big advantage of accuracy is that it provides more efficiency. The more square or straight on you hit the rack, that much more energy will be imparted into the rack. Even a tiny bit off an off center hit loses a lot of energy, and the cue ball goes running around the table. All the energy the CB has moving after hitting the rack is potential energy that could have been in the rack.
Now, the cut break isn't just for speed and power - the object there is to make the wing ball in the corner, and the one ball in the side. It also gives a more reasonable chance of leaving the CB in the middle of the table or at worst, it will bounce off the side rail. This is preferred over the "smash" break which is right down the middle, because hardly anyone can hit perfectly square and the very slightest off center hit at such high speeds sends the CB into either one of the side pockets more frequently than people think. That and the smash break provides no reasonable expectation to make a specific ball in a specific pocket. It's all about sending all the balls in all directions as fast as possible. The further they travel, the more rails they will hit, the greater the chance one will find a pocket.
Now, off center "box" area breaks of varying speed are not considered "smash" breaks ...these are the technical and specific breaks I described earlier.
As for the mechanics of the break, you have to work on generating more tip speed. That's all there is to it. In order to do that, you will find yourself learning to move more of your body. Getting more of your body into the shot. And learning to do that while hitting the CB where intended which is the tricky part.
The break is the one shot that breaks all the rules regarding pool stance. Such as - staying down, not moving your head or shoulders or torso, keeping your feet planted.
All of these best-stance rules for shotmaking are violated in the break. Watch slow motion video of top pros power breaking. A lot of parts are moving, they are putting most of their body into it.
To have any hope of having a power break, you'll have to do the same. But work your way up to it. Trying to move or incorporate that much of your body into a break shot all at once that early on leads to very dramatic miscues, mishits, launched cue balls and other such disasters. But it's part of the learning process. Most people never learn to break with lots of power because they are scared of something. You have your own table, experiment and always challenge your limits. Go beyond them from time to time to see what lurks there.
I did a lot of talking about speed and power, because you already have enough speed and power for "soft" break tactics. In that realm, you have to work a tremendous amount on accuracy and do a ton of homework on the rack. Which is, how to rack the balls, and angle of approach, speed and spin to use to get the intended effects. Top players spend massive amounts of time on this.
This is because at their level, there's countless players who can run out multiple racks. What separates the big dogs is the break. Break, break break. It's all about the break. A distant second is defense/kicking game. But it's a distant second.
Many matches are won or lost because of the break. Many matches are really contests of two pros putting their rack and breaking knowledge to the test against one another. Many amateurs and intermediate players are oblivious to this. Yes, sometimes some key shots in a match are deciding factors - but overall, it's the break.
In our era, where it is far more common to play with top-tier ball sets, and templates ...equipment has improved a lot, and more and more rooms have tournament balls, good cloth and templates - it somewhat makes the power break pointless. You can spend years trying to master all out power break, or spend that time learning how to break "softer" but with more intent.
We live in great times as the cost of a radar gun is quite low. This is an incredible tool for both soft and power breaking. Sometimes on a particular table with its unique characteristics of balls and cloth, the rack will open or break a certain way only within a narrow range of CB speed. Break too hard, a specific ball stops going. Break too soft, the same. Goldilocks stuff here, has to be just right.
A radar gun will show you how inconsistent you might be at speed control at the higher speeds. When I used a radar gun in the past, I was shocked as my break speed varied quite a bit from break to break. Far too much to be able to consistently "tune in" to a table the way pros do after a little bit of time figuring out the table. Pros can keep their breaks within 1/2 mph or less typically. Often 1/3 mph or less on soft breaks. On power breaks, it varies more even for them, but being they are near the max end of their speed - it is consistent in terms of being a limit.
A qualified instructor is not a bad idea. But they are hard to find or expensive (aka a real pro who can also teach) Some well regarded instructors are awful and/or charlatans.
Watch lots of slow motion analysis of break form on Youtube, it's out there.
Good luck!
If you want more power, then you need more tip speed, which means you need more torso, arm and wrist speed. I prefer breaking off the rail, or better yet, off the side rail in the traditional 9 ball cut break.
Bridging on the rail makes it easier to generate a more powerful and longer follow through. It is less hindering and restrictive of generating more cue speed. Whereas a closed bridge in the middle of the table is more restrictive. Also, your forearm and hand position breaking off the rail can be much straighter and longer - which gives you a longer stance for a longer backswing and follow through. If you see some pros powerbreak from the rail, the cue tip actually leaves the back side of their rail bridge during their final backswing. Then on follow through the cue's joint (give or take) has reached their bridge hand, which at that point is not on the table. Another reason why closed bridge middle table breaking is more restrictive.
The "smash break" which is being in the center of the table - makes up for it a tiny bit by being geometrically the closest to the 1 ball. But it doesn't make up for it enough. The other factor is that it's a more direct hit on the rack as opposed to the cut break from the side rail. More on efficiency below.
The main reason any pro breaks from the center of the table (meaning anywhere in the "box" zone) ...is that they are intending on executing a type of "SOFT" break. They want a very specific break speed, a very specific angle of impact into the rack because they are trying to make a particular ball into a particular pocket and also control the spread of the rack, especially if they are pattern racking which is common.
What is soft? A pro's soft break can range from 18 to around 21 mph. Which is about as strong as most amateur's full power break. There is some variance, some pros have broken very soft (Deuel) in some matches, where they were down around 15-16 mph. A typical hard break from a pro is around 23.5 - 25 mph.
Another aspect of the soft break other than pattern and spread control, is taking that much off the break allows them a significant increase in accuracy. And accuracy is far more important when trying to make a specific ball on the break.
The faster you swing the cue, the less accurate you will be. Everyone has a threshold. Pros have a very high threshold, meaning they can swing the cue very fast and still be very accurate. However, no matter what your skill level is - breaking a little slower than your max speed increases accuracy and control. This is just the facts of body mechanics and muscle control. True in every sport.
A big advantage of accuracy is that it provides more efficiency. The more square or straight on you hit the rack, that much more energy will be imparted into the rack. Even a tiny bit off an off center hit loses a lot of energy, and the cue ball goes running around the table. All the energy the CB has moving after hitting the rack is potential energy that could have been in the rack.
Now, the cut break isn't just for speed and power - the object there is to make the wing ball in the corner, and the one ball in the side. It also gives a more reasonable chance of leaving the CB in the middle of the table or at worst, it will bounce off the side rail. This is preferred over the "smash" break which is right down the middle, because hardly anyone can hit perfectly square and the very slightest off center hit at such high speeds sends the CB into either one of the side pockets more frequently than people think. That and the smash break provides no reasonable expectation to make a specific ball in a specific pocket. It's all about sending all the balls in all directions as fast as possible. The further they travel, the more rails they will hit, the greater the chance one will find a pocket.
Now, off center "box" area breaks of varying speed are not considered "smash" breaks ...these are the technical and specific breaks I described earlier.
As for the mechanics of the break, you have to work on generating more tip speed. That's all there is to it. In order to do that, you will find yourself learning to move more of your body. Getting more of your body into the shot. And learning to do that while hitting the CB where intended which is the tricky part.
The break is the one shot that breaks all the rules regarding pool stance. Such as - staying down, not moving your head or shoulders or torso, keeping your feet planted.
All of these best-stance rules for shotmaking are violated in the break. Watch slow motion video of top pros power breaking. A lot of parts are moving, they are putting most of their body into it.
To have any hope of having a power break, you'll have to do the same. But work your way up to it. Trying to move or incorporate that much of your body into a break shot all at once that early on leads to very dramatic miscues, mishits, launched cue balls and other such disasters. But it's part of the learning process. Most people never learn to break with lots of power because they are scared of something. You have your own table, experiment and always challenge your limits. Go beyond them from time to time to see what lurks there.
I did a lot of talking about speed and power, because you already have enough speed and power for "soft" break tactics. In that realm, you have to work a tremendous amount on accuracy and do a ton of homework on the rack. Which is, how to rack the balls, and angle of approach, speed and spin to use to get the intended effects. Top players spend massive amounts of time on this.
This is because at their level, there's countless players who can run out multiple racks. What separates the big dogs is the break. Break, break break. It's all about the break. A distant second is defense/kicking game. But it's a distant second.
Many matches are won or lost because of the break. Many matches are really contests of two pros putting their rack and breaking knowledge to the test against one another. Many amateurs and intermediate players are oblivious to this. Yes, sometimes some key shots in a match are deciding factors - but overall, it's the break.
In our era, where it is far more common to play with top-tier ball sets, and templates ...equipment has improved a lot, and more and more rooms have tournament balls, good cloth and templates - it somewhat makes the power break pointless. You can spend years trying to master all out power break, or spend that time learning how to break "softer" but with more intent.
We live in great times as the cost of a radar gun is quite low. This is an incredible tool for both soft and power breaking. Sometimes on a particular table with its unique characteristics of balls and cloth, the rack will open or break a certain way only within a narrow range of CB speed. Break too hard, a specific ball stops going. Break too soft, the same. Goldilocks stuff here, has to be just right.
A radar gun will show you how inconsistent you might be at speed control at the higher speeds. When I used a radar gun in the past, I was shocked as my break speed varied quite a bit from break to break. Far too much to be able to consistently "tune in" to a table the way pros do after a little bit of time figuring out the table. Pros can keep their breaks within 1/2 mph or less typically. Often 1/3 mph or less on soft breaks. On power breaks, it varies more even for them, but being they are near the max end of their speed - it is consistent in terms of being a limit.
A qualified instructor is not a bad idea. But they are hard to find or expensive (aka a real pro who can also teach) Some well regarded instructors are awful and/or charlatans.
Watch lots of slow motion analysis of break form on Youtube, it's out there.
Good luck!
