How do you break a rack?

Surly

Surly

This is it.
Silver Member
I usually break from the back rail, a little to the right, and hit the lead ball dead on.

But I see a lot of players break from the side rail, hitting the lead ball so that the power goes down one side of the rack rather than down the middle. At least that seems to be the purpose...

And do you ever aim for the second ball back? It seems that I read somewhere that hitting the second ball might make the 8 or 9...?
 
I break

very carefully. I don't know about you, but I am not going to take my 46 years of breaking knowledge and just spill my guts to the first person that asks.

Hint: Watch how the very best players in your Pool room break, and then imitate them.
 
Surly said:
I usually break from the back rail, a little to the right, and hit the lead ball dead on.

But I see a lot of players break from the side rail, hitting the lead ball so that the power goes down one side of the rack rather than down the middle. At least that seems to be the purpose...

And do you ever aim for the second ball back? It seems that I read somewhere that hitting the second ball might make the 8 or 9...?
Click to expand...

What game are speaking of?

In 8 ball, you have a better chance of making the 8 ball if you break from the side rail, However I find that I get a better spread of balls if I break from the center of the table.

In 9 ball, the only reason to break from the side rail is to make the wing ball and the one ball on the break. If neither of those are going then start moving towards the center.
 
9-ball and 8-ball I break from the same place: 1/2 diamond to the right of center. In 9-ball, the 1 ball gets sent to the lower left corner pocket, so controlling whitey to the center of the table almost always leaves me with a shot. If it's racked right, I get the wing ball every time.

8-ball, I've experimented with the 2nd ball break, but it's just not as consistent as a slam break. There's so much traffic going on, I wouldn't want to try to control any one ball going anywhere. As we'd say in CounterStrike lingo, it's "Pray and Spray."
 
Well, my husband and I alternate 8ball and 9ball, but I always break the same way. I didn't know if I was missing something or not...

And my breaks are getting stronger and better - I made two of the prettiest breaks I've ever seen today, just slamming the shit out of the lead ball.

Now I need to practice from the side rail... having a hard time keeping control of that one, though. I tried it twice today and said, "Screw that". I couldn't even figure out how to hold it.
 
not a game of strength

Successfull breaking is less about smashing the rack and more about control. 9 Ball or 8 ball start with a spot on the head rail that works for you more often than not.

It's easier to bump your speed up a notch if you are unsuccesful than it is to tone it down.

Watch what works for your opponent. Look at the wear lines in the cloth.
 
Breaking for the Initiate

Surly;

Sounds like you're talking about breaking an 8-ball rack. Yes, some people break from one side or the other and try to aim at the 2nd ball. However, it is tougher in my experience to consistently break well from the sides if you don't have pretty solid mechanics. And very easy to scratch.

For 8-ball I typically break from the middle (actually about 2 inches to the right of the center diamond), aiming for center english or center right, and drive through the CB to the cloth. My first two breaks are usually from there. If I can't get a ball to drop then I will start changing my spot, usually starting with two inches LEFT of center.

I'll work my way out to the 1st and 3rd diamonds on the headrail before trying the 2nd ball break.

In 9-ball you have to hit the one ball first, and I almost always break from the right side, using right low english (more right than low). It's actually just a variation on Cory Deuel's soft break. I try to break as if the only ball on the table is the one and I'm trying to make it in the corner behind it while drawing the CBl back to the rail. Most of the time I get either the one to drop in the left side pocket or the corner ball to drop in the corner.

Two best things about this break are that you don't have to break hard (great for my bad shoulders) and the CB stays in the middle of the table, expanding my chances of having a shot.

Hope that helps a little, and do take time to watch really good players break. Better yet ask them what they're doing. Most of the time a player will help you out.

P.S. Was going for a suitably pompous-sounding title. What do you think? ;-)
 
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When I break in 9 ball or 8 ball I usually break from the edge of the box and I use an open hand bridge mostly,I seem to break well from there with good control,the rail break I lose the cueball too much.
 
I break from the center for 8ball and I've made the 8ball more times breaking from the center then I have breaking from the side.
 
To improve your 9 ball break, this is a good drill.

CueTable Help


Just your basic stop shot. I started using a slip stroke and my cueball control has been great.

Of course, 9 ball is more about the rack and less about the break, so I would check out Joe Tuckers racking secrets and check the rack before you break.

In 8 ball, yes, if you break from the rail and hit the 2nd ball, you have a "better" chance of making the 8 in the side. I personally dont think its worth the risk of losing your cue ball. I would rather break from the corner of the box, hit the 1st ball solid like in 9 ball and hope something falls. In 8 ball, its best to just hit em hard... the odds are good you will make something and you want to get a nice spread for a run out.
 
cleary said:
Of course, 9 ball is more about the rack and less about the break, so I would check out Joe Tuckers racking secrets and check the rack before you break.
Click to expand...

Best advice in this thread, by far!! Teaches you to take advantage of your opponent's sloppy racking, and also when to ask for a rerack.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone!

Obviously I need to experiment with different angles. I was taught by two pretty good players to break from where ever I could comfortably make a long, hard stroke, so I got stuck right of center...

I'm going to seriously try breaking 9ball from the side rail... as long as there aren't too many people around... :)
 
Surly said:
Thanks for the advice everyone!

Obviously I need to experiment with different angles. I was taught by two pretty good players to break from where ever I could comfortably make a long, hard stroke, so I got stuck right of center...

I'm going to seriously try breaking 9ball from the side rail... as long as there aren't too many people around... :)
Click to expand...

When learning to break from the side.... start soft and keep your cue as level as you can. When you break from the side, the cue ball will jump slightly off the table and if you do not hit the 1 ball square, you will fly off the table. So its best to start at a speed where you can hit the 1 ball square. Once you get used to it, add a little more power til you find a speed that works for you.
 
Thanks, cleary, I'll do that.

I was noticing on that Fats/Mosconi video, (or should I say Mosconi/Fats??) that both of them broke like they were shooting a straight in 2" shot. I'd love to be able to break that easy, with that much grace... just poke it and KRACK!!
 
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