How do you improve your break shot?

[CaptainJR]

I guess the question is, how far off can your break be in accuracy and still be effective as a break shot?

I think I'm going to start practicing this shot, hitting it fairly hard. I think if I find the highest speed that I can make this shot consistently, I'll find the highest speed that I should break. In other words, I think that accuracy is more important than speed. To a point that is. If you can't hit the ball vary hard at all and still be accurate, then speed might be more important.

 

[vapoolplayer]

accuracy and timing are the most important in the break shot IMO. accuracy because as you said, you have to be able to put the cue where you want it at a high speed. some people just hit the rack as hard as they can and pay little attention to much else. truth is you can hit the rack much slower and get better results as long as you hit the rack square. case in point: corey deuel, he seems to be the master of the soft break. the key to that is, he's hitting the rack exactly where he wants it and he hits the rack solid. the drill you have shown in your post looks like a good one. keep hitting the shot harder and harder until you start missing, then start taking speed off the shot until you find your maximum power that you can make the shot and control the cue. also the breakrak is a great training aid for practicing your break and saves tons of time racking balls.

thanks

 

[Celtic]

If I were you I would practice with the 1 ball actually on the spot, not where you placed it in the picture. Then simply hit a HARD stopshot. It will send the 1 ball to the rail and 2 rails towards you but the key is stopping the cueball dead right in front of the spot then, if it goes left, right, forward, or backwards it is not a perfect break. You then simply want the cueball to stop dead. The accuracy in the shot for break practice is not potting a ball like you showed, it is in what happens to the cueball after the contact. Dont worry about making a potable shot.

 

[CaptainJR]

If I were you I would practice with the 1 ball actually on the spot, not where you placed it in the picture. Then simply hit a HARD stopshot. It will send the 1 ball to the rail and 2 rails towards you but the key is stopping the cueball dead right in front of the spot then, if it goes left, right, forward, or backwards it is not a perfect break. You then simply want the cueball to stop dead. The accuracy in the shot for break practice is not potting a ball like you showed, it is in what happens to the cueball after the contact. Dont worry about making a potable shot.

I had thought about putting the object ball there but I didn't want to beat up one spot on my bottom rail that much. I guess getting one of these breakrack things would be best.

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

but, doesnt everybody use a different "stroke/technique" for the break shot as opposed to just a regular shot?

watch Archer break, its no ways near close to his regular stroke. so i would suggest, however you practice the break, to hit it in the same manner you would the break shot.

J.R,
i think your original shot/practice idea is good, its similar to what Tom Rossman told me about practicing the break shot. but you need to shoot that shot the very same way you hit the break shot.

just my $.02
DCP

 

[Purdman]

BreakRak

I had thought about putting the object ball there but I didn't want to beat up one spot on my bottom rail that much. I guess getting one of these breakrack things would be best.

Hey Captain, I have a BreakRak sitting around somewhere. Would you like to borrow it? I am in VA. I head up to Lancaster from time to time. I like the product. I'm not sure where you live.
Purdman

 

[CaptainJR]

Hey Captain, I have a BreakRak sitting around somewhere. Would you like to borrow it? I am in VA. I head up to Lancaster from time to time. I like the product. I'm not sure where you live.
Purdman

Just bring it along. We'll have some beer hit a couple balls and I'll try this contraption. Then I'll know if I want to buy one. I'm in Dillsburg Pa. Just a little north of York Pa. Which is just a little west of Lancaster. Next time your coming up give me a message here a couple days in advance and see if we can get together. Which way do you come into Lancaster?

 

[Fred Agnir]

Just bring it along. We'll have some beer hit a couple balls and I'll try this contraption. Then I'll know if I want to buy one. I'm in Dillsburg Pa. Just a little north of York Pa. Which is just a little west of Lancaster. Next time your coming up give me a message here a couple days in advance and see if we can get together. Which way do you come into Lancaster?

My BreakRAK Review

Fred

 

[Blackjack]

The the following links I have two excerpts from Lessons in 9 Ball. These two sections deal with the break specifically.

Breaking to Win

This is the book version of the same article that is available on this website. It gives the most effective break, as well as some to stay away from.

This section:
Mastering The Break

goes hand in hand with the first section. This section goes into body mechanics, body alignment, transfer of energy, and the full extension of your body on the follow through.

These points of interest are what you should concentrate on. I cover accuracy, aand in short, I say develop the accuracy first, the power later.

A few years ago I spoke to ceebee about the BreakRak. The one major flaw that I saw with the version of the product at that time was that the p[layer was hitting a semi-stationary object. The balls react differently on every break shot, and it also varies from table to table. I failed to see (with that version of the BreakRak) how it could improve your break shot, especially when you could not evaluate the result of your break (Cue ball position, spread of balls, pocketing balls). I am not slamming the product, I just believe that there is no substitute in practice for racking, breaking and running out.

The methods I teach and the points that I cover in those two sections are the same that I teach to my students - and they work. Ask Jenifer Chen, Karen Corr, or Ga Young Kim... you don't have to be built like a linebacker to effectively use what I teach about the break. It takes time, patience and dedication. There are no short cuts.

 

[Williebetmore]

The methods I teach and the points that I cover in those two sections are the same that I teach to my students - and they work. Ask Jenifer Chen, Karen Corr, or Ga Young Kim... you don't have to be built like a linebacker to effectively use what I teach about the break. It takes time, patience and dedication. There are no short cuts.

Blackjack,
Thanks a lot for the EXCELLENT articles on breaking. As a straight pool geek, it really irks me to have to spend any time at all on breaking the balls, but I guess it is a necessary evil. For others out there with wimpy breaks, I can point out that I have had lessons for 2 1/2 years from a former top 10 pro, whose advice on breaking seems to be identical to Blackjack's. This pro has a truly powerful break, but he only uses whatever power necessary for the table (the goal being to make a ball and have whitey in the middle of the table). It was very interesting that in our first lesson on breaking he had me emulate the setup and stroke of Johnny Archer (using the principles you describe in your article) and not himself (my physique is very similar to Johnny's and not to my instructor). Thanks again.

 

[sniper]

Thanks a bundle for the article blackjack, I have always liked your articles and your knowledge of the game. As a player with a weak break and a table that breaks extremely hard to boot I am usually mystified by the break shot, I will try your advice and see if it helps.

 

[CaptainJR]

The the following links I have two excerpts from Lessons in 9 Ball. These two sections deal with the break specifically.

Breaking to Win

This is the book version of the same article that is available on this website. It gives the most effective break, as well as some to stay away from.

This section:
Mastering The Break

goes hand in hand with the first section. This section goes into body mechanics, body alignment, transfer of energy, and the full extension of your body on the follow through.

These points of interest are what you should concentrate on. I cover accuracy, aand in short, I say develop the accuracy first, the power later.

A few years ago I spoke to ceebee about the BreakRak. The one major flaw that I saw with the version of the product at that time was that the p[layer was hitting a semi-stationary object. The balls react differently on every break shot, and it also varies from table to table. I failed to see (with that version of the BreakRak) how it could improve your break shot, especially when you could not evaluate the result of your break (Cue ball position, spread of balls, pocketing balls). I am not slamming the product, I just believe that there is no substitute in practice for racking, breaking and running out.

The methods I teach and the points that I cover in those two sections are the same that I teach to my students - and they work. Ask Jenifer Chen, Karen Corr, or Ga Young Kim... you don't have to be built like a linebacker to effectively use what I teach about the break. It takes time, patience and dedication. There are no short cuts.

Blackjack

Thank you vary much. I'm going to really take your articles seriously. I've always seen people use that type of break but never seen it explained completely like that. And didn't know exactly where they were aiming, etc. I still think I can use the shot I originally posted to see generally to find out the hardest I can control the shot, then take a little off that to make sure. Then I'll know I'm in a safe speed zone.

Thanks again
JR