How to prevent Burn Mark on Felt during Break

efirkey

efirkey

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I just bought a Predator BK2 and after two days of play I have noticed that during my break shot I am leaving a burn mark about 8 to 10 inches long on the table. I feel bad about doing this and don't want to leave these marks on the table.

I have been playing for 30 years and before I got the Predator BK2 I never noticed these marks before - certainly not to this degree. I am an experienced player and have hit thousands and thousands of break shots.

I have read on other threads that this can be caused by poor technique. What tips can you guys give for proper breaking technique to prevent this? I paid too much money for this cue not to use it and in the couple days I used it I have noticed that my break is definitely better.
 
Your follow through is going down on the cloth. Is there a curve to the mark? Left curve or right curve? Try keeping your back hand low on your follow through.

You could try taking the shape edge off the tip of your break cue. Just round it off with some sand paper.
 
Some of the places I play at, require you to use a break cloth underneath the cueball on the break. It does help some but will still leave a trail.
 
efirkey said:
I just bought a Predator BK2 and after two days of play I have noticed that during my break shot I am leaving a burn mark about 8 to 10 inches long on the table. I feel bad about doing this and don't want to leave these marks on the table.

I have been playing for 30 years and before I got the Predator BK2 I never noticed these marks before - certainly not to this degree. I am an experienced player and have hit thousands and thousands of break shots.

I have read on other threads that this can be caused by poor technique. What tips can you guys give for proper breaking technique to prevent this? I paid too much money for this cue not to use it and in the couple days I used it I have noticed that my break is definitely better.
Click to expand...

I have a friend how is really anal about his cloth and will insist that you break with a small swatch under the ball. This will not prevent what you are talking about, but it does slow down the white spots the ball leaves when breaking.
 
I use a break cloth on my home table, usually not out at the bar/hall though. It def does help, but like Tom said when I am making a mark it is usually due to the follow through rather than the cue
 
does the table you are playing on have cheap balls? i had junk balls on my home table for a while and burned my cloth up pretty good. now i have super aramiths and no more burn marks.
 
I accept the burn marks on my table cloth. It gives the table character.

It's not a bad thing. :smile:
 
Burn Art!!

TX Poolnut said:
I accept the burn marks on my table cloth. It gives the table character.

It's not a bad thing. :smile:
Click to expand...

If you moved your breaking point every so often you could create BURN ART. Like you said give your table some character!!
:rolleyes::smile::smile:
 
I don't know if the balls are cheap or not. This was at two different pool halls.

The mark does curve a little, but I can't remember which direction. I want to say to the left.

I like the advice about curving the edge of the tip. I may give this a try.

I have tried to not leave the mark by concentrating on keeping my swing arm low but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Maybe I could raise my bridge a little and see if that doesn't make a difference. But I can't raise the bridge when breaking from the rail.
 
I actually try to leave the mark for as long as possible. I litteraly throw myself at the table on a 9 footer from the head string I can get within 12-16 inches of the rack. On an 8 its rediculous, I might as well hit the rack!!! LOL

I am under the impresion that this break is unnecessary but so is being crazy about pool, so......

I only have this break when Im trying to look rediculous

Generally my line would be 8-12 inches long and all of them would be within 2-3 inches, unless im breaking poorly.:mad:

If thats the case watch out who knows what ill hit or who>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>FORE!!!!!!!!
 
I sanded down the edge of the tip to make it more curved and I didn't notice any burn marks on the tables I played on yesterday. It was in a different pool hall so I don't know if the cloth or balls may have made a difference, but I certainly didn't leave any marks on the table out of the normal.
 
Break wear

If you are leaving break marks you're breaking properly.
Pinoys are using break papers which helps the initial damage
but doesn't avoid the follow-through wear.Sigel's follow-through
slid along the cloth for over a foot.
The old Grand Touring rooms barred 8 and 9-ball on their best tables.
This is not a bad idea for a private table.Straight pool and 1-pocket
will leave the cloth in good shape for years.
 
pt109 said:
The old Grand Touring rooms barred 8 and 9-ball on their best tables.
This is not a bad idea for a private table.Straight pool and 1-pocket
will leave the cloth in good shape for years.
Click to expand...

A friend of mine, now deceased, had an 8 table room in Endicott, NY for a bit called Situation Billiards. The front table was Straight Pool and One Pocket only.
 
Pushout said:
A friend of mine, now deceased, had an 8 table room in Endicott, NY for a bit called Situation Billiards. The front table was Straight Pool and One Pocket only.
Click to expand...

Is it that room on the main drag with Anniversaries?
I love that place with Lee Sibley and all.Bugsy played there
also.Good bunch of guys.
 
Put you opponents hand under the Cue ball, like a break cloth. really prevents wear. Its liek a tee in golf
 
Tom In Cincy said:
Your follow through is going down on the cloth. Is there a curve to the mark? Left curve or right curve? Try keeping your back hand low on your follow through.

You could try taking the shape edge off the tip of your break cue. Just round it off with some sand paper.
Click to expand...

the break marks i have are way down table from where the cue ball lands.
break cloth will not help this.
 
efirkey said:
I just bought a Predator BK2 and after two days of play I have noticed that during my break shot I am leaving a burn mark about 8 to 10 inches long on the table. I feel bad about doing this and don't want to leave these marks on the table.

I have been playing for 30 years and before I got the Predator BK2 I never noticed these marks before - certainly not to this degree. I am an experienced player and have hit thousands and thousands of break shots.

I have read on other threads that this can be caused by poor technique. What tips can you guys give for proper breaking technique to prevent this? I paid too much money for this cue not to use it and in the couple days I used it I have noticed that my break is definitely better.
Click to expand...

I use a patch of simonis on my home table to break from to avoid a burn mark. Prior to using it, I would develop a hole on my table after about 3 - 4 months because I always break from the same spot.

You can also see the "burn line" pattern from where I break to the break spot.

I have found that people who break properly or with some speed will develop these burn marks. If you go to a pool room with players, you will notice these marks on the tables; however, if you go to a pool room with casual players you will not see these types of marks on the table.
 
ctyhntr said:
I have some table cloth scraps. How big should a break patch be?
Click to expand...

Just a small square. Nothing huge. I generally don't measure so I can't say exactly, but it is just a small square where if the cue ball is in the middle you have about an inch on each of the four sides sticking out.
 
i was making 7 to 12 in marks and felt bad about it. i tried to change my break so i dont do it and ive been screwed up ever since. :frown:
 
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