I am such a sissy.

I'm not sure where you are gripping your cue but you might be surprised at your speed increase if you choke up some on the but.
A friend downloaded this app last week while we were at a tournamentand my speed went from the 18 to 22.6
Also remember to hit dead center cue call and Follow thru.I do believe the
wrist snap increases speed also.


This is good! Choking up on the cue will add some snap to your break speed. I like to compare the break shot to a karate punch that you throw your body into. Think of moving your entire body back on the back swing and forward when following through. That way you put your whole body into the break. That's why you see guys with their cues high in the air and appear to be leaping over the table on their follow through. That's a big break!

P.S. A center ball hit on the cue ball helps a lot. One tip off center and you've lost a lot of forward momentum. It's harder than you think to hit center ball with a powerful stroke. Only the best breakers can do it.
 
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Bought my copy of the break speed app and I can't hit 20 mph to save my life. It feels like I have to really try hard to hit 19.

I know it's just a number, and accuracy is more important. I know.

Setting that old lecture aside, what can I do to at least hit 20 mph? Just once. Don't care if it even flies off the table. Then I can go back to the controlled breaks that I'm supposed to practice.

I notice I get best results when I basically don't try new things :/ I tried leaning more forward, straightening the back leg, torquing the hips, adjusting the bridge length etc... and the results were always worse than when I just do it the way I naturally figured out over the years.

But then, if new things don't work... I may never break harder than 19 (more usually 17.5) mph. That sucks, there are 12 year old girls hitting 'em harder than that.

You try putting your purse down before you break? might be throwing your balance off!
 
Just try this next time to test the waters:
1) Choke up a little (hand width or so). Just trust me.
2) Narrow your stance a little by bringing your back foot forward 6". Just trust me.
3) RELAX!
4) Draw the cue back slower than normal & let your hips rotate slightly with it.
5) RELAX!
6) Snap your hips and THEN snap your arm.
7) Snap your wrist just prior to contact (try this only after getting comfortable with the above).

If none of the above helps, you've simply reached YOUR limit.

By rotating your hips you will be loading a "spring". By snapping your hips first, you release the "spring" in your arm ON TOP OF the "spring" in your hips for maximum whip. Add the "spring" in your wrist & you'll achieve maximum speed.

About relaxing...anxiety & tension are speed killers. Remember the karate adage....relaxed=fast, fast=power. The more you try to punch "hard" the slower/less powerful you will be. You do not have to be muscle bound to be a powerful breaker. It's about speed, not biceps.

This is how you will gain those last few mph's.
 
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damn, lots of good advice here to try out. number one on my to do list is the wrist snap. will also try mosconiac's method. I have watched hillbilly's video but it's been a while since I saw colin's. I can't seem to get the hip turn, every time i tried I busted out 15's :/


I'm gonna try everything here for as long as I can stand it. I'm definitely getting my money's worth out of this app.

I will try poolplaya's idea and put down my purse. I'll also try hitting it with my tampon/tube of vagisil next time.
 
i'm about thirty breaks into this session and i can't help feeling like this is a waste of time. i never played with wrist twisting body turning theatrics before. now i'm supposed to use them while swinging at my hardest? i must be mentally sabotaging myself because deep down i don't believe that stuff is contributing to hard breaks. and how the fck do you aim when you turn your entire body sideways and try to whip your wrist forward? that's brought me about ten miscues so far and my best hit is still 19. there has to be something i'm missing. back to it.
 
Be the ball. None of us do it the same. Soon, you will answer you own questions. Hit many many balls. It will come.
 
I got a free version of break speed, and as the gentelmen above me said, it gives range of two numbers, i'm trying to believe that its accurate, which isn't the case because it gave me these range, 25 MPH - 29 MPH, wonder what is my break speed is at.
 
asbani - the free version can be up to 5 mph off in either direction. So maybe you're getting +5 mph every time. Even so that's a very good speed. Just pay the 6 dollars to get a true number :)

I finally broke 20, but to do it I had to go back to breaking the way I spent about 9 years breaking... from the rail. I just can't get as much speed with a closed bridge at the kitchen. I can't swing the stick as far or as freely it feels like. There's more chafe on my hand than there is sliding on the rail. In fact breaking from the rail I got lots of 19's. But after a zillion breaks from the line... only one 19. I tried turning the hips and snapping the wrist every time and all I got for it were tons of miscues.

Seriously, who wants to take 100 bucks to get me at or over 20 mph consistently, with or without control? I'll buy your gas too. I can't be completely unteachable.
 
Seriously, who wants to take 100 bucks to get me at or over 20 mph consistently, with or without control? I'll buy your gas too. I can't be completely unteachable.

Sign me up. Just forward a credit card number to me, gas will be expensive from here.

Ive tried the app a few times on a friends droid, Ive had 22-24 and change but not above. This is an 8 ball rack, 9 ball I dont break nearly as hard, dont need to.

You dont need to be a huge guy to have a big break, Im maybe 5'5 and 125lbs. (and not filipino!)

Good luck with your break.
 
lewis, when you occasionally hit a ball rough and the speed is less, what is it you're not doing, or what did you do wrong? Someone mentioned hitting off center, I've found that to be true. Somehow hitting a ball with topspin seems to make the rack react as if you hit 10 mph lower.

Do you consciously try to flick your wrist? Or turn your hips into it?
 
What's the weight of your break cue ? Try a lighter one.

RELAX. The harder I wanna hit something the more relaxed and loose I try and feel. Specially in the hands and shoulders. Do a couple shoulder rolls and let them settle down too.

Contrary to some , I actually grip farther back on the cue.

I also pause at the very back of the stroke, this allows my body to start moving forward first and with a standard bridge it acually straightens my back arm out more than the bridge would allow.

Lastly , and the most important , is a solid hit. No secrets for that. :).
 
lewis, when you occasionally hit a ball rough and the speed is less, what is it you're not doing, or what did you do wrong? Someone mentioned hitting off center, I've found that to be true. Somehow hitting a ball with topspin seems to make the rack react as if you hit 10 mph lower.

Do you consciously try to flick your wrist? Or turn your hips into it?

Ive practiced my break for hours on end (really boring, fyi) so I usually hit where I want to on the cue ball. My misshit is tops and I go down to around 18-19.

I put everything into the break for 8 ball, hips, feet, arms, shoulders etc. I have really fast hands and a good hip turn from years of boxing so I think that helps a lot. Unfortunately I play with my non dominant hand or I think I could actually break harder if I could figure out how to bridge with my left hand. I dont consciously use a wrist flick, it could happen but I dont do it on purpose.

Keep up the work,
 
Seriously, who wants to take 100 bucks to get me at or over 20 mph consistently, with or without control? I'll buy your gas too. I can't be completely unteachable.


Ok try this and then send me the $100 when it works.

Don't go full speed while trying all these new techniques your reading about........do a couple drills first...

Start out by hitting breaks from the "loaded" position...start from your full backswing "loaded" position and hit break shots at about 1/2 speed....(work on accuracy through the CB)

Then do full routine half speed for about 10 breaks....(while working on your accuracy and technique) then ramp it up to about 3/4 speed for about 10 breaks....(while working on your accuracy and technique).....then go full speed.

My guess is that at 3/4 speed you will be at or greater than the 20mph consistently.

An added plus would be to set up a video camera so you can review your tecnique afterward.....

PM me when you are done and I will reply with my address.....:wink:
 
brk - I'll try it. I have video on the phone, maybe someone will spot what I'm doing.

Sometimes I think the problem is just that I learned the wrong (well, not wrong but a less effective) break for 9 years and I just can't break the habit. I broke other bad habits and over time it became natural to shoot shots the 'right' way. But I can't even come close to feeling natural breaking from a closed bridge.
 
brk - I'll try it. I have video on the phone, maybe someone will spot what I'm doing.

Sometimes I think the problem is just that I learned the wrong (well, not wrong but a less effective) break for 9 years and I just can't break the habit. I broke other bad habits and over time it became natural to shoot shots the 'right' way. But I can't even come close to feeling natural breaking from a closed bridge.

i think the answer you've completely overlooked is the simplest. Let your boyfriend show you how it's done. then you can copy what he does!
 
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