i have tried several ways to fix my break and cant seem to find a spot that works consistantly any input on what I can do would be great.
I break with a Players JB5 cue
I break with a Players JB5 cue
Ideas to fix my break
- Thread starter 8BALLDELUXE
- Start date
Every rack is unique. You are human. Expecting every rack to break well for you is a waste of time. You WILL have off days. There are things you can do to improve your break.
Make sure you hit the cueball along the vertical axis.
Make sure you hit the target ball as close to center as possible.
Don't sacrifice accuracy for added speed. Hitting the rack poorly is worse than hitting it softly.
Use a lighter break cue. 25oz will only wear you out.
Make sure you hit the cueball along the vertical axis.
Make sure you hit the target ball as close to center as possible.
Don't sacrifice accuracy for added speed. Hitting the rack poorly is worse than hitting it softly.
Use a lighter break cue. 25oz will only wear you out.
8ball is the game sir.
i am practicing my break when I am done here.
i am practicing my break when I am done here.
The two things that really help me are not trying to hit it 100 mph and focusing on the center of the cue ball through my stroke. The second one has made the biggest impact on my control on the break. I can usually keep the cue ball squatted pretty good. Seems like I hit the break alot more accurate when I stare at the cue ball then when I look at the rack or toggle back and forth. After I line the cue up I don't even look back at the rack, it's not goin anywhere, and it seems to work well for me.
What really helped my break was to watch svb and larry nevel on youtube. Granted they have different breaks, but I took a little of each to help improve my break. Now instead of doing the "same old stroke/shot," I mix it up. I like to elevate the cue on my final back swing and level it out on the follow through with putting my legs and body into play. It was hard to adjust. I had a lot of miscues at first. Now my break is solid and strong. Now I have to work on the rest of my game :smile:
If you're playing 8 ball I'm assuming barbox, if you're on a barbox, as other posters have said, you might have better luck backing off the power a bit. Youtube some bar table tourneys and you'll see a lot of guys use the 2nd ball break. That works well for me. 6 weeks into league season and had my first dry break this week. Experiment, you'll figure it out.
Take just the cue ball and try to hit it straight up table and back. (Hard enough to hit at least 3 but preferably 4 rails.) Saves alot of time in racking, and if you can do that you should have no trouble breaking.
Sometimes the cue ball bounces into the head ball but you cant really tell(thats bad). So also try moving the cue ball around to different spots, or back towards the rail to change the bounce. (Break as level as you can to cut down on the bounce.)
Sometimes the cue ball bounces into the head ball but you cant really tell(thats bad). So also try moving the cue ball around to different spots, or back towards the rail to change the bounce. (Break as level as you can to cut down on the bounce.)
2nd ball break works great for me on a 9 footer, too.
Great point. Bouncing cue ball loses energy, not so bad for 9 ball, horrible for 8...plus the most likely way to scratch on the break.
as said by some wise guy...some tables just don't break well, many of those don't rack very well either.
Are you playing on the same table all or often?
Also, there is a cheating device available. It is called the magic rack.
Are you playing on the same table all or often?
Also, there is a cheating device available. It is called the magic rack.
Stop looking for the spot and start looking for the shot. Here is a place to start. The break is a shot like any other. The primary concern is accuracy and control. Put an object ball on line even with the spot to the right or left. Put the cue ball in the kitchen lined up for a straight in shot on the object ball you just placed. What you are going for is a stun through shot. You want the cue ball to roll through a couple of turns down the line and die. The cue ball should not step off to the side after impact. It should proceed down the same line the object ball took to the pocket.
The maximum speed you can make that shot is your maximum baseline break speed. If you go above that speed you sacrifice accuracy. How much does it fall off? This is information you need to know. Know what the trade offs are for your stroke. Ignore how the professionals break. You do not have their stroke and they do not have yours.
Different tables play different speeds. The same table will play a different speed on a different day. Respond to what the table is telling you and make adjustments. Develop more than one break shot. Are you coming off the rack to the side rail or crossing over to the other side? Dying in the middle or pulling back off the rack? Where do you want the one ball to go? Hit the rail above or below the side pocket? Where is the two ball? Where is the two ball going to go based on it's current position in the rack? Do you want the one ball on the same side of the table as the two or the opposite side?
These are all shots that must be delivered with power, accuracy and control. If you do not have a consistent shot to measure the table with, how will you be able to adapt? If you are just up there gripping and ripping it looking for the magic spot, good luck. You will still be looking for consistency after I am long gone.
I understand that consistancy on the break is impossible. Lately I have had a heck of a problem getting anything to fall, maybe 1 rack out of 5?
Last night at home I was trying the 2nd ball break as someone had mentioned and it worked well but was having some control issues on the CB. Accuarcy and speed control are things I have to work on espically on the break.
Practice, Practice and once I think I have it, practice more...
Last night at home I was trying the 2nd ball break as someone had mentioned and it worked well but was having some control issues on the CB. Accuarcy and speed control are things I have to work on espically on the break.
Practice, Practice and once I think I have it, practice more...
My home table racks for $hit too.
I must have missed that lesson. I am glad I did. Try one of these and tell me it's impossible.
http://breakrak.com/
FYI, lots of excellent advice, with video demonstrations, can be found here:
Good luck,
Dave
8 ball on barbox i like to shoot about half a diamond out, bridging on the rail and hitting the 2nd ball as square as possible using center ball (any lower and whitey usually pops off the table) and with fairly soft speed.
On 9 footers I recently discovered that breaking about half a diamond out from the foot spot (either side) using about half tip of bottom and aiming square at the head ball always gets the wing ball as well as a very good spread. I try to stroke through cleanly and probably don't even exceed 8mph on my hit. A good tight rack seems to do the spreading work for me much more than power (which I think tends to get balls clustered against rails).
On 9 footers I recently discovered that breaking about half a diamond out from the foot spot (either side) using about half tip of bottom and aiming square at the head ball always gets the wing ball as well as a very good spread. I try to stroke through cleanly and probably don't even exceed 8mph on my hit. A good tight rack seems to do the spreading work for me much more than power (which I think tends to get balls clustered against rails).