Making the Headball in 9-Ball

Zphix

Zphix

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Can anyone explain to me how making the headball in 9-ball works?

Where to break from, how to adjust if the one ball is coming up short, long, etc. I know a few players that do it regularly and I haven't been around one of those guys recently enough to ask them.

Ordinarily, I use Joe Tucker's advice on picking apart a 9-ball rack to determine where to break from but I'd like to learn the headball in the side break. So, if anybody can give me some information on it, I'd appreciate it!

-Richard
 
I've noticed the pros usually try for the one in the side on a 9 ball break, but only when the 9 is placed on the spot. If the one on the spot, then the usual wingball in the corner break is used.

If only I could do that...:(
 
I place the cue ball about a ball’s width from the rail next to the second diamond, hit about a half tip below center ball, aiming to drive the one ball straight through the wing ball. If it doesn’t go in the side there’s a good chance it will bank into the corner you are breaking from. This is with the one ball racked over the spot. I’ve never played a game with the nine ball racked over the spot, which I assume is done to make it tougher to make the one in the side.
 
Imotv8u said:
... I’ve never played a game with the nine ball racked over the spot, which I assume is done to make it tougher to make the one in the side.
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The nine was moved to the spot to avoid the wing ball being dead with a perfectly tight rack, such as a template rack.

As for the OPs question, if you are not getting consistent racks, such as the front three always frozen, it will be harder to break consistently. You will need to adapt your break to the rack you are dealing with.
 
Here is some info to help you find what you are looking for.

As you Break from the side rail, shooting straight at the 1-Ball, it wants to go to the opposite side rail on the far side of the side pocket.

As you move the Cue Ball toward the middle of the table, to break, the 1-ball starts hitting the opposite side rail back up toward the side pocket & even beyond, depending on where you strike the 1-Ball with the Cue Ball.

Good Luck....
 
Yesterday was the first time I ever played 9-ball with the 9 being placed on the spot. We were using an Accu-rack and I was making the wing ball in the corner quite often.

I keep hearing that the 9-on-the-spot was supposed to cure that, but it didn't seem to make much difference yesterday.
 
HawaiianEye said:
Yesterday was the first time I ever played 9-ball with the 9 being placed on the spot. We were using an Accu-rack and I was making the wing ball in the corner quite often.

I keep hearing that the 9-on-the-spot was supposed to cure that, but it didn't seem to make much difference yesterday.
Click to expand...

With a racking template, my experience has been both the one and the wing balls go pretty consistently. In some Asian tournaments I watched on YouTube, they might as well play 7-ball. Others have said it's tougher to control the cueball since a cut is normally needed, I haven't found that to be the case as well.
 
Bob Jewett said:
The nine was moved to the spot to avoid the wing ball being dead with a perfectly tight rack, such as a template rack.

As for the OPs question, if you are not getting consistent racks, such as the front three always frozen, it will be harder to break consistently. You will need to adapt your break to the rack you are dealing with.
Click to expand...
Thanks for clarifying that for me, Bob. That wing ball has been hammered in the corner many times with the one ball on the spot. I guess I need to practice breaking both ways. By the way, I’d like to thank you for the informative articles and videos that you and Dr. Dave have provided. I study them nearly everyday and have learned a lot from them.
 
I always break from the side rail about 4 or 5 inches away from the side. Watch where the one goes when heading to the side pocket.

Rule of thumb if you are consistent on where you are hitting the head ball.

Cueball towards the center moves it up. Cueball towards the rail moves it down.

So if I do my break correctly. I make the wing ball and the one ball in the side opposite of where I stand. If my one ball misses the side pocket by a half inch on the top side. Then my next break, I move towards the center about a inch.

I also agree with Bob... It all depends upon you being consistent and the person racking you.
 
HawaiianEye said:
Yesterday was the first time I ever played 9-ball with the 9 being placed on the spot. We were using an Accu-rack and I was making the wing ball in the corner quite often.

I keep hearing that the 9-on-the-spot was supposed to cure that, but it didn't seem to make much difference yesterday.
Click to expand...
The wing ball can go fast and clean with the 9 on the spot if the back ball is manipulated a little. Jayson Shaw gave a demo of that before the 2016 US Open 9-Ball so that players would be able to protect themselves. The tournament was rack your own with a template. I saw at least two players manipulate the back ball during the tournament. Only one of them was called on it by his opponent.

Usually with the 9 on the spot and a tight rack the wing ball only goes with a lot of traffic and kissing. Sometimes you have to feather the back ball up to the rack to get it tight with a template.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone!

Like I said, I usually check the rack to look for the gaps and I use that to determine where I break from. But, I played one of the better 9s in our league and I noticed he was consistently making the one in the side and squatting the cueball in the middle of the table.

When I fall back on the Joe Tucker stuff and move around the cueball to make a wing ball go then I'll usually make a ball on the break but I don't end up with solid opening shots most of the time.

Anyway, that nine is a friend of mine but I haven't seen him recently enough to ask him what he's doing. So, figured I'd ask on here and get opinions/feedback from everyone.
 
Ah, and in case it's relevant - this is on 7 foot Diamonds for the most part!
 
Bob Jewett said:
The wing ball can go fast and clean with the 9 on the spot if the back ball is manipulated a little. Jayson Shaw gave a demo of that before the 2016 US Open 9-Ball so that players would be able to protect themselves. The tournament was rack your own with a template. I saw at least two players manipulate the back ball during the tournament. Only one of them was called on it by his opponent.

Usually with the 9 on the spot and a tight rack the wing ball only goes with a lot of traffic and kissing. Sometimes you have to feather the back ball up to the rack to get it tight with a template.
Click to expand...

The back ball should touch one side, with the gap on the side you are favoring?


Eric
 
Eric. said:
The back ball should touch one side, with the gap on the side you are favoring?


Eric
Click to expand...
That's the way I understood it. You make that side weaker so the wing ball goes through a little more.
 
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