Need help with 8-ball break on the bar box.
- Thread starter mattman
- Start date
Working from the assumption: ALL hard break shots have some hop to them (I believe this to be true), there are a few things which can help:
1. Hit softer, removing the hop entirely (but getting crappy breaks from non-perfect racks or on bad tables).
2. Level your cue as much as possible to reduce the hop (I moved my bridge onto the table, helped a lot).
3. Move your CB toward the center of the table to minimize the damage done by the hop.
4. Learn just the right power to have the CB return to the table at the same time as hitting the rack.
Until you can do #4, rely on #1-3 for competition. Some days it takes me a while to find my break shot, but #4 usually comes around to play eventually.
-s
edit: your 9' break may be a one-hopper, but I don't think that's a good idea on a barbox. Without slo-mo video, it's hard to tell. On your home table you can look at the marks on the cloth, if you're one-hopping it will be visible in the wear. In that case, you may actually need to hit it harder
1. Hit softer, removing the hop entirely (but getting crappy breaks from non-perfect racks or on bad tables).
2. Level your cue as much as possible to reduce the hop (I moved my bridge onto the table, helped a lot).
3. Move your CB toward the center of the table to minimize the damage done by the hop.
4. Learn just the right power to have the CB return to the table at the same time as hitting the rack.
Until you can do #4, rely on #1-3 for competition. Some days it takes me a while to find my break shot, but #4 usually comes around to play eventually.
-s
edit: your 9' break may be a one-hopper, but I don't think that's a good idea on a barbox. Without slo-mo video, it's hard to tell. On your home table you can look at the marks on the cloth, if you're one-hopping it will be visible in the wear. In that case, you may actually need to hit it harder
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resources
Although A-Zers are generally the final & most reliable authority, Charley Bond's book The Great Break Shot is quite comprehensive & includes Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets inserted as Chapter 6. Also, R. Givens 8 Ball Bible
devotes serious attention to "bar boxes."
Although I am intimidated by your 18/2 win loss ratio, my humble speculation is that you might be pumped during competition & attempting to "kill" the ball on the break, which is not the case in the tranquility of your home.
mattman said:Here's the deal. I have a GCI at home and practice a lot. When friends come by, combined with playing with the wife, I get to practice my break
Here's the problem. League started 5 weeks ago. I am play fairly well, won 18 out 20 games. Out of those 20 games, I broke 10 times. Out of those 10 times I broke, I have knocked the CB off the table maybe 3 or 4 times....not good percentages. The CB goes up in the air and usually either bounces on the table and then off, or strikes another ball on the way down and bounces off the table. It has always been near the center of the table when it flies off, so I am fairly certain that I am hitting the first ball dead on. I usually break straight down the middle and use the rail as a bridge. I get better breaks this way, vs on the head spot. The CB is about 8"-10" off the rail. Tip position is aimed just a hair below center.
Do you think either I am just hitting it too hard and/or because the balls are dirty they stick more? Do you usually slow down your break on the bar boxes?
At home, on my 9ft table, I seldem see whitey jump off the table, let alone land on the floor. And when it does happen, it's usually because I fail to hit the head ball square.
Any advice?
Mattman
Although A-Zers are generally the final & most reliable authority, Charley Bond's book The Great Break Shot is quite comprehensive & includes Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets inserted as Chapter 6. Also, R. Givens 8 Ball Bible
devotes serious attention to "bar boxes."
Although I am intimidated by your 18/2 win loss ratio, my humble speculation is that you might be pumped during competition & attempting to "kill" the ball on the break, which is not the case in the tranquility of your home.
Bar boxes are notorious for a big crater in the spot. If so the c/b will hop or fly because the head ball sits lower than the c/b.
As mentioned check if your cue is to elevated and bridge the cue flat on the rail. Hit the head ball dead square.
If these conditions are met you need not worry about anything else.
Rod
As mentioned check if your cue is to elevated and bridge the cue flat on the rail. Hit the head ball dead square.
If these conditions are met you need not worry about anything else.
Rod