Need help with the break

jalapus logan

be all. and supports it to
Silver Member
I just got the predator break app and it is telling me what I already know...my break sux and is too slow. I'm hitting them square and controlling the cueball, but not pocketing a ball on the break as much as I'd like. I used to break rotation games better, but I've spent years playing onepocket and 9 ball with the magic rack breaking slow and potting the wing ball. Not my preferred way to play 9 ball, but my regular opponents play this way for years.

Anyway, I'm going to try to get my break north of 20 mph with control. I've just started reading Dr. Dave's online break material. Any other resources I should try out?

Thanks,

JL
 
I made video some time ago about break(2016) I am a lot better breaker today.. Still same advice applies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv_x3AxK5-Q

Make sure your table size and cue ball placement matches what is on the app. What size table do you play on? I find I get excellent spread and make balls at 18.5 mph. But thats on a 7 foot. Whenever i get to 20, I lose consistency and end up with clusters. I have a hard time getting to 20 some days. So I just stick to 18.5 to 19 for best results.
 
Give a closer bridge a try and reach all the way back on your cue. Switch locations if one is not working. Drive the cue ball to the pack and always keep an eye on what the cue ball is doing after in order to make adjustments.
 
I just got the predator break app and it is telling me what I already know...my break sux and is too slow. I'm hitting them square and controlling the cueball, but not pocketing a ball on the break as much as I'd like. I used to break rotation games better, but I've spent years playing onepocket and 9 ball with the magic rack breaking slow and potting the wing ball. Not my preferred way to play 9 ball, but my regular opponents play this way for years.

Anyway, I'm going to try to get my break north of 20 mph with control. I've just started reading Dr. Dave's online break material. Any other resources I should try out?

Thanks,

JL

Lift weights and get stronger.
I'm 71 and out of shape and i hit em at 19+ mph.
 
Lift weights and get stronger.
I'm 71 and out of shape and i hit em at 19+ mph.

Strength/physical power has little to do with it.

Sarah Rousey, 5' tall, 100lbs soaking wet can hit the rack over 30mph. Timing and technique is the key. ;)
 
Thanks fellas. Part of my dilemma is that I had been practicing less and working more in the past several years and my muscle memory for the break has faded. Anyway, I'll check out those resources and put in some table time and hopefully I'll see some improvement.

On my home table, it is impossible to get a tight rack, due to 8 + year old cloth. You can really feel the divets in the rack area. Way past time to get the table recovered, but I'm holding out for yet another full year in order to build by new house then move the table in and have it recovered. Hopefully it will be worth the wait - the house, not the table..:smile:
 
Thanks fellas. Part of my dilemma is that I had been practicing less and working more in the past several years and my muscle memory for the break has faded. Anyway, I'll check out those resources and put in some table time and hopefully I'll see some improvement.

On my home table, it is impossible to get a tight rack, due to 8 + year old cloth. You can really feel the divets in the rack area. Way past time to get the table recovered, but I'm holding out for yet another full year in order to build by new house then move the table in and have it recovered. Hopefully it will be worth the wait - the house, not the table..:smile:

As far as the table goes, heres something you can try if you want. Take a damp wash cloth, and wipe the rack area down well. You dont want to wet the the table cloth until it sopping wet, just slightly damp.

Rack the balls, then tap them in. You might need another set of hands for this step. Once you have tapped them, everything should be setting tight. Let them stay where they are until the table dries.

Dr Dave has a page on his site about "training" a table, this is the same principle, just with the aid of dampening the cloth first. Im only suggesting this as you stated that its an older cloth and needs replaced.

A buddy of mine who has owned a few pool halls did this every time he recovered his tables. I personally wouldnt do it to a new/newer cloth, but he seemed to like it.
 
Strength/physical power has little to do with it.

Sarah Rousey, 5' tall, 100lbs soaking wet can hit the rack over 30mph. Timing and technique is the key. ;)

Wow...lol...um...I remember being surprised to hear 25, then I heard 27. Its up to over 30 now huh? Very impressive. She does break hard. And the velocity of her cue is absolutely and exactly power. What you mean is you don't need a lot of physical strength in any one dimension. A break shot is a coordinated movement, like a golf swing. The mph of your break is exactly determined by your cuetip velocity at impact, which requires the exact amount of power that it does, no more no less. You could be an olympic weighlifter that's super strong, but all that matters is the amount of velocity you can produce in the tip of your break cue straight through the cueball. Saying it doesn't require power is misleading. Coordination produces power. Or extreme physical strength in a less athletic movement. One or the other is required.

Timing is simply aligning your power with the moment of impact. Without any power, timing is meaningless.

Technique is only the ability to coordinate your power into an organized accurate swing that delivers your power to the right place.

Food for thought...

KMRUNOUT
 
Thanks fellas. Part of my dilemma is that I had been practicing less and working more in the past several years and my muscle memory for the break has faded. Anyway, I'll check out those resources and put in some table time and hopefully I'll see some improvement.

On my home table, it is impossible to get a tight rack, due to 8 + year old cloth. You can really feel the divets in the rack area. Way past time to get the table recovered, but I'm holding out for yet another full year in order to build by new house then move the table in and have it recovered. Hopefully it will be worth the wait - the house, not the table..:smile:

Try using a slightly damp microfiber cloth (dry is ok too). Scrub the little divots with it, and try to generally clean the rack area. It can make a world of difference.

You could also invest in a magic rack, so that at least while practicing the break you will get repeatable results, which will help diagnose problems.

Experiment with your shooting *hand*. Practice aligning your hand in such a way so that you can have the cue resting on your finger tips, and at the moment of contact you snap your hand closed, kind of snapping the cue butt up into the palm of your hand. Combine this with an attempt to become super aware of the exact moment of contact. If you can snap as your hitting the ball, you can really get quite a lot of power with very little effort, or alteration in your regular shooting stance and technique.

Hope it helps!

KMRUNOUT
 
Wow...lol...um...I remember being surprised to hear 25, then I heard 27. Its up to over 30 now huh? Very impressive. ....
KMRUNOUT

My apologies. 29mph. I thought I remembered a TAR interview or something of the like, from almost a decade ago, where 30.something was quoted.

But either way, Im glad we have you around to "correct" people all the time. It must be exhausting for you. :thumbup:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=82719&postcount=3
 
My apologies. 29mph. I thought I remembered a TAR interview or something of the like, from almost a decade ago, where 30.something was quoted.

But either way, Im glad we have you around to "correct" people all the time. It must be exhausting for you. :thumbup:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=82719&postcount=3

Happy to help. My point was really that over the last idk 15? years, I've heard a lot of different numbers. Not so much that any particular number is wrong. And yes, valuing accuracy is a terrible conflict. It's sometimes hard to get at facts without questioning them. Didn't mean any offense.

KMRUNOUT
 
YES.... I agree

you should buy a BreakRack to practice your break.

I agree, you should buy a BreakRAK, your problems will go away very soon.

Rhythm & Coordination are needed for Accuracy & Speed.... Repetition helps you develop Rhythm & Coordination..

Good Luck...
 
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