New video on BREAK SHOT strategy for 8-ball, 9-ball, and 10-ball

dr_dave

dr_dave

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FYI, I just posted a new video that discusses and demonstrates effective break strategies for the games of 8-ball, 9-ball, and 10-ball under different rules and on tables of different sizes. Check it out:


Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:16 - 8-ball
---- 0:19 - centered break
---- 1:52 - 2nd-ball break
2:56 - 9-ball
---- 2:59 - 1-on-the-spot side break
---- 4:48 - 9-on-the-spot break from the box
6:46 - 10-ball
7:48 - More Info

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!
 
This is very useful thanks, seeing the path diagrams is great, especially as it relates to the second ball break in 8 ball on a bar box vs 9'. I typically play 9' tables but recently played in a tournament on bar boxes and struggled with the break in some sets. Other players were using a second ball break but it's not one I ever had any luck with on the 9' tables so never bothered to practice it much. Knowing it's a bar box specific thing is a piece I was missing and now I have something new to work on.
 
Another excellent video.
SVB - as always - showing how important a good break is. So many examples of him pocketing half the table...
Also gotta love AP showing size isn't everything. 💪💪
 
slide13 said:
This is very useful thanks, seeing the path diagrams is great, especially as it relates to the second ball break in 8 ball on a bar box vs 9'. I typically play 9' tables but recently played in a tournament on bar boxes and struggled with the break in some sets. Other players were using a second ball break but it's not one I ever had any luck with on the 9' tables so never bothered to practice it much. Knowing it's a bar box specific thing is a piece I was missing and now I have something new to work on.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you liked the video and learned something that might help your game. That's always my goal.
 
sudocrushms said:
Another excellent video.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

sudocrushms said:
SVB - as always - showing how important a good break is. So many examples of him pocketing half the table...
Click to expand...

Yep. SVB is definitely the break GOAT. Many of the reasons are in these video:



sudocrushms said:
Also gotta love AP showing size isn't everything. 💪💪
Click to expand...

Agreed. Alex is tiny (see below) and he still crushes it. Technique (as covered in the videos above) is definitely more important than muscle.

Dr. Dave and Alex.JPG
 
For 8 ball breaks on 9 ft tables, pro's pocket a ball 50% at best, amateurs 0%-30%. It's a game of percentages. I'd rather have my opponent break. I'm very likely to come to a wide open table.
 
Last edited:
lakeman77 said:
In 8 ball, if the pro's pocket a ball 50% at best and amateurs are more like 10%-30%, isn't it a good idea to figure breaks that are defensive rather leaving your opponent an open table much more than half the time? Its a game of percentages. I'd much rather have my opponent break.
Click to expand...

FYI, pros pocket a ball on the break more than 50% of the time, even under tough pro tournament conditions. See:


And good amateurs on a "bar box" can succeed much more than 50% of the time. For example, see:

 
You should change the make a ball every time to it goes with a high percentage, and also I don't remember you saying if you used a template or wooden rack.
Big difference there.
 
dr_dave said:
Yep. SVB is definitely the break GOAT. Many of the reasons are in these video:


​
Click to expand...
One thing that always blows me away about Shane is how accurate he is despite the body movement.
I know that's fairly common when generating power for the break, but it seems he has a lot of excess movement every shot. Oddity, but obviously works.
 
u12armresl said:
You should change the make a ball every time to it goes with a high percentage, and also I don't remember you saying if you used a template or wooden rack.
Big difference there.
Click to expand...

I said "with a tight rack." I also implied a "good hit." But you are right. I should have said: "With a square hit and a tight rack, it goes most of the time."
 
dr_dave said:
I said "with a tight rack." I also implied a "good hit." But you are right. I should have said: "With a square hit and a tight rack, it goes most of the time."
Click to expand...
You said with a tight rack on a bar box table, it goes every time.
 
u12armresl said:
You said with a tight rack on a bar box table, it goes every time.
Click to expand...

Agreed. That’s why I wrote above that I should have instead said: "With a square hit and a tight rack, it goes most of the time."
 
dr_dave said:
Agreed. That’s why I wrote above that I should have instead said: "With a square hit and a tight rack, it goes most of the time."
Click to expand...

The important words are “tight rack.” It is not easy to get a “tight rack” every time on most bar tables, especially with old balls and worn cloth.
 
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