I generally look at the object ball last before I execute a shot. Recently I read that many people have had success looking at the cueball last during the break. I have had a problem lately with putting heavy draw on the cueball when breaking with much power. This often causes me to draw the ball back into a pocket, particuarly with my eight ball break on the bar box. This is costing me money! To which method do you folks adhere during the break?
object or cueball last during break?
- Thread starter shawnNC
- Start date
I recently started looking at the cue ball on my break, it was working well for me that night. On regular shots i look at the object ball, not the cue ball. Looking at the cue ball on my break seemed to work well for me, i will have to do it some more before i have a definate answer on that. But on a regular shot i always look at the object ball.
When breaking for serious power (flashing my guns) I look at the cue ball to make sure I don't airmail it into a window or someone's cranium.
I look at the object ball last, focusing on where the ball touches the cloth.
Rick
Rick
When shooting a normal break, I look at the object ball last and the slight cut on the one-ball (I use a tiny bit of of cut and left English on my break with 60% speed).
If I shoot with >90% speed, I noticed that I get better results looking at the cueball first. I think it helps with the fact that I'm going to "explode" at the cueball with the tip of my cue...
If I shoot with >90% speed, I noticed that I get better results looking at the cueball first. I think it helps with the fact that I'm going to "explode" at the cueball with the tip of my cue...
Alex, after winning the WPC, was asked this very same question in a tv interview; to which he replied in Filipino:
You always should follow what your eyes want to see. If it wants to look at the cueball, you look at the cueball, if it wants to look at the OB then you look at the OB. Now if it wants to look at some chick in the corner you look at the chick in the corner!
You always should follow what your eyes want to see. If it wants to look at the cueball, you look at the cueball, if it wants to look at the OB then you look at the OB. Now if it wants to look at some chick in the corner you look at the chick in the corner!
ramdadingdong
Banned
larrynj1 said:
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In the Power Source Pool school I teach the break using the break rak training device and teach like in pool the eyes go up and down, then they focus on the cue ball and you must trust your stroke. At impact I do not even see the rack, just the cue ball. You never hit the cue ball above the equator, just enough below it so the cue ball jumps straight back up table without hitting any long rails. I like to try and stop the cue ball by making it come up table 3 diamonds and stop one diamond past the side pockets, then it rarely scratches and never gets kicked in the side pockets and usually affords a shot. I break off of the rail because that gives me more power and the ability to hit the cue ball with a level stroke.
The reason you see people blowing balls off of the table are they are looking at the object ball using english and missing that object ball, they are jacked up producing a jump shot and they are hitting above center which creates a masse shot which never hits the target they see. Most are hitting a masse jump shot, when it hits a half ball off it goes into the wall. They just do not understand the massive amount of deflection they are dealing with using english which is why when I break at 8 ball I use zero english, 6:00.
I made 7 on the break doing that a month ago on a 9' gold crown with slow house cloth, moved 10 balls up past the side pockets. Yesterday on that same table I broke, made two on the snap and moved 12 up past the side pockets. The point is a perfect break spreads the balls and gets them moving. I break a lot and move half the balls up past the sides and leave half down table, that is the break I seek and teach.
A off center impact leaves them all down table clustered up so badly God could not run out in 3 innings. My record is 8 balls on the snap at 8 ball. I have also done 8 on the snap at 9 ball. I teach what I do and know works. I break off of the end rail, l/2 diamond off center at 8 ball and move around until I find the spot that works. There are obviously several other techniques and secrets that are involved, but this is not the place to reveal them. The subject is the cue ball and I answered that one for you, take this one to the bank. Take the money and run.
Fast Larry
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Sort of related...
What about on shots with extreme English? I have read and heard that looking at the cue ball last on these type of shots is advantegeous to ensure a smooth stroke. At extreme English, even a pixel or two off the intended spot could lead to miscue, exaggerated deflection, etc.
What about on shots with extreme English? I have read and heard that looking at the cue ball last on these type of shots is advantegeous to ensure a smooth stroke. At extreme English, even a pixel or two off the intended spot could lead to miscue, exaggerated deflection, etc.
I've been trying the cueball lately, seems to work better for me...
Off left side rail, 1.5balls off (+or- a ball) around half tip above center (helps level the cue, and stick the CB, for me, at least) aim dead at (or just a hair to the right) of the head ball (for 9ball).
Thanks,
Jon
Off left side rail, 1.5balls off (+or- a ball) around half tip above center (helps level the cue, and stick the CB, for me, at least) aim dead at (or just a hair to the right) of the head ball (for 9ball).
Thanks,
Jon
Should that be Scurvy Scum in your sig?CaptainJR said:
On The Break
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
The older I got it seemed the worse it was getting. That was until about a month ago I started doing what they do in golf, lining up the label or mark where they want to putt the ball. I tried that with the cue ball and the spot and began watching the cueball at the break and boy what a difference. All of a sudden I was breaking as great as any of the young powerful guys.
It may not work for everyone but I will never go back to my old way.
What a coincidence this thread would come up when I just made a change.
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
The older I got it seemed the worse it was getting. That was until about a month ago I started doing what they do in golf, lining up the label or mark where they want to putt the ball. I tried that with the cue ball and the spot and began watching the cueball at the break and boy what a difference. All of a sudden I was breaking as great as any of the young powerful guys.
It may not work for everyone but I will never go back to my old way.
What a coincidence this thread would come up when I just made a change.
Isn't the idea of the break to not only pocket a ball(s), but also to have the CB in the center of the table (or within 1 diamond)? Where your CB comes to rest on the table is going to depend on the spin on the CB when contacting the rack. That being said, yes, you do want to contact the CB below center, how far below center depends on your speed. The faster your speed is, the closer to center you hit, the slower the speed, the farther from center you hit.
How many of you can shoot a stop shot from 1 diamond away, 2 diamonds away and up to 5 diamonds? If you can't shoot a stop shot from 5 diamonds away, it's going to be difficult to learn how to control your CB position after the break.
Best of luck!
Zim
How many of you can shoot a stop shot from 1 diamond away, 2 diamonds away and up to 5 diamonds? If you can't shoot a stop shot from 5 diamonds away, it's going to be difficult to learn how to control your CB position after the break.
Best of luck!
Zim
Zims Rack said:
Zim,
That instruction school of your must be paying off.
that is probably the best point i have read in this thread. Depending on the dday is depending on where i put the cue ball but i always look at the cue ball and use the same speed(or at least try to use the same speed).
Chuck,twiztid_cue said:Zim,
That instruction school of your must be paying off.
Thanks Chuck! Haven't seen you around in a while! How's your game man? The stop shot is THE most important shot in the game. Everything revolves around what kind of spin is on the CB when it contacts the OB, knowing that, the stop shot is the most important shot. Knowing how to hit a stop shot from any distance comes from your speed and tip distance from center. I have learned a lot from the course and honestly, I felt stupid when I first seen some techniques, because they are commen sense things, but yet not even a thought in the average players mind.
Zim
ramdadingdong
Banned
Zims Rack said:
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May I disagree with you, the stop shot is far down my list. The most important shot in pool is the lag. Always insist on lagging, practice the lag and you then win it 90% of the time. Flip a coin and you win the lag 50% of the time. If you don't win the lag, you don't get to break first. Being able to attack first, is vital, you can't win in the chair watching the other guy run racks on you right out of the chute. The 2nd most important shot is the break shot, don't make a ball and or get a shot again you sit down and watch the other guy run out on you again. The 3rd most important shot is the draw, in that order, IMHO...
Fast Larry
Zim,
The game is getting better. ive been playing alot more. playing better players. and i can't wait to go to valley forge next year for the super billiards expo cause i want to play in taht tournament. I might be heading out to the windy city this year in October with a couple freinds i don't know if I'll be able to stay the whole time but i would like to go. But my game has improved so much. the old guys are starting to watch me even when i practice. forget when i have a game with one of the better players. they all are glued to the rail. Alot of them think it is hard to believe that in olny a year i got this far with no professional lessons except for one in March of this year which lasted an hour. the owner of the pool hall wanted to play me and see how good i really was kind of like the boss showing his employee how to play. well he must have been feeling good cause he gave me the 8 and everyone that was there is like he can give you the 8 or are you sure you want to give him the 8. well we played a race to 7 me winning the 1st 5 games him winning the 6th and me winning the 7th so im up 6-1. up untill this point he id not say 1 word. he played some really good safes and got me on 3 and it was now 6-2 then he started talking. i won 7-3 and he was quite but just happy he safed me out. I'm really happy on where my game has gotten and is going. hoping by next march to be able to beat 90% of the guys in the room. and if i keep accelling the way i am i will be able to.
If i go out for the windy city i'll let ya know maybe we can hit'em around a bit.
The game is getting better. ive been playing alot more. playing better players. and i can't wait to go to valley forge next year for the super billiards expo cause i want to play in taht tournament. I might be heading out to the windy city this year in October with a couple freinds i don't know if I'll be able to stay the whole time but i would like to go. But my game has improved so much. the old guys are starting to watch me even when i practice. forget when i have a game with one of the better players. they all are glued to the rail. Alot of them think it is hard to believe that in olny a year i got this far with no professional lessons except for one in March of this year which lasted an hour. the owner of the pool hall wanted to play me and see how good i really was kind of like the boss showing his employee how to play. well he must have been feeling good cause he gave me the 8 and everyone that was there is like he can give you the 8 or are you sure you want to give him the 8. well we played a race to 7 me winning the 1st 5 games him winning the 6th and me winning the 7th so im up 6-1. up untill this point he id not say 1 word. he played some really good safes and got me on 3 and it was now 6-2 then he started talking. i won 7-3 and he was quite but just happy he safed me out. I'm really happy on where my game has gotten and is going. hoping by next march to be able to beat 90% of the guys in the room. and if i keep accelling the way i am i will be able to.
If i go out for the windy city i'll let ya know maybe we can hit'em around a bit.
Question to you... how can you have a good consistent break or lag, if you can't control the rotation on the CB? CB control is a vital aspect in the game of billiards/pool. Withouth CB control you can't control the most important shot, the stop shot. In order to have a good lag, you have to have CB control, same for break shot. NO CB CONTROL, NEGATIVE SHOT!ramdadingdong said:
Zim