One Pocket Break

Patrick Johnson

Fargo 1000 on VP4
Silver Member
Somebody asked about the one pocket break recently, which got me tinkering with VP4 (ruh roh). Hope this is helpful.

pj
chgo

Typical one pocket break - good result
Screenshot 2026-02-21 212955.png
 
Last edited:
good break right amount of english a little too hard and maybe a little too low on the head ball.

should be looking at an offense shot here in this spot not hitting the 7 ball.
8 might be dead in one of two ways .
and 5 into the 3 or nine and moving balls away. depending on your angle.

other wise a slow death.
 
good break right amount of english a little too hard and maybe a little too low on the head ball.

should be looking at an offense shot here in this spot not hitting the 7 ball.
8 might be dead in one of two ways .
and 5 into the 3 or nine and moving balls away. depending on your angle.

other wise a slow death.
And with this table, death may not take long.
 
good break right amount of english a little too hard and maybe a little too low on the head ball.
Yes, the break is a defensive shot, leaving the CB (ideally) frozen to the long rail with the remaining cluster of rack balls protecting balls you’ve moved near your pocket.
should be looking at an offense shot here in this spot not hitting the 7 ball.
I’m looking at using the 10 somehow…

pj
chgo
 
10, 8 combo. or 8 off 13. wins or loses the game for you considering you are a decent underdog right now.

you have to judge its chances of going in.
 
Last edited:
Somebody asked about the one pocket break recently, which got me tinkering with VP4 (ruh roh). Hope this is helpful.

pj
chgo

Typical one pocket break - good result
View attachment 885157

The break I was taught starts about an inch of the rail. Aim squarely at the middle ball in the back row then backhand the inside english. I use a ton of that. Maybe 2/3ds max. Same Ronnie Allen results. @bbb couldn't get it to work but it's foolproof for me. Might require an HD shaft.
 
i dont know who renee is but he will miss most all times and sell out a bank doing that.
I was wondering what - wait never mind. Off the 9 making the seven. That has potential if he misses and the 5 and or 7 block the banks. He could deliberately run the ball off the 1 and come up behind the 3 looking his way as well.
 
straightline , ronnie allen didnt break like that. it does give someone a definite aiming point.

but every table and cloth and day is different and you adjust where you hit the first two balls and your speed.
and even where you place the cue ball as getting it to the spot you want on the long rail is different fro every condition..
its never the same unless you want a mediocre result.

kind of like telling where to break from and hit in 9 ball.
 
straightline , ronnie allen didnt break like that. it does give someone a definite aiming point.

but every table and cloth and day is different and you adjust where you hit the first two balls and your speed.
and even where you place the cue ball as getting it to the spot you want on the long rail is different fro every condition..
its never the same unless you want a mediocre result.

kind of like telling where to break from and hit in 9 ball.
It was supposed to maximize making the corner ball. A more conservative Allen would break from further out but the guy who showed it to me claimed it was Ronnie's break. That's what I've always called it. Always use it to. Regardless, the method is very consistent with the spread and keeping the enemy corner ball out of play.
 
when you think about a crazy shot set it up and shoot it once. not over and over till you get it dialed in, and then you will see how too much never works.
as in real life things, you should always tend to gravitate to the best percentage results.

that shot like that will get the double kiss often which sells out.
 
when you think about a crazy shot set it up and shoot it once. not over and over till you get it dialed in, and then you will see how too much never works.
as in real life things, you should always tend to gravitate to the best percentage results.

that shot like that will get the double kiss often which sells out.
You mean the Rene shot right? Who is Rene?
 
You mean the Rene shot right? Who is Rene?
Rene was a good short stop level 1 pocket player in the dfw area. If you watched him bank balls off other balls like the 5-9 you would understand why I posted that is the shot he would shoot and would execute the 5 off the 9 perfectly. He may not make the 7 but I guarantee you that would be his shot.
 
The break I was taught starts about an inch of the rail. Aim squarely at the middle ball in the back row then backhand the inside english. I use a ton of that. Maybe 2/3ds max. Same Ronnie Allen results. @bbb couldn't get it to work but it's foolproof for me. Might require an HD shaft.
I was thinking the AimPoint pictured was pretty spot on, and I use regular maple
 
I think you're going to have to shoot into the one in a manner that sends the five into the 12 with good speed. No way that 8 could ever stay out. 😳

Cue ball is going to travel forward, a slight touch of high and a good amount of speed, so it's going to go straight into that pocket.. I mean, clear that nine.
 
I think you're going to have to shoot into the one in a manner that sends the five into the 12 with good speed. No way that 8 could ever stay out. 😳
I like the creativity, but even off the 1 that's almost a 90-degree cut on the 5, so you'd have to hit it break speed to move the 8 to the pocket. I still wanna shoot it.

pj
chgo
 
Back
Top