Power Breaks Were Needed in the oOd Days

[Johnnyt]

I have a hunch the reason pros and amateur players a like used the power break for years. I believe you had to power break with the old style deep slooooow cloth. He rails weren’t as lively as they are today either. The balls were nothing like today’s top of the line balls.

The reason that guys haven’t started a softer break until now is that men in general tend to be a little on the macho side and see the softer break as less macho. It’s only now that they see the Corey Duel’s and others starting to take money out of their pockets with a softer break that some are slowing it down a bit with mostly good results. JMO. Johnnyt

 

[jason]

It may be true about the equiptment, but the general thinking is the more movement of the balls the greater the chance for pocketing one. JMHO

 

[Johnnyt]

It may be true about the equiptment, but the general thinking is the more movement of the balls the greater the chance for pocketing one. JMHO

I can't prove it, but I think the power break is hurting more players in 9-ball than it's helping,(maybe 10-ball too). Just like you can improve some things just so much until you start going backward. My theory is that at a certain speed break the balls that have a high percentage to go on the break get kissed away a lot more on a power break. I wish I had a high-speed camera to prove or disprove it. Johnnyt

 

[TXsouthpaw]

yeah but thats just the pros. For us mortals we still play on the crappy equipment and still need to smash the rack. the tv tabels with the hot lights and new cloth and balls are conducive to the soft break but not so for us regular players

 

[OrigZaphod]

I dont know if its sceince or not, but I tend to notice that there is a sweet spot in my break speed.

On a tight rack, if I hit it to hard, they tend to break up to much and end up clustered. When I hit the sweet spot, I tend to move them more open, also they dont seem to group back together as much.

Plus in 9 ball, the 9 will tend to move more then when I just hit it hard

 

[Big Perm]

yeah but thats just the pros. For us mortals we still play on the crappy equipment and still need to smash the rack. the tv tabels with the hot lights and new cloth and balls are conducive to the soft break but not so for us regular players

Johnny just stretched his cloth to level 89 million....his table rolls as fast as a downhill putt at Augusta National I'm guessing the soft break is working just as well now that he's playing on glass....

I dunno, a good firm break always drops more balls for me, and that means less to clear the table and a greater chance at a run-out....

 

[jason]

I can't prove it, but I think the power break is hurting more players in 9-ball than it's helping,(maybe 10-ball too). Just like you can improve some things just so much until you start going backward. My theory is that at a certain speed break the balls that have a high percentage to go on the break get kissed away a lot more on a power break. I wish I had a high-speed camera to prove or disprove it. Johnnyt

I have a pretty good break in my opinion, and sometimes it feels like I can hit them "too" hard. I think it is similar to the big bang theory...the universe expands and then it all contracts. The contraction part is where the clusters form. Some where there does seem to be the perfect speed/power and it is different under different conditions.

I thought you were originally talking about a "normal" break compared to Corey's soft controlled break.

As we all know, the most important thing is to make a ball and stay alive.

 

[RiverCity]

Actually, the soft break is more useful for playing the head ball and/or the corner balls. A softer controlled speed with a precise hit makes the break more predictable when the rack is read, and broken accordingly.
Chuck

 

[Johnnyt]

I have a pretty good break in my opinion, and sometimes it feels like I can hit them "too" hard. I think it is similar to the big bang theory...the universe expands and then it all contracts. The contraction part is where the clusters form. Some where there does seem to be the perfect speed/power and it is different under different conditions.

I thought you were originally talking about a "normal" break compared to Corey's soft controlled break.

As we all know, the most important thing is to make a ball and stay alive.

Agreed, keep control of the table however you can. Getting control from the start is a good head start at keeping the other guy in the chair where he can do NO damage, no matter how good he is. Johnnyt

 

[the420trooper]

Agreed, keep control of the table however you can. Getting control from the start is a good head start at keeping the other guy in the chair where he can do NO damage, no matter how good he is. Johnnyt

I agree completely. If you can break the balls at 15 mph, make the corner ball, and play position on the 1, why wouldn't you try to do that?

It's better than hitting them at 25-30 mph, and hoping something good happens.

 

[poolfoole]

I have a hunch the reason pros and amateur players a like used the power break for years. I believe you had to power break with the old style deep slooooow cloth. He rails weren’t as lively as they are today either. The balls were nothing like today’s top of the line balls.

The reason that guys haven’t started a softer break until now is that men in general tend to be a little on the macho side and see the softer break as less macho. It’s only now that they see the Corey Duel’s and others starting to take money out of their pockets with a softer break that some are slowing it down a bit with mostly good results. JMO. Johnnyt

If you could break soft, making the wing ball almost every time, stop your cue ball almost exactly where you want it almost every time, never scratch, and usually get a shot on the 1 (if it doesn't go in the side), why ever break hard? The balls do tend to cluster more on the footspot side of the table, but you can play safe if you don't have an out, and keep control of the table. I power break is a crap shoot in a lot of ways. Having said that, I break very hard and can't execute a good soft break to save my life.

 

[cowboyup200560]

My 2 cents

Here is a little something I have thought about ever since I saw it happen and i have just recently started doing it(idk why it took me so long to do it).

I showed up for a local tournament one evening and there was this guy practicing. I had never seen him there before. I always take it upon myself to watch who is there and who is new. He was about 4 tables away from everone else doing nothing but breaking racks.

Finnally curiosity got the better of me and I went over and asked him why he was just working on breaking? He told me (and proved it later) that as long as he could find a break that was working for the conditions of that day he would be able to keep control of his matches. I asked him what he meant by conditions as every table is diffrent. He said "If you find one that works for the humidity and temps for that day....adjusting for each table is easy."

It took me a while to wrap my head around it but I really think it is helping me. Sorry if its off topic but JMO

 

[jason]

If you could break soft, making the wing ball almost every time, stop your cue ball almost exactly where you want it almost every time, never scratch, and usually get a shot on the 1 (if it doesn't go in the side), why ever break hard? The balls do tend to cluster more on the footspot side of the table, but you can play safe if you don't have an out, and keep control of the table. I power break is a crap shoot in a lot of ways. Having said that, I break very hard and can't execute a good soft break to save my life.

Absolutely 100% agree. I think that is why Corey was player of the year not too long ago. Not that he isn't a great shooter, because he it, but because that was enough edge to dominate the game. I believe that is also why "the box" was instigated in the game.

Unfortunately, I also resemble your very last statement!