Preferred 8-ball break spot for 7'

MasterRacker

MasterRacker

The guy on the left.
Silver Member
I'd just like to do an informal poll. Assuming a 7' table and that you have to hit the head ball, where do you get the best success breaking from?

I've been experimenting lately and it seems that as my ball pocketing percentage goes up, my spread drops (more clusters) and vice versa. I haven't decided on a sweet spot yet. Just looking to see what others do.
 
MasterRacker said:
I'd just like to do an informal poll. Assuming a 7' table and that you have to hit the head ball, where do you get the best success breaking from?

I've been experimenting lately and it seems that as my ball pocketing percentage goes up, my spread drops (more clusters) and vice versa. I haven't decided on a sweet spot yet. Just looking to see what others do.
Click to expand...
I normally go for the second ball break from the left side of the table with low left english when playing 8 ball...

but...

If I had to hit the head ball first I would probably break from 2 diamonds up and 1.5 diamonds over on the left side of the table like so

START(
%AN7O5%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%HM7N8%IL7O4%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%Pg7R9
)END

also using some draw to keep the cue ball away from the pack.
 
i hate 7' tables for that reason to small always clusters, but i find in league nights if the rack is racked good i break it from the side like in nine ball and hit dead square on the head ball, although breaking almost from the middle of the table gives me good results too, not dead center of the table just a bit to the side. But i would rather hit the second ball and see if i can get lucky. Good Post can't wait to see what others prefer.
 
7' Table

When I used to play on the bar tables on a daily basis, I usually broke just to the left or right of the spot(base of the ball behind the line of course).
It really didn't matter to me as long as the rack was tight. Breaking just off center always gave a more runnable spread on the balls. I used to make the eight on the break from this position at least a few times each time I played. Unfortunately,I am no longer able to play every day any more and my break suffers from it, having to work sucks!
 
gregoryg said:
When I used to play on the bar tables on a daily basis, I usually broke just to the left or right of the spot(base of the ball behind the line of course).
It really didn't matter to me as long as the rack was tight. Breaking just off center always gave a more runnable spread on the balls. I used to make the eight on the break from this position at least a few times each time I played. Unfortunately,I am no longer able to play every day any more and my break suffers from it, having to work sucks!
Click to expand...

I agree on the work part man, in our leagues these guys are tricky they rack them uhgly i tell you have to keep an eye on them, when i get my sardo tight rack i am bringing it with me each league night heheh j/k.
 
Breaking ...

I break from here with some low left hard:


START(
%AN7O5%BL8P7%CJ7O4%DL8N2%EM7P1%FK7P1%GK7N8%HM7N8%IL7O4%JK8M6
%KJ7P7%LJ7N2%MK7Q3%NJ7Q9%OJ7M0%Ph2J0%RZ3_1%WP8O4%Xg1J2
)END
 
TheConArtist said:
I agree on the work part man, in our leagues these guys are tricky they rack them uhgly i tell you have to keep an eye on them, when i get my sardo tight rack i am bringing it with me each league night heheh j/k.
Click to expand...

Not only that but the tables are normally abused, and it's nearly impossible to freeze all of the fifteen balls on cloth with pits and divits in it.
 
Thanks for the responses. Hope we get a lot more.

I agree about barboxes getting abused. If you get enough play on one you really have to adjust to its uniqueness (divots, dirt, etc.), but most people still have a favorite starting point.

The head ball part is because I've played tourneys and leagues where the head ball hit is required and most of the play I've been in, 8-ball on the break is not a win. Recreationally, I prefer it where the game can neither be won nor lost on the break as well.

Like I said, I hope we get a lot of responses. It'll be interesting to see if there is any particular spot favored by a majority.
 
I am a lefty, and feel that I get the best break by putting the cueball at the headstring and about half a diamond to the left.... I then use almost a centerball hit, 90% speed with a long follow through, and try to contact the head ball dead-on along the line formed by its center and the cueball center. I almost always make a ball and have a shot after the break.

No matter where I place the cueball, I always try for a square hit on the head ball. I have not had a lot of luck hitting the second or third balls on the rack...

I know you are not asking for breaking advice, but I can't help myself... Maybe someone else can benefit from this: My best hints for breaking are the loooonnggg follow through and to count your strokes... like when you get down and are set, tell yourself that you are going to fire at the rack on stroke 10 and take your strokes and let it go at 10. This is important because you will not be surprising yourself when you make that last stroke... trust me, this is a big hint that can help a lot of players! Dang... maybe I shouldn't post a hint like that!!
 
Gregg said:
Not only that but the tables are normally abused, and it's nearly impossible to freeze all of the fifteen balls on cloth with pits and divits in it.
Click to expand...
Very true, but they redid all the tables that we play on. I know for a fact a couple guys have a trick to the way they rack the balls cause they said they do it on people who they know are good run out players and they don't want the table wide open.
 
Thoughts ...

BillYards said:
I am a lefty, and feel that I get the best break by putting the cueball at the headstring and about half a diamond to the left.... I then use almost a centerball hit, 90% speed with a long follow through, and try to contact the head ball dead-on along the line formed by its center and the cueball center. I almost always make a ball and have a shot after the break.

No matter where I place the cueball, I always try for a square hit on the head ball. I have not had a lot of luck hitting the second or third balls on the rack...

I know you are not asking for breaking advice, but I can't help myself... Maybe someone else can benefit from this: My best hints for breaking are the loooonnggg follow through and to count your strokes... like when you get down and are set, tell yourself that you are going to fire at the rack on stroke 10 and take your strokes and let it go at 10. This is important because you will not be surprising yourself when you make that last stroke... trust me, this is a big hint that can help a lot of players! Dang... maybe I shouldn't post a hint like that!!
Click to expand...


I never could, when powering up, decide when to break on what stroke, and
I hated it when I pulled up because of deciding at the last minute I wasn't
ready (it broke my concentration), so I started counting many years ago,
4 rough (warmup) strokes, 4 smooth strokes, and break on the 9th stroke.
It has long been automatic for me now.
 
Speaking of eight ball breaks in league play: What if your opponent does not give you a clean rack?

Lets say you spot a couple spots that are loose, you ask for a re-rack then he re-racks them but the rack is still loose and you ask again... but the same happens again? Then what? He trys a few times but just can't get it?

What do you do then?

Then you finally conceed that the table cannot be racked clean and you break but you have in your head that this guy is cheating you...and you don't make a ball on the break and the break gives you many trouble spots...balls all tied togethor.:( :confused: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
If your opponent just can't get it right, ask if you can rack for yourself and they can check it before you break. They should allow you to do this... or you could have their team captain rack the balls....
 
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