I am by no means an expert, just a lowly 'b' player myself and occasional 15-20 ball runner. Being from NJ and growing up watching Jose Garcia, Allen Hopkins and Jimmy Fusco just to name a few, I'd have to say that I am more accustomed to watching the chip away method of running balls in straight pool. Although, after watching Steve play straight pool and crush the balls with the break shot, it's extremely difficult to argue his method. I will say this, I believe that on tough equipment, meaning tight pockets and slow cloth, the chip away method would most likely provide more consistent runs. I don't think that anybody short of a snooker champ wants to back cut a break shot 100 mph into a small pocket. Also, slower cloth may yield more unpredictable results with a smash up break shot, or should I say more undesirable results. Furthermore, I think it's arguable that they chip away method is more likely to put your opponent in a coma. It's very frustrating to sit in the chair and watch your opponent run a hundred tapping in balls and chipping the rack and always shooting a hanger as his run increases. The flip side I guess is that if you can run more 150's and out smashing the stack, then it really doesn't matter if your opponent is in a coma. Just my opinions and my 2 cents. Incidently, Efren also runs balls using the chip away method, and really I challenge anyone to question Efren.
Steve, good luck in the Comet tournament.
Tim, I'm glad I didn't know that you ran 100 balls when I played you straight pool(u needed 1 or 2 and I ran 36 and out on you making three break shots and ending with a cross side bank. If I never run 100 balls, that game is the highlight of my straight pool playing experience), because I probably would have folded up like a little girl.(Just remembered something funny about that game. Seems to me that after the 3rd break shot, I was only going to need 1 ball to get out. So, I played position for a very high percentage break shot(easy to pocket), but that wouldn't yield too much breakage in the rack, and hit it a very moderate speed to insure pocketing the ball. My rational was that I only needed that ball and one more so why take any chances. I talked to Steve about it later wanting to know his opinion and to hopefully learn something. It was funny, he told me that I shoulda smashed the rack.)
Just so the readers know, I know both these guys and they are gentlemen and a pleasure to play with.