Scratch in the side

shaggybahama

shaggybahama

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
During my break shot on a bar box I have the cue ball position just left of head spot with best result (balls pocketed) but I tend to scratch in the right side pocket a good number of times, what would be some suggestions to avoid the scratch.
Thanks in advance for you input and suggestions.
 
I would say that the best way to avoid scratches on the break is to make sure you're getting a 100% square hit on the head ball to make the cue ball movement more predictable after impact. This may mean dialing back the speed a few notches for at least a little bit. Every once in a while the cue ball will still get kicked, but if you hit it good there isn't much you can do about that.
 
StraightPoolIU said:
I would say that the best way to avoid scratches on the break is to make sure you're getting a 100% square hit on the head ball to make the cue ball movement more predictable after impact. This may mean dialing back the speed a few notches for at least a little bit. Every once in a while the cue ball will still get kicked, but if you hit it good there isn't much you can do about that.
Click to expand...

I agree. It seems that if you're scratching in the right-side side pocket when the cue ball is slightly left of the center spot, it's because you're "over compensating" the aim. That is to say, you might "think" you're hitting center ball, but you're actually hitting slightly right of center. Perhaps you're thinking you need to hit "center ball" as viewed from 100% straight on from the center spot? (Therefore slightly cutting the head ball, with the carom angle leading to the right-side side pocket.)

You might want to just focus on the head ball itself -- forget about the balls in the rest of the rack. Tune them out. Make believe you're trying to slam a dead-center stop shot on the head ball, and have the cue ball stop dead. That will give you the results you want.

Hope this is helpful,
-Sean
 
Personally, I would just quit trying to "slam" the rack on the break. I advise all my students to back off on how hard they're breaking...until they can get control of the CB (i.e: quit scratching). Then you can slowly add more power/speed back into your break. Hitting the head ball square is the key, as has already been detailed. Another factor is NO spin on the CB. When you break with lots of draw, follow or sidespin you leave a bunch of energy in the CB, after striking the rack. That energy is better spent being directed into spreading the balls out...which leaves no energy left on the CB. It should just park somewhere near the middle of the table, ideally.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
 
Every bit of advice has be very helpful and I appreciate all those who have share their views and suggestions and well take all into consideration. Thanks
 
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