Scratching on the break...

[StuartK35]

I just got a new break cue lately that I love...Jacoby Edge....super light and hits solid.

However, I keep scratching on the break...seems like the cue ball just rockets back toward the top rail where I'm breaking from or in the side....a lot! Getting frustrated.

I have a Samsara tip by the way....also, the diameter of the shaft is 13mm but the taper seems skinny to me..

Any advice. I break from the center, the side....different spots..I do not try the second ball, 8 break....don't like it.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I just got a new break cue lately that I love...Jacoby Edge....super light and hits solid.

However, I keep scratching on the break...seems like the cue ball just rockets back toward the top rail where I'm breaking from or in the side....a lot! Getting frustrated.

I have a Samsara tip by the way....also, the diameter of the shaft is 13mm but the taper seems skinny to me..

Any advice. I break from the center, the side....different spots..I do not try the second ball, 8 break....don't like it.

If the cue ball comes back more than a little from the rack there is a certain cause: you are hitting the cue ball too low. Hit it higher.

 

[Scott Lee]

I agree with Bob. If the CB is coming back to the head end of the table you are undoubtably hitting below center...even though you may be starting out aiming at or above center. Grip pressure is a likely culprit here...keep it loose all the way through, from start to finish. Also, I'd advise backing off a little on your speed, until you can stop scratching, and get a little better CB control off the break. You might consider some sort of "training ball" that you can set up, and see exactly where you're hitting the CB (vs. where you think you are).

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

 

[RWOJO]

Scratch on the break

I agree that you must be hitting below center of the ball.

It is hard to tell what you are doing without seeing it. Could be many causes though.

Are you using a lot of body movement? If you start moving to early you start to stand up a little to early with drops your tip to hit below center.

Start nice and slow. With minimal to no body movement besides your arm - shoot the break at about 50% power. The purpose of this is to squat the cue ball (that is have it bounce back a foot or so and stop). This is harder than it seems because you have to hit the front ball dead center and you have to shoot so the cue ball has no forward/backward spin.

The biggest thing I've taught people with trying this, is they break better at 50% power than they did a full power. Accuracy is more important than power.

Once you can consistantly squat the cue ball (or alteast have the cue ball not touch a rail unless it is kicked into a rail), then add a little power. Once you keep adding power and you get to the point where you cannot control the cue ball, then you found your limit - drop a little power and you found your target speed.