Side-Rail Break in 10-Ball

[victorl]

There have been a couple of events here lately using a "Reverse Break Box" Rule for 10-Ball tournaments, when center area of the kitchen is off limits and players to break from within 1 diamond of the side rails.

A lot of pros were trying different breaks but no one seemed to have an answer as there were a lot of dry breaks. I had some success with a 9-ball style break aiming for the 1 in the side, but that tends to leave a big cluster of balls on one side of the table. Others will put the cue ball as close to center as possible and aim to hit the head ball on the nose to try and make the second row of balls, but it's tough to make a ball and easy to lose the cue ball. Any other ideas?

I watch a lot of 10 ball and once in a while, I'll see players breaking from the side rail, even when there is no break box in effect and I was wondering if anyone knows why they choose to do this and what they are trying to accomplish?

 

[filluptieu]

A lot of Filipinos break from the side rail because they don't generate much power from the center or they are uncomfortable

 

[hang-the-9]

There have been a couple of events here lately using a "Reverse Break Box" Rule for 10-Ball tournaments, when center area of the kitchen is off limits and players to break from within 1 diamond of the side rails.

A lot of pros were trying different breaks but no one seemed to have an answer as there were a lot of dry breaks. I had some success with a 9-ball style break aiming for the 1 in the side, but that tends to leave a big cluster of balls on one side of the table. Others will put the cue ball as close to center as possible and aim to hit the head ball on the nose to try and make the second row of balls, but it's tough to make a ball and easy to lose the cue ball. Any other ideas?

I watch a lot of 10 ball and once in a while, I'll see players breaking from the side rail, even when there is no break box in effect and I was wondering if anyone knows why they choose to do this and what they are trying to accomplish?

You must have some strong players in the tournaments if they have to start trying to hold them back by giving 10 ball break rules.

 

[victorl]

You must have some strong players in the tournaments if they have to start trying to hold them back by giving 10 ball break rules.

It's the Japanese Grand Prix (pro tour) so there's a lot of great players. I just dont see the need to make the games into a grindfest though, especially when there's a paying audience watching. I believe it was just done as an experiment and it definitely slowed down the matches and the runout players seemed to really struggle against the defensive and grinder types.

But if they do keep the rule, I'm sure someone will figure out the best way to break eventually, just like they have in every other game.

 

[bdorman]

IMHO 10-ball isn't the "broken" game that 9-ball is (broken meaning that pro players have mastered the game so thoroughly that outcomes are rarely in doubt). i.e. no need to change the break rules.

It would be interesting to see At Large's stats for 10-ball compared to the tournament you're referencing.

 

[hang-the-9]

It's the Japanese Grand Prix (pro tour) so there's a lot of great players. I just dont see the need to make the games into a grindfest though, especially when there's a paying audience watching. I believe it was just done as an experiment and it definitely slowed down the matches and the runout players seemed to really struggle against the defensive and grinder types.

But if they do keep the rule, I'm sure someone will figure out the best way to break eventually, just like they have in every other game.

Great, just when people start to move from 9 to 10 ball to make it more of a challenging games for the pros, we are already at the stage where 10 ball is too easy and needs break rules LOL

Time for full rack rotation, that should slow things down a bit.

I see people have success with the side rail break in 10 ball also although that is not really the standard break people use, from the side you are really playing the 1 in the side, but it goes in enough times that it may be seen as "broken" also to some people.

Maybe just spot all balls made on the break if they need to start trying to make it so it's hard to make a ball on the break and continue shooting.