Template racks in 14.1 taboo...?

[Straightpool_99]

Ah... there it is. I was wondering when this was going to be said. Little did I know that shooting with a template isn't taboo, but shooting with more force is. ...and for sake of clarity, I didn't say I clear every ball. I said that way more often than not, there's nothing from preventing me from removing the template after the break shot.

I think it goes without saying that one must adhere to the rules of the game, to legitimately claim that they are playing said game. That would of course include the arbitrary triangle interference with a break ball that doesn't effect me when racking with a template. So please, if you could post or merely cite the rule regarding the maximum permissible force for performing the break shot, I would greatly appreciate it....lol

I know you can't, and the above is tongue in cheek. According to the rules I'm playing straight pool. It may not be the way you like to play it, but it is the way it is. You may not play patterns in 8 ball the way I think they should be done. That doesn't translate to you "not" playing 8 ball.

I'd have to say, that if this is the case (the rack never being in the way), you are either blasting your breakshots or getting perfect Mosconi angles on every break shot (and not holding back much, either). Kudos, I guess. I see a lot of 100's in your future. I wish I could go back and try it out again to see just how hard I'd need to hit the breakshot to clear the entire rack area consistently, but unfortunately I haven't played since March, more or less and it looks like I may be going over a year without playing, now. Of course I usually play either against an opponent, or pretend that I am, so I like to make absolutely sure I make the ball. Also, when playing an opponent, the dead ball issue is too much of a problem, plus safing is ruined by the template rack.

For me that means letting up a little bit and not going 120% on every break shot. Some are better at high power than others. I wish I could blast them like Thorsten and never miss. I mean it may sound like a lame excuse, but I am playing on 4 and quarter inch pockets that reject shots along the rail. Unless I have a diagonal shot into the pocket, I think twice about blasting.

 

[The_JV]

I was reflecting on my comments earlier and I was really thinking that you were new to the game. I think that's why I said it the way I did. If you are an 8 ball player and you approach straight pool in the same way then you are missing a lot of necessary skills that makes the game interesting.

How about this. When you can run 100 each day and the game becomes too easy then you can worry about whether you are doing it right.

Oh I am new... Been playing 14.1 for less than a year. I wouldn't pigeon hole myself as an "8 ball player". Play rotation games more than anything else in my +30yrs on the table, but started out with snooker.

Covid had me looking for something other than the ghost for setting goals. Straight pool fit the void nicely. Now we're here...lol

The current goal is that 100 barrier. Managed an 85 last year, but am suffering with a lack of focus since the new year.

 

[The_JV]

I'd have to say, that if this is the case (the rack never being in the way), you are either blasting your breakshots or getting perfect Mosconi angles on every break shot (and not holding back much, either). Kudos, I guess. I see a lot of 100's in your future. I wish I could go back and try it out again to see just how hard I'd need to hit the breakshot to clear the entire rack area consistently, but unfortunately I haven't played since March, more or less and it looks like I may be going over a year without playing, now. Of course I usually play either against an opponent, or pretend that I am, so I like to make absolutely sure I make the ball. Also, when playing an opponent, the dead ball issue is too much of a problem, plus safing is ruined by the template rack.

For me that means letting up a little bit and not going 120% on every break shot. Some are better at high power than others. I wish I could blast them like Thorsten and never miss. I mean it may sound like a lame excuse, but I am playing on 4 and quarter inch pockets that reject shots along the rail. Unless I have a diagonal shot into the pocket, I think twice about blasting.

hmmm... I wish I could quantify the force I use for the break shot. I'm certainty not rolling it, but definitely hitting it with greater ease since the shift to a template. I can say that my break shot force is low enough to prevent balls from rolling beyond the side pocket. I may get one high up table, but I'm certain that's from some form additional kick.

I'm thinking 80% of what you'd see from a strong player using a second ball break in 8 ball....

My efforts are 100% offensive so there are no efforts barred to continue a run. I don't know anyone that plays the game, so there's zero desire to focus efforts toward controlled play.

Oh and my pockets are monsterous at nearly 5" at the rounded off mouth of the pocket. It's actually frustrating for me that I haven't flirted with stronger results. I have zero excuses...lol

 

[Dan White]

hmmm... I wish I could quantify the force I use for the break shot. I'm certainty not rolling it, but definitely hitting it with greater ease since the shift to a template. I can say that my break shot force is low enough to prevent balls from rolling beyond the side pocket. I may get one high up table, but I'm certain that's from some form additional kick.

I'm thinking 80% of what you'd see from a strong player using a second ball break in 8 ball....

My efforts are 100% offensive so there are no efforts barred to continue a run. I don't know anyone that plays the game, so there's zero desire to focus efforts toward controlled play.

Oh and my pockets are monsterous at nearly 5" at the rounded off mouth of the pocket. It's actually frustrating for me that I haven't flirted with stronger results. I have zero excuses...lol

Jim Rempe has a rule of thumb on break shot speed. Set up a break shot with no balls racked. You should pocket the ball with enough speed that the cue ball travels three rails but no more than that. Of course I'm sure he means that as a rough rule depending on conditions.

 

[The_JV]

Jim Rempe has a rule of thumb on break shot speed. Set up a break shot with no balls racked. You should pocket the ball with enough speed that the cue ball travels three rails but no more than that. Of course I'm sure he means that as a rough rule depending on conditions.

It would of course depend on the cut angle of the shot of course. Which I think is the point.... I can say my table is quite slow, and I would generally need to hit this farily strong if the intent is to travel the length of the table with those 3 rails.

 

[Dan White]

It would of course depend on the cut angle of the shot of course. Which I think is the point.... I can say my table is quite slow, and I would generally need to hit this farily strong if the intent is to travel the length of the table with those 3 rails.

To be clear, we're talking about where the cue ball caroms off the break ball, goes through where the rack of balls would normally be (but aren't now), hits the foot rail, the side rail and then comes up table to hit the other side rail or maybe the head rail. If you have to hit that shot hard then you must be playing on a shag carpet! Of course like you said if you set up a shallow shot then you will have to pound it but that wasn't Rempe's intention. I believe he was just talking about setting up a normal break shot with an angle where the cue ball cuts the break ball at less than a half ball hit, similar to a Mosconi break (but maybe not quite that sharp).