The Break...change the rack position ?

[LILJOHN30]

I simply wondered if anyone has studied which location is best to minimize balls being made on the break. Maybe a drawn line from the head spot 4 inches back to to the typical 9 ball location and the person racking could choose where to put the TIGHT rack head ball? (just another idea?)

ask corey deul he has studied the break.lol

 

[Tony_in_MD]

I think for 9 ball it is not the position of the rack but the position of the cue ball that offers more of challenge to make balls off the break.

Some tourneys (US OPEN) for example have the break from the box rule, this tends to decrease percentage of wing balls off the break in 9 ball. However players that are proficient with a cut break still make the wing ball a good amount of the time.

I was wondering if breaking from the center of the head string would decrease the number of wing balls made off the break further?

 

[nancewayne]

THIS response IS the reason for this thread! There are two variables...the rack position and the cue ball position. Maybe a combination of both could cue down on the "automatic" ball off the break (in any game).

Any other thoughts?

I think for 9 ball it is not the position of the rack but the position of the cue ball that offers more of challenge to make balls off the break.
Some tourneys (US OPEN) for example have the break from the box rule, this tends to decrease percentage of wing balls off the break in 9 ball. However players that are proficient with a cut break still make the wing ball a good amount of the time.

I was wondering if breaking from the center of the head string would decrease the number of wing balls made off the break further?

 

[CreeDo]

Well, if they dictated dead center break I'm fairly sure it'd be very touch to make the wing ball. The CB could end up cutting the 1 severely and only half your break energy would go into the spread. It'd look like a screwup.

I don't like the idea of taking away the player's choices at the table though. "This is too effective so we're gonna hamstring you"... something about that just rings wrong. It's their job to be as effective as possible. If the game still has a flaw in it, change the game. Don't change the player by forcing him to play a dumb centerline break specifically engineered to PREVENT him from making a ball.

 

[oldzilla]

It seems in any pool game someone figures out how to make a ball on the break, ie., Deuel's soft break, etc.. Has anyone thought of moving the rack's position slightly forward (1/2 inch)? That is enough change to not allow the wing ball to go in the side and other typical ball patterns to make balls. There is nothing that can't be changed, ie., U.S. Open 9-ball racking the 9-ball on the spot.

Your thoughts?

well i was about to post yesterday and had a connection problem. i was about to tell you that the wing ball does not go in the side. it goes in the corner !

i figured that someone would comment on this mistake in the OP's description. but i see no one has pointed this out yet. nancewaynne prolly know where the wing ball goes and just made an error when typing it.

and my thoughts are that nothing needs to be changed. if you like making balls on the break play 9-ball. if you want a harder rack to make balls you just play 10-ball.

 

[nancewayne]

The Break....change the rack position ?

oldzilla.... you're correct...my bad! I've corrected the original post. THANKS !

well i was about to post yesterday and had a connection problem. i was about to tell you that the wing ball does not go in the side. it goes in the corner !

i figured that someone would comment on this mistake in the OP's description. but i see no one has pointed this out yet. nancewaynne prolly know where the wing ball goes and just made an error when typing it.

and my thoughts are that nothing needs to be changed. if you like making balls on the break play 9-ball. if you want a harder rack to make balls you just play 10-ball.