DCC usually has fourteen balls racked behind the foot spot with the opening ball on the center spot with ball in hand for an opening break. John's rack man placed the fifteen balls racked with the head ball on the foot spot. John removed the head ball from the center spot, placed it into a prime break position between the third and fourth row of racked balls and placed the cue ball in hand wherever he wanted to break the first rack from to start this and many of his other runs. This isn't a legal first shot in 14.1 straight pool. Maybe the video will show the original position for the start of the record setting run. Mosconi never had, and no one else has been given, this setup to start a 14.1 straight pool run. Everyone who plays 14.1 should know the legal break for the game.
I’ve seen plenty of side of the rack break shots during high run attempts lol. At DCC I’ve seen both as well. From what I remember (and I’ve only watched a couple) everyone broke from a “side of the rack” position and Chris melling broke from the center spot. Personally I think that breaks the balls even better than he side break it’s just harder to get perfect during the run.
For a high run attempt it’s the only way. Why waste time breaking safe or whatever you may think should happen...then doing what? Until getting a good shot to start counting.
It’s a high run attempt, it starts from a good break shot however you like