Top for STop on the BK

[christopheradam]

In the past I would use a slightly below center hit on the cue ball on the 9ball break to try to get the cue ball to stop in the center of the table. A lot of times the cue ball would draw back and scratch or just draw back past the optimal spot of in the center of the table. I now use a slightly above center hit on the cue ball and when the cue ball hits the pack it stops dead or backs up a foot or so and stays around the middle of the table. I think it has to do with the amount of balls that the cue ball is hitting. On a normal shot where you are hitting just one ball the cue ball would roll forward but on a shot where it is hitting 9balls it exagerates the english, am I right on this or am I totally off?
All I know is that its working good for my Break. I can really get into the cue ball with some power and control the cue ball to the center of the table.

I usually break from about half way between the corner pocket and the 2nd diamond. I practice the cut break a lot too where I use low right English(when breaking from the right) and aim for a 1/4 ball hit. I actually hit about 1/2 ball hit or more solid than that but aiming for 1/4 ball hit allows for the delfection. Thats another thing I have recently discovered. I was aiming to full on the one ball and realized it was because the low sidespin english was causeing the deflection.

 

[sjm]

In the past I would use a slightly below center hit on the cue ball on the 9ball break to try to get the cue ball to stop in the center of the table. A lot of times the cue ball would draw back and scratch or just draw back past the optimal spot of in the center of the table. I now use a slightly above center hit on the cue ball and when the cue ball hits the pack it stops dead or backs up a foot or so and stays around the middle of the table. I think it has to do with the amount of balls that the cue ball is hitting. On a normal shot where you are hitting just one ball the cue ball would roll forward but on a shot where it is hitting 9balls it exagerates the english, am I right on this or am I totally off? All I know is that its working good for my Break. I can really get into the cue ball with some power and control the cue ball to the center of the table.

An interesting and thoughtful post, Christopher, but I think you may be misleading yourself here. What the cue ball will do when it hits the pack is a function of what stage it's in when it arrives. The cue ball can be in an overspin, slide or underspin stage when it hits the one ball.

Struck hard enough, a cue ball struck at center or a hair above center may well be in the slide stage when it gets to the one, so what you perceive as overspin may not be that at all. If the cue ball arrives at the one ball in its slide stage, it's more of a stun shot than a follow shot, and, depending on your speed, it might be a "stun follow" shot.

In short, you need to think more about what the cue ball is doing when it gets to the one rather than exactly where you are striking it.

My best guess is that you are delivering the cue ball so that it's in the slide stage when it gets to the one ball, which amounts to either a stun or stun follow effect. This, as you've learned, can produce a very effective break with good cue ball control.

Finally, despite the mass of the pack, if you deliver the cue ball in the overspin stage, the pack won't cause the overspin to dissipate to the extent that you seem to be suggesting.

All in all, this is a pretty tricky subject.

 

[sixpack]

In the past I would use a slightly below center hit on the cue ball on the 9ball break to try to get the cue ball to stop in the center of the table. A lot of times the cue ball would draw back and scratch or just draw back past the optimal spot of in the center of the table. I now use a slightly above center hit on the cue ball and when the cue ball hits the pack it stops dead or backs up a foot or so and stays around the middle of the table. I think it has to do with the amount of balls that the cue ball is hitting. On a normal shot where you are hitting just one ball the cue ball would roll forward but on a shot where it is hitting 9balls it exagerates the english, am I right on this or am I totally off?
All I know is that its working good for my Break. I can really get into the cue ball with some power and control the cue ball to the center of the table.

I usually break from about half way between the corner pocket and the 2nd diamond. I practice the cut break a lot too where I use low right English(when breaking from the right) and aim for a 1/4 ball hit. I actually hit about 1/2 ball hit or more solid than that but aiming for 1/4 ball hit allows for the delfection. Thats another thing I have recently discovered. I was aiming to full on the one ball and realized it was because the low sidespin english was causeing the deflection.

I don't know why it works, but I have noticed this too. I first learned it from watching Johnny Archer break. He strikes the CB slightly above center and then follows through with his cue ending up on the table. Because he hits down a little, the CB doesn't really get english, but it does leave the felt and therefore does not pick up topspin. When this break is working, it really makes you feel like a champ.

Cheers,
Regas

 

[sjm]

I don't know why it works, but I have noticed this too. I first learned it from watching Johnny Archer break. He strikes the CB slightly above center and then follows through with his cue ending up on the table. Because he hits down a little, the CB doesn't really get english, but it does leave the felt and therefore does not pick up topspin. When this break is working, it really makes you feel like a champ.

Cheers,
Regas

Great point, sixpack. Christopher, sixpack's observation that the cue ball leaves the felt on the way to the one ball further explains why it does not arrive in its overspin stage.

 

[christopheradam]

Great point, sixpack. Christopher, sixpack's observation that the cue ball leaves the felt on the way to the one ball further explains why it does not arrive in its overspin page.

Yes, that sounds like a good explaination. I don't understand the why it works, I just know its been "squatting my rock" as Danny Basavich calls it. Also in the Steve Mizeracks "the miz" Book on billiards he mentions hitting with a slightly above center hit. And who could argue with the miz?

 

[sjm]

Yes, that sounds like a good explaination. I don't understand the why it works, I just know its been "squatting my rock" as Danny Basavich calls it. Also in the Steve Mizeracks "the miz" Book on billiards he mentions hitting with a slightly above center hit. And who could argue with the miz?

Stay the course, Christopher. if you've discovered a way to control whitey on your break, it might just be time to stop experimenting.

 

[Tokyo-dave]

Another thing to take into consideration is that when breaking, you tend to shoot down onto the rock more so than with normal shots simply because when breaking hard, you tend to end up upright. When shooting down onto the cue ball, what will appear to you as a little 'top' only appears that way because of the angle that you're seeing it. And like some of the other posts mentioned, you're jumping the ball (happens on all breaks) and it's hitting the rack at a good timing in relation to when the cue ball returns to the rag.
Most importantly, if it's working, don't worry about wether or not it's 'correct' or 'wrong'. If it's working, the stay with it.
dave

 

[vapoolplayer]

here's how you figure out exactly whats going on.

get yourself a pro cup cue ball (the one with the dots)

now videotape the cue ball hitting the rack a few times with each of your intended hits.

play the video back, and watch what is happening. this will tell you exactly whats happening, and now you know what is happening at each hit and speed.

thanks

VAP