Trouble potting a ball on the break

StormHotRod300

StormHotRod300

BigSexy
Silver Member
Ok, heres my situation!

I have a up comming Open BB 9ball tourny comming up, so i've been playing alot more on the BB's in town. But I've noticed that when practicing and playing that i come up dry alot on the break, yet squat my rock in the middle of the table. I generally break from the box, because i get better follow through / power and cb control too. But i tend to leave the table WIDE open for someone to run out if i dont make a ball.

But if the CB happens to get away from me on the break, i tend to pot a ball or two, but the table isnt as open and i may or may not have a shot on the OB.

I do tend to always try to find the sweet spot on the table by moving the CB around and breaking from different spots, but lately its like i cant buy a ball on the break. But it does tend to bother me when i break and squat the cb, and leave the table wide open for someone to run out.

Also, I do tend to only break at one speed, which is probably consider'd a medium break, so i can control the cb more. I try to stay at this speed so i can stay more consistant with my break too.

anyways, feel free to drop helpful hints!
 
I guess it sounds kind of like you know what to do. You're changing where you break from, but not the speed. For some reason your speed isn't working, you'll have to risk a little loss of control.:( I feel your pain, I can't make a ball lately either.

Edit: Do you have Joe Tucker's Racking DVDs? You could try looking at those too, learn how to exploit the rack a little bit and know why you're moving the cue ball around.
 
Break from just off of the side rail with a little inside draw, and hit the head ball square. At a medium speed break, the 1 should go in the side pocket, and the rock in the middle of the table. I usually put the CB about the width of my hand off of the rail, and break with a closed bridge, my bridge hand midway between the diamond. Personal best break from here was 6 balls on the break with an easy 3 run out. Unfortunately this happened during the first game of the first match of my first 9 ball tourney, and I was so excited about it, I dogged an easy 9 giving my opponent the rack. I went on to take 2nd ....Live and learn...

McCue Banger McCue
 
StormHotRod300 said:
Ok, heres my situation!

I have a up comming Open BB 9ball tourny comming up, so i've been playing alot more on the BB's in town. But I've noticed that when practicing and playing that i come up dry alot on the break, yet squat my rock in the middle of the table. I generally break from the box, because i get better follow through / power and cb control too. But i tend to leave the table WIDE open for someone to run out if i dont make a ball.

But if the CB happens to get away from me on the break, i tend to pot a ball or two, but the table isnt as open and i may or may not have a shot on the OB.

I do tend to always try to find the sweet spot on the table by moving the CB around and breaking from different spots, but lately its like i cant buy a ball on the break. But it does tend to bother me when i break and squat the cb, and leave the table wide open for someone to run out.

Also, I do tend to only break at one speed, which is probably consider'd a medium break, so i can control the cb more. I try to stay at this speed so i can stay more consistant with my break too.

anyways, feel free to drop helpful hints!
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Do you make a ball on at least half of your breaks?????randyg
 
open bridge

try breaking with an open bridge.i like to break with a closed bridge but sometimes this works.i'm not sure what the difference is (probally follow through better) but it causes the rack to break differently.thats probally most of your problem anyway.make sure you follow through.when you don't you won't get near the break.sometimes not following through is a bad habit that everyone gets into whether shooting a shot or breaking.
 
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It's about the rack not the technique. Joe Tucker's DVD is very helpful on learning to read a rack. In general, try to freeze the 4 balls touching the 9 and you'll have better results. I could go into more, but neither do I want to take the time nor give away Joe's secrets.

I find speed also has a profound effect, and sometimes a softer break gets more done.
 
When it comes to lessons on how to pot on the break, get Joe's (Tucker) DVDs. I had a strong break before I got the DVDs and now I have an educated break. Also gho to Colin's power break video. No one has showm more on power breaking that I know of and the price of the lesson is right (Thanks Colin and Joe, you both rule:D )...

Pete
 
RandyG, Overall? I'd probably say yea, its tough to say, cuz it seems the only time i notice when i dont make a ball on the break, is when it happens over and over again.

everyone else: I'll give your tips a try, I generally do make sure i give myself a tight rack lol nothing like slug racking against yourself :eek: , If i do have a problem with the table, i tend to tap the balls to freeze them.

I've also used cut breaks or a controlled cut break so the CB after the break comes off the side rail and back towards the rack too.
 
Try breaking from up and down the side rail and vary your speed up and down.

Most players only break from one spot at the same speed right behind the headstring using the side rail break. I move the cue ball back along the side rail and vary the speed until I start making the one ball in the side pocket a lot of the time.
 
You don't have to have a tight rack. Just the right balls. I know I used to be looking at the wrong balls when I racked and had frustrating breaks.
 
Side rail break works the same on a bar box as it does on a 9 footer. Have a good chance at making the 1 ball in the side pocket or positioning it up table and have a good chance at making a wing ball.

Just hit the balls harder. Thats the only advice I can give you if you arnt making a ball on the break on a Barbox.
 
StormHotRod300 said:
RandyG, Overall? I'd probably say yea, its tough to say, cuz it seems the only time i notice when i dont make a ball on the break, is when it happens over and over again.

everyone else: I'll give your tips a try, I generally do make sure i give myself a tight rack lol nothing like slug racking against yourself :eek: , If i do have a problem with the table, i tend to tap the balls to freeze them.

I've also used cut breaks or a controlled cut break so the CB after the break comes off the side rail and back towards the rack too.
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Making a ball on the Break 50% of the time is about average, maybe a little above. I wouldn't worry too much about it.....randyg
 
Strom,

The break is so conditions specific that you can't rely on how your breaking on the particular table that you practice on, that table maybe having a bad day. The cueball doesn't lie, so, if your squatting the rock it means your hitting the head ball square, which is generally excepted as a good thing. If that same hit is not giving up balls on the break you have to find 'the spot' by changing something(location, speed). It sounds to me like you are willing to move around to find that spot so what more can you do? Well, you can be a better guesser than everyone else at the event or you can be a better observer than everyone else.

You say the upcoming event is open BB 9ball. I have never played in an open BB 9ball event(too many) where it didn't turn into a breaking contest in the money rounds. By the time you reach the money rounds everybody gets out so it turns into a breaking contest. My helpful hint is to watch the top players in the early rounds, they are better at finding 'the spot' than the average bear. As the event progresses some kind of breaking trend will show it's face and if your lucky enough you can ride that wave into the finals which will be a breaking contest...may the gods be with you my son...:)

DISCLAIMER: I am taking cold medicine...:)
 
The other day I did this, rack balls, break, take ball in hand and try to run out. If you don't run out or don't make the 9, rack and break again. (playing the ghost)

I was having a good bit of trouble running out and so it basically turned into break practice with a few runs intermixed. I must have played 150 games with the ghost and put a real nice burn groove in the felt and was using a side rail break with closed bridge. I also have learned a lot from reading Colin Colenso's power breaking tips.

Needless to say my break improved *immensely*. Even if I wasn't running out I was potting 1-3 balls consistently and squatting the ball right in between the middle diamonds almost 95% of the time.

EDIT : I was potting a ball around 65-70% and kept the cue ball in the middle of the table around 95% (found a really good speed that mixed great control and potting)
 
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"just the right balls"

thoffen said:
You don't have to have a tight rack. Just the right balls. I know I used to be looking at the wrong balls when I racked and had frustrating breaks.
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This sounds interesting, but at least for me, needs clarification.
 
xidica,

yes i do play the ghost often, and normally loose lol. But i still play it for practice.

Well today I practiced my break for a bit to warm up, and didnt notice anything different from the other day, I even went with a cut break and still was having issues! I did have a couple nice break n runs when i did pot a ball so that is a plus.

I'll keep on truckin tomorrow lol.

" I am Jack's pool cue tip "
 
Controlling the cb on the break on a barbox is overrated. I break pretty damn hard. I usually make 2 or 3 balls on the break, and regardless of how well I break, my cb never stops in the middle of the table. The barbox is so small, I get kicked around like a soccerball. So the way I see it, why even try to control it. I say just hit it hard, keep the rock on the table (I tend to scratch about 15% of the time), and hope for the best. Seriously, it's a barbox, it's damn near impossible to miss the buckets on that table.
 
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