Unconventional Break ball?

[thyme3421]

During practice the other night I fell on this shot more than once in almost every rack... I never kept it for a break ball, but it was excellent for breaking apart mid-rack clusters. Almost like a 2ndary break ball.

What do you guys think about saving a ball in this area as a final break ball?

CueTable Help

 

[Blackjack]

The only question I would ask myself, is what did I have after this break shot?

Did I have a shot?

Was my cue ball ok?

That would determine whether I would intentionally go for it in the future.

My only concern with this type of shot is sticking to the back of the pack, or just not having a shot afterwards. This is what I call GWB 14.1 - you're kinda not giving your cue ball an exit strategy. lol

I've used similar shots like this to break out clusters, but that's when I had a good insurance ball.

 

[CueAndMe]

The way you have the cueball drawn going into the 4 at a steep angle, I'd agree with Blackjack. I happen to like this shot, but only with a little more running english(and probably a touch of draw), so the cueball glances off of the 9,6, or 10. That way it will head to the side rail and with the english hopefully spin off of the rail toward the center of the table. I like this shot because the ball is so easily pocketed. The side of the rack break shots that guys like David are comfy with, I sadly miss too often. These hangers are nice, though no big time player ever plays for them.

 

[Steve Lipsky]

You have to know them all, thyme. The more breakshots you know and are familiar with, the less a chance you'll end a rack without a break shot.

Good players can play a month, never ending a rack without a viable break shot. This doesn't mean, of course, that they'll always get on it, or even that they don't move it accidentally in the last couple balls. But in order to have this level of success rate, you have to be comfortable with ANYTHING that can break up a rack.

Once you have that basic knowledge, you can then start ranking them in a layout. In other words, if you have a layout with several break balls, you can choose which break balls work the best for you, and then weigh them against how easy they will all be to play an end-rack to.

This breakshot you've shown is quite standard, and also - as Blackjack said - usually has some fairly sketchy results. It's not a breakshot you want to choose over some that are more conventional and have better yields. But it's a nice "second-tier" breakshot, which is to say, it's super easy to get on and you know you'll break the rack. You'll just have to take your chances on what comes next...

- Steve

 

[alinco]

Hi thyme,

I've run into this break shot quite a few times due to my end rack mismanagement. There are a couple of subtle points that really help me on this shot:

1. You have to hit it firm. Like bluepepper says, you have to "roll off" those back balls and get to the side rail and spin back into the center of the table. No balls head toward the lower corner pockets so you need the cue ball to get out of the back area. You might spin back into the rack but that's just gonna happen now and again on this shot.

2. If you can be accurate enough, you should try to contact the 6 or 10. The 5 and the 4 might stick the cue ball but the others don't have enough ball showing to get stuck at that angle. The 9 is not so bad but the cue may not make it to the side rail and spin out. The 10 can actually push the 14 out to make a great secondary shot.

3. You have to hit it firm but watch out for 2 things if you hit too hard. I've seen the cue ball bend off the end rail and completely miss the rack. I've also seen players put too much follow and actually jump over the rack missing everything again. The cue goes up table and you're in trouble.

Andy

 

[mullyman]

Follow on this shot is a killer. The cue ball will bend around and completely miss the rack and leave you way up table with nothing to shoot at.

Another thing is if you do glance off that 3-4 then the balls on the other side of the rack are going to be coming out when the cue ball gets over there and the glance into the corner off of a ball is definitely a chance. So is glancing off a ball, hitting the side rail and coming back down under the rack with nothing to shoot at.

But you should practice it just to see what you can do with it in the event you need it in a game situation.
MULLY

 

[thyme3421]

I've learned 3 things so far.

1. Top isn't a great idea, hit it firm, but don't smash it.
2. right engish is a good thing... but be careful of how much.
3. practice practice practice

 

[Jimmy M.]

During practice the other night I fell on this shot more than once in almost every rack... I never kept it for a break ball, but it was excellent for breaking apart mid-rack clusters. Almost like a 2ndary break ball.

What do you guys think about saving a ball in this area as a final break ball?

I wouldn't use this ball if something better were available. Also, if this ball were in this position after the break shot, chances are you'd have to make it to clear the pocket for other balls, so leaving it as a break shot for the next rack probably wouldn't be an option anyway.

 

[CueAndMe]

Also, if this ball were in this position after the break shot, chances are you'd have to make it to clear the pocket for other balls, so leaving it as a break shot for the next rack probably wouldn't be an option anyway.

Good point.

 

[softshot]

My only concern with this type of shot is sticking to the back of the pack, or just not having a shot afterwards. This is what I call GWB 14.1 - you're kinda not giving your cue ball an exit strategy.

in your opinion would playing it as a safety. make it an easier or more difficult shot?

I see what your saying and I like the safe here... if I have to face this shot..

I would never save it for that purpose early in the rack because it takes away too many lines to the corner pocket on the foot end of the table.. but if it's there late in the rack I kinda like the safe..

 

[Blackjack]

in your opinion would playing it as a safety. make it an easier or more difficult shot?

I see what your saying and I like the safe here... if I have to face this shot..

I would never save it for that purpose early in the rack because it takes away too many lines to the corner pocket on the foot end of the table.. but if it's there late in the rack I kinda like the safe..

I was always taught that cue ball position is just as important as the break ball position.

Would I shoot this or play safe? It depends. A smidgen to the left or right with the cue ball - or if the object ball was a bit deeper in the pocket - I'd change my mind with every millimeter that the balls are moved.

That's straight pool.

I looked at this and the first thing I asked myself is why have the cue ball in that position?

Here is an example of what I am talking about....

Let's say that we put the cue ball in the stack and we have ball in hand in the kitchen -

CueTable Help

How do you like your chances now?

It's much different.

You have a better angle.

Here is another option...

CueTable Help

That's better cue ball position as well - so this shot works well with the correct cue ball position.

In the ORIGINAL layout - that angle doesn't work.

But this shot will work if you get better position. So I wouldn't say abandon it altogether - although leaving a ball in front of the corner pockets - I don't recommend that at all - Jimmy already pointed that out.

If I have nothing left except this shot, then cue ball position becomes the main priority.

There is a way to get an angle to get into the stack, and I just need to get my cue ball in the correct position.

Even today, I will spend hours with different key ball - break ball layouts - trying to get position in a variety of different ways - and to get the correct angle on the BB to get me into the stack effectively.

That is what is important, and optimal cue ball position is what is missing from the original layout. If you look at the other CB positions - especially ball in hand in the kitchen - you can use this shot if its all you have left. I believe that the deeper the ball is in the pocket, the easier it is the get into the stack. JMO.