What is meant by "Pop" the cue ball?

G

gordml

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Mike Segal , was commentating a match and was going on about how a player should "pop" the cue ball?
Just wondering what that is....
 
Making the cue ball jump after hitting the rack on the break. The perfect break makes a ball and leaves the CB in the middle of the table, which "should" leave an easy shot on the first object ball.


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yeah, but he was talking about a long shot along the rail with a bit of an angle where the CB is headed for the rail.
The "pop" was supposed come off the rail and go down towards the end rail
 
gordml said:
yeah, but he was talking about a long shot along the rail with a bit of an angle where the CB is headed for the rail.
The "pop" was supposed come off the rail and go
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The pop is top which causes the cueball to slightly climb the rail. As it comes down it angles slightly away from therail.
 
pt109 said:
To me, popping the ball is hitting ball dead center, dead on….the back pressure of 9 balls forces the cue ball to jump back.
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Yes...like a head on collision...if it is a perfect hit the smaller car often gets popped back a little after impact before they end up back together and stopped.
 
iusedtoberich said:
I think he was talking about stunning the CB over off of the rail on a near straight angle. Hit it very full and very fast to get the most CB movement from the slight angle.
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Agree with this, Stun run-through, or stun draw. He's referring to how the ball reacts on contact with the OB/rail before settling into the direction of travel.
Patrick Johnson said:
That's not something to try for - it wastes power. If the CB hits the head ball more square, the force caroming the CB up can instead be moving OBs.

pj
chgo
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As for this comment, breaking isn't simply about power, I absolutely do try for this... Works really well for 8/10 ball breaking... (I am going to be hitting a 10 ball break quite a bit harder than 8 ball still)

You don't need to try and obliterate the rack... Medium powered hit, starting on a line just fractionally off-centre, hitting the head ball full in the face, and I'm guaranteed a ball going down and squatting the cue ball leaves me the next shot... Zero chance of a scratch... the only down side is the 1/10 chance I don't make a ball and the opposing player then sweeps the table (if they're good at least)

Not sure what others thoughts on this are?
 
gordml said:
yeah, but he was talking about a long shot along the rail with a bit of an angle where the CB is headed for the rail.
The "pop" was supposed come off the rail and go down towards the end rail
Click to expand...
He's referring to stun run-through in this case. Just caught this comment. The WB contacts OB/rail, the stun pops it before the run takes it along the rail in a more controlled manner

that's my only logical assumption, or what I would immediately infer.
 
TrxR said:
The idea is to get the cue ball to hop backwards and stop in the center of the table.
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100% - As I tried to explain above... squatting the ball adds predictability, and an easy next shot.

Smashing the balls to pieces is too much mystery for my liking, and second ball break (for 8-ball) does not float my boat one bit...
 
TrxR said:
The idea is to get the cue ball to hop backwards and stop in the center of the table.
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Yes, but (as pt109 said above) it bounces back even without the hop - actually farther back, and with greater control.

I think the hop on the break should be avoided - an easy way to get a square hit on the head ball without changing your stroke speed is to lower the butt (cue more level) and/or move the CB a little farther away.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Yes, but (as pt109 said above) it bounces back even without the hop - actually farther back, and with greater control.

I think the hop on the break should be avoided - an easy way to get a square hit on the head ball without changing your stroke speed is to move the CB a little farther away.

pj
chgo
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Whatever works best is the correct method :) - in my experience, it's less control, and more susceptible to contacts from the OB's - which is why I began to break this way in the first place.

Give me a little hop to set the WB everyday of the week.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Really? Keeping the CB on the cloth is less control than hopping it off the head ball?

You lost me there, but like you said, whatever works for you. (y)

pj
chgo
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Yup. I found that there is less chance for contact with OB's flying around the table pushing the WB out of place. It is also a relatively natural reaction, given the momentum of the ball, and the spin imparted on the WB due to the speed of the stroke.

So, if you're doing all the right things to squat the cueball, there is potential for it to happen that way, whether it is desired or not.

Beating the living hell out of the ball doesn't work... the momentum used to ensure a ball is pocketed is all that's needed. A small pop squats the WB perfectly for me. I'm getting the desired result 9/10. I recently put a bit of practice into my 8ball breaking and it's paid off massively.

I don't think it's particularly confusing, or a far out way of doing things? I just lack the control you have ;)
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Yes, but (as pt109 said above) it bounces back even without the hop - actually farther back, and with greater control.

I think the hop on the break should be avoided - an easy way to get a square hit on the head ball without changing your stroke speed is to lower the butt (cue more level) and/or move the CB a little farther away.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
If I read his post right he says it jumps back which to me mean a hop.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding it his post.
 
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