I was curious what some of you on here have heard as the average break speed? I heard that about 20 to 26 is common amongst top pros. Does anybody have a clue as to what guys like SVB, Hillbilly, Hennesse, Johnny Archer, and Busty's top break speed is in mph? I figured Jay Helfert would have a clue about something like this. Thanks in advance. :thumbup:
What is the average Break speed amongst the top breakers?
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I dunno but I heard the hillbilly broke a cue ball once, breaking a rack of 9-ball, at a Fast Eddie's stop in Austin. I also heard the Ironman charged him to replace the cue ball. I wonder if it's true...:shrug:
Dennis
Dennis
According to Phil Capelle (Play Your Best Nine Ball, p. 41), in 1996, 23 male pros at the BCA Trade Show averaged 24.9 MPH. Sammy Jones had the fastest at 31.1 MPH. Jeanette Lee led the ladies at 23.8 MPH.
Phil did not report any speeds for the players that you asked about.
Phil did not report any speeds for the players that you asked about.
Interesting question. Do you mean the hardest breakers or the best breakers?
I reckon the hardest breakers (e.g., Breedlove, Bryant, Nevel) typically break in the 28 - 33 mph. I've been told that Johnny Archer, considered by some to have the best break ever, tends to break in the 26-28 mph range.
Most of the best breakers have both the speed and the cue ball control,so there's some room for interpretation.
....and then, of course, there is Corey Deuel, who often takes speed off the break but still has a great break.
I reckon the hardest breakers (e.g., Breedlove, Bryant, Nevel) typically break in the 28 - 33 mph. I've been told that Johnny Archer, considered by some to have the best break ever, tends to break in the 26-28 mph range.
Most of the best breakers have both the speed and the cue ball control,so there's some room for interpretation.
....and then, of course, there is Corey Deuel, who often takes speed off the break but still has a great break.
I've seen Cory Deuel get great results at 8 mph.
I dont know but im gonna buy me a radar gun and check my speed out.
(then charge everyone else to use it :thumbup
(then charge everyone else to use it :thumbup
In honor of your mentioning Hillbilly I will share again my "Ode to a Lost Cue Ball" (in which Hillbilly makes a cameo appearance) from an earlier thread.
To the tune of "On Top of Old Smokey" or, for those who are familiar with the remake, "On Top of Spaghetti":
On top of my Gold Crown,
All covered in green,
I shot my poor cue ball,
through the window screen.
It rolled down the driveway,
Past Jimmy and Pete,
and then my poor cue ball
rolled into the street.
It fell in the gutter,
And swished in the ooze,
My cue ball was nasty,
Like Chia Ching Wu’s.
It fell through the grating,
And made a big splash,
And then my poor cue ball
Was nothing but trash.
Last I saw my cue ball,
It was not happy,
I waved to my cue ball,
As it drifted to sea.
So if you practice breaking,
Don’t play while you buzz,
And don’t hit your cue ball,
Like Hillbilly does.
If you are consistently getting a good spread of balls, something pocketed and the cueball is stopping in the middle of the table, then you have a good break. I don't have any of these things so I don't have a good break.
As far as pocketing balls, buy Joe Tuckers racking secrets DVD. But if you aren't making balls, try moving cueball to different positions, and keep track of where you are breaking from. When a pro is running a million racks, they are almost always breaking from the same place every time, so they can achieve as consistent results as possible.
CS thanks for the tip. I need to be more consistant with keeping the CB in the middle. I tend to hit the CB high and it always generate so much spin that it actually stays at the head of the table. Also, I am playing 8-ball and not 9-ball, don't know how much difference it makes. Thanks
In that case I would suggest breaking around the centre of the table. Side rail breaks are generally meant for making the wing ball in 9 ball.
You can break from the side rail aiming for the second ball in 8 ball, however this tends to create a lot of traffic on the rails although it can be easier to pocket balls in this way. The other downside is it's very easy to scratch in the corner pocket if you're not careful (or accurate). Centre table breaks give you a more even spread, making run outs easier JMHO.
If you are hitting the cueball high, try placing your tip lower on the cueball when you are addressing the ball, I'm guessing your elbow is dropping before contact.
The most powerful breaks I remember were David Howard, Danny Medina, George Breedlove and Wade Crane. There were no radar guns back then. I suspect they were all capable of breaking over 30 mph.
Then of course there is the mighty Mo Fo Yung. He is in a separate category for good reason. No one is even close to his speed on the break shot. He once broke the balls so hard that a cop who was outside using a radar gun came inside to see what was making his radar gun top 60 in a school zone. We directed him back to Mo and he proceeded to put the gun on him. 62, 64 and a final 66 and he got a ticket! The cop told him to slow it down since there were children playing in the area. He was afraid they would get hit by flying debris. MO FO YUNG LIVES!!!
Then of course there is the mighty Mo Fo Yung. He is in a separate category for good reason. No one is even close to his speed on the break shot. He once broke the balls so hard that a cop who was outside using a radar gun came inside to see what was making his radar gun top 60 in a school zone. We directed him back to Mo and he proceeded to put the gun on him. 62, 64 and a final 66 and he got a ticket! The cop told him to slow it down since there were children playing in the area. He was afraid they would get hit by flying debris. MO FO YUNG LIVES!!!
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At the U.S. Open in 2003, I think it was, they had a radar gun on the TV table. BCN and Accu-Stats were offering $500 for every 9-ball made on the break. As you can imagine, EVERYBODY was gunning for that 9-ball break shot. Only there or four players got the cheese who played on the TV table, as I recall. It wasn't as easy as it looked! The TV table played differently than the others due to the lights and heat.
I remember Keith and Buddy Hall talking about it before their match, sharing breaking strategies. I spoke to Carmine Sardo that morning at breakfast, and I asked him what would be a good break for the Sardo rack, which is the rack that was being used that year. He said a medium-speed break was best as far as getting the balls to blossom out to the full potential.
That year, I remember Francisco Bustamante had the most powerful break, always over 30 MPH. Keith and Buddy's breaks were in the 23-to-25-MPH range. Oh, neither of them made it on the break. :embarrassed2:
Best break mechanic in the business is Corey Deuel. He's figured out a way to adapt his breaking strategies to the equipment. That's the sign of a true champion, one who can adjust his game to the environment quickly.
you can buy a radar gun at sports authority....i have one and have been messing around with different oz cues to see which is best. it all depends on the amount of slow and fast twitch muscle fibers you have. they are about 100-120 bucks and used for baseball pitchers. they wont clock anything below 10mph i think. read the instructions on how to get a accurate reading. the ball has to be coming at you not from side to side
oh yeah and as far as corey duel at 8mph i really dont think so. my ex-gf hit them at 12 mph and she is a wuss. most people walk at 4mph. maybe 7 ball on a fast table.
i just put this book for sale in the for sale section if you are interested
For those interested in measuring your break speed
Here's a link to an old thead where I shared how to measure your break speed without having to get a radar gun. All you need is a computer with a microphone. Laptops with built in microphones work great.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=75417
I gotta admit, I'm still in the 22-24 range myself.
Good luck!
Steve
Here's a link to an old thead where I shared how to measure your break speed without having to get a radar gun. All you need is a computer with a microphone. Laptops with built in microphones work great.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=75417
I gotta admit, I'm still in the 22-24 range myself.
Good luck!
Steve
I thought I had read or maybe heard that back in the early 90's, Bustamante was clocked at or near 40 Mph. I still don't know how he's able to rear back and pull that cue completely out of his bridge hand, and still go thru and hit the balls squarely. Oh wait, he's a pro. I know if I did that I'd probably break a finger!!
I was quite surprised this weekend breaking on a speed gun. I am know to have a good break, not great, but good esp on the bar box. I did the speed gun at the expo 4 times. I hit them as hard as I could on the first three, 23,24,22. The break I used in the tournament, 18. I was getting good action and controlling the cue ball. Most could not believe my REAL break speed was 18 mph.
I was just watching the Efren/Shane match and Shannon Daulton estimated Shanes 10 ball break speed at 16-19 mph. And nobody is going to argue with those results. I just don't think you have to hit them that hard to get good action.
I was just watching the Efren/Shane match and Shannon Daulton estimated Shanes 10 ball break speed at 16-19 mph. And nobody is going to argue with those results. I just don't think you have to hit them that hard to get good action.