The loose balls thing I was discussing is semi-repeatable. Note, it isn't some guarantee, but you will get the 8-ball to that pocket or within an inch at a much greater frequency over the course of many breaks. Will you make it? All depends on the speed of the 8 if it can reach there, if it doesn't get kissed or blocked etc...
When I used to play league pool, a teammate of mine was totally skeptical. So I told him "watch this"...and as I racked for the guy I was playing against (another teammate)..I left the ball in the middle opposite his break side not touching just a little. Just a little gap. He's a 2nd ball style side breaker. He's also a weak player and not that strong of a breaker, but even with that - on the ensuing break the 8-ball was nearly pocketed. I did that 4 times in a row (never telling the breaker, just my skeptical teammate) and everytime but once, the 8-ball was nearly made. As soon as I racked properly, the 8 balls movement over the next few racks was much less.
Of course, some tables play different, and the break is random and this isn't going to happen all the time - but just happens more often. Also, some ball sets have balls that are different sizes due to wear or they were swapped or mixed up with an older set that was worn out. That can have interesting effects on the break.
This is my experience with that particular issue. I was always oblivious to this stuff until I was playing in a local tournament in NY years ago. It was 9-ball, race to 6. My opponent made the 9 three times on the break against me. My friend (a semi-pro player, was with him at the IPT tournament) asked me if any of the balls behind the 9 were loose. I thought back and said "yes, as a matter of fact"...the cloth had tracks from being worn out, and the rear balls wouldn't stick to the 9 very close...they always wanted to settle into their grooves leaving gaps. I was careless, and my opponent had a good break. His good break, and my ignorance equalled 3 wins right on the break, which is too high of a frequency for 9-ball. A better racking job on my part might have prevented all 3, or at the very least, 2 of them (you can never guarantee that your oppoent can't make it on the break).
Lessons like these are learned the hard way. Some of you might say "well duh"...but I was clueless at the time.
Sorry, anyway - not trying to hijack the thread.
When I used to play league pool, a teammate of mine was totally skeptical. So I told him "watch this"...and as I racked for the guy I was playing against (another teammate)..I left the ball in the middle opposite his break side not touching just a little. Just a little gap. He's a 2nd ball style side breaker. He's also a weak player and not that strong of a breaker, but even with that - on the ensuing break the 8-ball was nearly pocketed. I did that 4 times in a row (never telling the breaker, just my skeptical teammate) and everytime but once, the 8-ball was nearly made. As soon as I racked properly, the 8 balls movement over the next few racks was much less.
Of course, some tables play different, and the break is random and this isn't going to happen all the time - but just happens more often. Also, some ball sets have balls that are different sizes due to wear or they were swapped or mixed up with an older set that was worn out. That can have interesting effects on the break.
This is my experience with that particular issue. I was always oblivious to this stuff until I was playing in a local tournament in NY years ago. It was 9-ball, race to 6. My opponent made the 9 three times on the break against me. My friend (a semi-pro player, was with him at the IPT tournament) asked me if any of the balls behind the 9 were loose. I thought back and said "yes, as a matter of fact"...the cloth had tracks from being worn out, and the rear balls wouldn't stick to the 9 very close...they always wanted to settle into their grooves leaving gaps. I was careless, and my opponent had a good break. His good break, and my ignorance equalled 3 wins right on the break, which is too high of a frequency for 9-ball. A better racking job on my part might have prevented all 3, or at the very least, 2 of them (you can never guarantee that your oppoent can't make it on the break).
Lessons like these are learned the hard way. Some of you might say "well duh"...but I was clueless at the time.
Sorry, anyway - not trying to hijack the thread.
