Which way do you break this cluster?

Dan White

Dan White

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Which way do you go to break up this cluster? Option A and B are supposed to be the same cue ball. I had about the same angle on either option. Would you prefer option A, option B, or "either one is fine". Please tell me your reasoning behind your choice.

Page 2 of the diagram shows what I did and how I ended up. I can't swear to the ball numbers, but the positions are accurate.

Thanks!

CueTable Help

 
haha lucky outcome.. I would do the same as you,
the percentage for getting a shot after the break is allot higher
with A because your are staying in the center and ontop of the balls.
On B you are going towards the Nrail with no insurance.. i guess you could control the safety valve with the 4, but i like A's percentage better.

Smacking the 10ball, spinning over the top of the 13 and scratching in the middle pocket would also feel good.

did you make the bank?
 
Honestly if I understand the question, I wouldn't do either, I'd shoot the 11, the 8 and break with the 1 ball.
 
Secondary Break Shots

Yeah ~ I'd have to say I agree with 3AndStop. I'd take the 11, 8 and then break with the 1. Second choice would be the 1 in the side. You chances of having a shot after the 1 are better than they would be if you tried breaking up the pile with the 10. Third choice would be the 10, but with draw into the 13 and back toward the rail. Hitting with hard follow may just get you stuck near the footrail without much to look at.


Ron F
 
knowing me, I'd probably take b and end up with nothing down by the bottom rail.
 
Honestly I would have played the 1ball with a slightly elevated cue and draw.
Would be concerned with not overhitting the side-pocket.Cue ball should hit
the 13 and come out clean.Ball up table is a good safety valve.
Because draw kills the cue ball,over hitting a shot a little,isnt a bad as "running english".
Just my 2cents,Jack
 
For you guys who would go 11, 8, 1 the interesting part is "Why"? Are the side pockets too tight on your table and you prefer a corner shot, do you like pushing the balls to the foot rail rather than across, do you want more angle than you have on the 1 with option A?

Also, are you trying to open up all the balls with the one break shot, or are you trying to move say half the balls out?

If the 11 were actually about 3 inches closer to the side rail than depicted (and not straight in), do you still shoot the 11?
 
For me, going into the 10 seems to leave the CB low with no insurance balls. Either that or its a real wind up and let it fly shot that lets the CB loose. And no one in the world can find a pocket for the CB better than me. :)

The 1 ball into the side looks a tad flat to me and there is a very strong pocket in the 13, 12, 3 that feels like I'd have a good chance of getting glued in there.

On the other hand, going 11, 8, and then 1 looks like I can glance the 14 and hit the 3 on the nose. I think the spread would be better and the CB has less movement and is in the center of the table. Looking at it, just feels like the best results are that way. And you know that if it feels right in your mind, your chances of it coming out right are much better. That's why I'd do it 11, 8, 1
 
Dan White said:
For you guys who would go 11, 8, 1 the interesting part is "Why"? Are the side pockets too tight on your table and you prefer a corner shot, do you like pushing the balls to the foot rail rather than across, do you want more angle than you have on the 1 with option A?

Also, are you trying to open up all the balls with the one break shot, or are you trying to move say half the balls out?

If the 11 were actually about 3 inches closer to the side rail than depicted (and not straight in), do you still shoot the 11?
Click to expand...
From the way the 1 lies,if your side pockets are too tight,{and assuming the
sides are bigger then the corners}your table is too tight for anything but ....
one-pocket:D Thanks for posting this layout,Jack
 
Thanks for all the replies. I might go 11, 8, 1 as 3andstop says if I had it to do over. I have to say there was a pretty good angle on the 1 into the side - not too flat, and not a sharp, missable shot. An inch or two on the Cue Table can make things look quite different. I never like breaking clusters without a safety ball, but sometimes you don't have a choice, and I probably should have hit it a bit harder to improve my chance of getting the cue ball in the clear.
 
Hmm. I'm not always good with optimal paths. But I'll gladly share my first (arguable) impression:

I'd probably go for the one with a light stroke and a little bit of follow, trying to nudge the 14 out of the way. maybe even touching the three ball, to end up with a break shot on the two. If i fail, I can still play the 8 and go around the rack on the ten ball.

Why would I prefer that? The two and 14 are open balls on the same side of the rack that you're breaking the balls into from the position the cue ball is placed at. I would rather have those as insurance balls, than risking cluttering up with them (which you, in fact, did). If I can nudge the 14 successfully I may create another secondary break ball, and break the rack towards the opposite corner.

Then again, I'm not the expert :wink:

Regards
Gwenn
 
Gwenn said:
Hmm. I'm not always good with optimal paths. But I'll gladly share my first (arguable) impression:

I'd probably go for the one with a light stroke and a little bit of follow, trying to nudge the 14 out of the way. maybe even touching the three ball, to end up with a break shot on the two. If i fail, I can still play the 8 and go around the rack on the ten ball.

Why would I prefer that? The two and 14 are open balls on the same side of the rack that you're breaking the balls into from the position the cue ball is placed at. I would rather have those as insurance balls, than risking cluttering up with them (which you, in fact, did). If I can nudge the 14 successfully I may create another secondary break ball, and break the rack towards the opposite corner.

Then again, I'm not the expert :wink:

Regards
Gwenn
Click to expand...
Good post.OP tried that and ended up bad.Think his point was-This looks good-break the cluster,with insurance-but desired results wasn't obtained.
I wonder why not use a stun-draw on the 1,or hit the 1 a little harder,with follow , to "drive" whitey clean? Anyone?
 
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