Who has the best break in town?

Who is the best breaker in the US

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X Breaker

X Breaker

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Who is the best breaker in the US?

May be I should divide this into two sections:

1. Who has the most powerful break, i.e. the fastest speed recorded by a radar gun.

2. Who has the best control on the cue ball while breaking really hard?

Which pro in the US have you seen made the most number of balls in his/her break?

I will post a poll but you are more than welcome to name someone who is not on the poll.

Thank you.

Richard
 
Wow, there are so many POWER breakers in the U.S., and the ones you have chosen are all top shelf! :)

I think I could add quite a few to the list, but some of the names that come to mind at the time of this writing are: Francisco Bustamante, Niels Fejen, Thorsten Hohmann, Rodney Morris, Alex Pagulayan, Corey Deuel, Danny Harriman, Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich, Shawn Putnam, Jerry Slivka, Frankie Hernandez, just to name a few.

Hillbilly can break 'em hard, and Corey can break 'em soft. The wisdom comes forth when the breaker can adapt their break to the equipment.

Danny Harriman broke in a 7-ball Challenge at ESPN Zone in Baltimore, making 6 balls on the break, which was televised.

Alex Pagulayan was playing Santos at the BCA Open 2 years ago, which was televised, and in the semi-finals, he made 7 balls on the break in 9-ball, and unfortunately didn't get out due to a bad leave.

Out of all the players, I like Francisco Bustamante's break the best.

JAM
 
JAM said:
Wow, there are so many POWER breakers in the U.S., and the ones you have chosen are all top shelf! :)

I think I could add quite a few to the list, but some of the names that come to mind at the time of this writing are: Francisco Bustamante, Niels Fejen, Thorsten Hohmann, Rodney Morris, Alex Pagulayan, Corey Deuel, Danny Harriman, Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich, Shawn Putnam, Jerry Slivka, Frankie Hernandez, just to name a few.

Hillbilly can break 'em hard, and Corey can break 'em soft. The wisdom comes forth when the breaker can adapt their break to the equipment.

Danny Harriman broke in a 7-ball Challenge at ESPN Zone in Baltimore, making 6 balls on the break, which was televised.

Alex Pagulayan was playing Santos at the BCA Open 2 years ago, which was televised, and in the semi-finals, he made 7 balls on the break in 9-ball, and unfortunately didn't get out due to a bad leave.

Out of all the players, I like Francisco Bustamante's break the best.

JAM
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I know, there are so many great breakers so I wanted to limit it to US players. I am so silly I did not include Shawn Putnam. I cannot add it to the poll now. Yes, I agree his break is very powerful and well controlled. A top notch player in all aspects of the game.

I have never seen 7 balls off the break in 9 ball, that is so amazing! Thank you for telling me that.

Richard
 
JAM said:
Wow, there are so many POWER breakers in the U.S., and the ones you have chosen are all top shelf! :)

I think I could add quite a few to the list, but some of the names that come to mind at the time of this writing are: Francisco Bustamante, Niels Fejen, Thorsten Hohmann, Rodney Morris, Alex Pagulayan, Corey Deuel, Danny Harriman, Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich, Shawn Putnam, Jerry Slivka, Frankie Hernandez, just to name a few.

Hillbilly can break 'em hard, and Corey can break 'em soft. The wisdom comes forth when the breaker can adapt their break to the equipment.

Danny Harriman broke in a 7-ball Challenge at ESPN Zone in Baltimore, making 6 balls on the break, which was televised.

Alex Pagulayan was playing Santos at the BCA Open 2 years ago, which was televised, and in the semi-finals, he made 7 balls on the break in 9-ball, and unfortunately didn't get out due to a bad leave.

Out of all the players, I like Francisco Bustamante's break the best.

JAM
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Was it 7 for sure? My memory is 6.

At my home room in Florida, Steve Mizerak is said to have made 8!
 
Breaker ...

George Breedlove would have to be in there. I believe he has the fastest break recorded at 38 mph 1 time, and several at 33 mph.
 
Nostroke said:
Was it 7 for sure? My memory is 6.
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Your memory is probably better than mine. My hard drive is full and can't retain what it used to! :p

Nostroke said:
At my home room in Florida, Steve Mizerak is said to have made 8!
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Making 8 is some feat! I always grew up knowing Steve Mizerak's TV personality, only having seen him in action one time at Tampa back in the '70s.

Niels Feijen is one of the few players who's been recorded "officially," though I don't know who did it, as running 15 racks in a row in 9-ball.

Larry Nevel does break them hard and gets a lot of action on the balls. The only thing I don't like about a HARD break like that is there isn't very much cue-ball control. There's nothing worse than having whitey jump off the table, giving your opponent ball in hand. In a high-profile event, that will keep you benched. :(

I've got some videos of Mike Sigel on the tournament trail from the '80s, and when he broke the balls, his shaft would bend like a twig. I never understood why that didn't do any damage to his stick. :o

Today, compared to Sigel's era, there are break cues which enhance a player's breaking capabilities. Each player has their own ideas on what the "perfect" break cue is. Whether it's a Sledgehammer, a Predator, or a custom-made one, some players think the break cue gives them the edge. Allen Hopkins has a break cue he's had in his arsenal for sevearl decades, never leaves home without it! :D

Then I've seen quite a few players break with their shooting cue. I can't imagine how that must wear on their tips. :eek:

JAM
 
Seeing that I have left out a lot of names, I have posted an edited thread about this with a new pool. Thank you.
 
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hilla_hilla said:
Bustamante!!!
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Great minds think alike! :D

If you were to ask some of the players whose break they feared the most, Bustie's name always is mentioned. At 44 years old, he's still on top of his game. He is a formidable opponent in any venue he steps foot in, plays all games, whether in a competitive environment or a game of stakes! :D

I got a kick out of him when he came in third place at the IPT KOTH in Orlando as he danced his way out of the tournament room on the red carpet. Here's a snapshot I took right after he won the $25,000-added Joss/Turning Stone event in August of 2005. We had dinner with him right before the finals, and he was cool as a cucumber as he was chowing down on his prime rib and Alaskan crab legs. :D

JAM
 

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Outside of pocketing a ball the most important part of the break is where the cue end s up and hands down the best at that is Corey Deuel with his soft break. He has truly mastered it.
 
The hardest break, it's gotta be Larry Nevel. I saw him in the Carolina Open 2005, he outbreaked Bustamante. Eventhough Bustamante breaks good, but as far as power you have to hand it down to Larry Nevel.
 
the_saint_siwa said:
The hardest break, it's gotta be Larry Nevel. I saw him in the Carolina Open 2005, he outbreaked Bustamante. Eventhough Bustamante breaks good, but as far as power you have to hand it down to Larry Nevel.
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I agree that Larry Nevel has one of the best breaks around. He hits them with so much power and suprisingly has great cueball control. It is very impressive to watch.

IMO
 
the_saint_siwa said:
The hardest break, it's gotta be Larry Nevel. I saw him in the Carolina Open 2005, he outbreaked Bustamante. Eventhough Bustamante breaks good, but as far as power you have to hand it down to Larry Nevel.
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Nevel indeed has a thunderous break, but wasn't Bustamente injured (elbow?) at the Carolina open and forced to withdraw from the tournament in the Finals?

38 MPH for Breedlove? Wow thats incredible. Is that confirmed, for real? I know that in a Vegas tournament they ran the radar gun on many of the pros and Bustamente hit 32 mph. A Miami local shortstop, Raul Alvarez snapped off the prizes of two Sardo racks by hitting 31 and then 32 mph. They made him stop competing he was winning so easily against the amateurs.

In the 80s I use to watch David Howard play on the Florida Tour and his break was just AWESOME. The first tournament I ever went to, I drove to CM Lee's place in Seminole, Florida with John Ditoro. We pull up and go in and the room is packed. The only seat available was on this bench that sat directly behind where Howard and his opponent were racking. I hadnt seen Howard play before and not knowing any better I promptly went and sat down in front of this table. I soon learned why this spot was not taken. Sitting down my head was almost level with the table. Every time he broke it was like a bomb exploding on the table and sitting directly behind the table it was brutal to sit there and have to NOT winch or cover your face during Howard's break. To do so would likely have sharked Howard, but at the same time you could not help but want to get in a defensive position with Howard just smashing the rack like King Kong unleashed. Just the sound alone of his break had this resonating CRACK to it that was totally unlike every other player in the room.
 
uwate said:
Nevel indeed has a thunderous break, but wasn't Bustamente injured (elbow?) at the Carolina open and forced to withdraw from the tournament in the Finals?

Yes, Busta's elbow was injured but I watched him play the day/macthes before the injury, Larry Nevel still break harder than Busta. Don't get me wrong, I love Busta, he is a great player. Infact I lost a little side bet on the final cuz I didn't know he injured his elbow.
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JAM said:
Wow, there are so many POWER breakers in the U.S., and the ones you have chosen are all top shelf! :)

I think I could add quite a few to the list, but some of the names that come to mind at the time of this writing are: Francisco Bustamante, Niels Fejen, Thorsten Hohmann, Rodney Morris, Alex Pagulayan, Corey Deuel, Danny Harriman, Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich, Shawn Putnam, Jerry Slivka, Frankie Hernandez, just to name a few.

Hillbilly can break 'em hard, and Corey can break 'em soft. The wisdom comes forth when the breaker can adapt their break to the equipment.

Danny Harriman broke in a 7-ball Challenge at ESPN Zone in Baltimore, making 6 balls on the break, which was televised.

Alex Pagulayan was playing Santos at the BCA Open 2 years ago, which was televised, and in the semi-finals, he made 7 balls on the break in 9-ball, and unfortunately didn't get out due to a bad leave.

Out of all the players, I like Francisco Bustamante's break the best.

JAM
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Django is my man of choice. Graceful yet, Powerful. I'm pinoy, that makes me bias. :D Nuf said.

As a group, I'll vote for the Taiwanese Squad. The Gang of 5: Wu, Hsia, Yang, Kuo and Chao. I'm not bias after all. :o
 
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