Why break for the 8 in APA

Willowbrook Wolfy

Willowbrook Wolfy

Going pro
Hi I’m just looking for opinions on this. To me breaking for the 8 is just a hinderance. Why do so many people break for the 8 in APA?

It just seems worthless to me. I don’t break for the 8 and still broke it in 4 times over the past two sessions. Seems like most of the people breaking for it will end up flooding one side of the table with balls. And when the 8 doesn’t fall most of those players don’t have the capacity to deal with the cluster. So why do it? Is it for the patch/chip. Or for the free win from time to time? Or do you like playing on garbage tables all the time?

I’m under the impression that it’s just a waste of time. I feel like it will go in occasionally anyway and if it’s for a chip, doesn’t getting a break and run chip feel better? It does to me.
I can understand doing it for a grand slam though. I guess that would be a good reason. But it’s also the only one I can think of.


Like I said. Looking for opinions on it. I gave mine. Not trying to start an argument. Just wondering what the mental process is that makes people think it’s good to break for it.
 
VarmintKong said:
What’s a Grand Slam?
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Well there is a mini slam and a grand slam. If you break an eight in and break and run a table in the same match that is a mini slam. Same for 9 ball.
To get a grand slam you need to break an 8 break and run an 8, break a 9 and break and run a 9 in a double jeopardy league.

I think it used to be in the same day, but now the league I play in takes the whole session into account and hands out grand slam patches to whoever can do all 4 in one session.
 
straightline said:
If you break empty, less likelihood of a dead out. Even against good players who will choose you to death, you get lots of interaction.
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That makes sense. And I guess can be good practice on occasion, but sometimes when somebody breaks like that it’s just a pain to deal with. Especially when knowing they probably cant deal with it themselves.

I have found 1 solution that can work for it though. If they break dry and leave the cluster I have yelled “APA” a few times and legitimately sent cb hard into that cluster. It’s always funny when something or a few fall on that seeing how slop counts. Now for the record, if they are a higher level that one can backfire pretty quick. Lower levels not so much

Oh and also for the record. People in APA don’t always rack great. Make sure you rack tight. Don’t leave a gap between top 2. A really good player showed me once that it’s easier to make the 8 with that gap. Could’ve just been a coincidence, but it worked. He said something about that giving the 8 an easier path to the side
 
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Willowbrook Wolfy said:
sometimes when somebody breaks like that it’s just a pain to deal with. Especially when knowing they probably cant deal with it themselves.
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Yeah, I'm at the level where I don't quite have the firepower to shoot through that reliably, but I can't afford to give a lot of the guys I face any more chances at the table than necessary.
Willowbrook Wolfy said:
I have yelled “APA” a few times and legitimately sent cb hard into that
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Is that the pool version of "LEEROY JENKINS!!!"?
 
Willowbrook Wolfy said:
Well there is a mini slam and a grand slam. If you break an eight in and break and run a table in the same match that is a mini slam. Same for 9 ball.
To get a grand slam you need to break an 8 break and run an 8, break a 9 and break and run a 9 in a double jeopardy league.

I think it used to be in the same day, but now the league I play in takes the whole session into account and hands out grand slam patches to whoever can do all 4 in one session.
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Then I guess each LO does it different, ours has to be in the same week for a grand slam.

I never played multiple nights a week in 8 ball or 9 ball only Masters which didn't count for either which also meant I could not qualify for singles in 8 ball or 9 ball because I was not on one of those rosters.

Just another way to get in your wallet.
 
In science there is a theory of a 8ball break where specific balls stay in position while the rest break up and something happens with the cue ball.

Why would you want certain balls to hold position on an 8 break? 2000 years ago counting was developed in Euro areas.
100 years ago radio signals were significant. 1 year ago satellite connections are important.

Ancient math problems are always made into games. The 8ball break is one of them.
 
I break from the side 95% of the time in my APA matches. I'll gladly take the cheap win if I get it, and if it makes a mess of the table, that's fine with me too. I'm far more patient than most of the people I play. And if I'm playing someone better than I am, it slows them down a bit, too.

Occasionally if I'm playing real beginner, I'll break more straight on, but mostly from the side.
 
Willowbrook Wolfy said:
Well there is a mini slam and a grand slam. If you break an eight in and break and run a table in the same match that is a mini slam. Same for 9 ball.
To get a grand slam you need to break an 8 break and run an 8, break a 9 and break and run a 9 in a double jeopardy league.

I think it used to be in the same day, but now the league I play in takes the whole session into account and hands out grand slam patches to whoever can do all 4 in one session.
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Every LO awards that stuff independently, if at all.
 
It’s easier to get a good spread of the rack is not good and tight. I have double the bnrs with the side break than the head on breaks.
Once you actually have a stroke it rarely leaves the table and you can hit the second ball, bounce off the rail and into the pack a second time.
. You can get a quick win and put extra pressure on the opponent or get in his head some .
 
garczar said:
Why even play APA in the first place. In 40yrs of playing pool the most nitty/butthurt arguments i've ever seen/heard of have been in APA related play. No one wants to improve, they are scared shitless they might actually have to play someone that's an iota better than they are.
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This is why i quit ... i realized i got more satisfaction out of gambling than playing in apa and listening to all the b1+ching and moaning.
 
straightline said:
Oh and you might make the 8. :D
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^^^ This ^^^

It might be tongue in cheek, but it's right.

You have a better chance of making the eight and most APA players recognize that they're not likely to break and run.

Also, along the same lines, most APA opponents aren't going to run out even if you break completely dry.

Honestly, unless you're playing a strong six or seven in 8-ball, your best strategy is to roll a couple of your balls close to your pockets and then let your opponent make a bunch of his balls before inevitably giving you the table back.

Lower level players, and that includes 90% of those who play APA, usually forget that the object is not to make their balls as soon as possible. The object is to win the game…
 
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It's prevalent in APA because most of the players can't run out and they are after a quick win and of course, a PATCH. APA and other bar box leagues are what's wrong with pool in America.
 
David in FL said:
^^^ This ^^^

It might be tongue in cheek, but it's right.

You have a better chance of making the eight and most APA players recognize that they're not likely to break and run.

Also, along the same lines, most APA opponents aren't going to run out even if you break completely dry.

Honestly, unless you're playing a strong six or seven in 8-ball, your best strategy is to roll a couple of your balls close to your pockets and then let your opponent make a bunch of his balls before inevitably giving you the table back.

Lower level players, and that includes 90% of those who play APA, usually forget that the object is not to make their balls as soon as possible. The object us to win the game…
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I’ve dubbed this the “Underpants Gnomes” philosophy of 8-ball, and I see it all the time in APA.

Step 1: Make all your easy balls
Step 2: ?????
Step 3: Profit!
 
David in FL said:
Most of them, even APA, help keep pool halls open that wouldn't otherwise stay open.

I'm not an APA fan, but I'm glad it's there nevertheless.
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Our room has 12 tables. Without leagues, a few of them might get rented out at a time, one or two players mostly. League will have the room full, 5-8 players per team, most of them drinking and ordering food. Yup, leagues help keep the rooms open.

Some of our players will match up away from league night. Still others will play in high level leagues and/or tourneys. Many of those who only play tourneys now used to play league here. It gets a lot of people playing pool.
 
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