Why can't older players break well?

[krupa]

Thanks tough guy. I didn't know that. Point I was trying to make is, when asking a question, I can't stand it when people offer opinions. I can't tell you how many times I've said, when asking someone directions, "Just admit you don't know, or please stop talking." Because invariably people say things like, "I think it's about a mile up the street to the right," or, "Maybe it's the third building on the left." I never ask anyone what they think about anything unless it's an opinion about a movie or something. If I ask a question, I expect someone to say it's xyz or "I don't know." Other than that, STFU.

I think it'd be better for everyone if you stopped asking questions then. You wouldn't be annoyed by the fact that people will always tell you what they think in an effort to be helpful and we wouldn't have to speak to you.

The answer to your original question is calcium deficiency. Except when it's arthritis, early (or late) onset diabetes, weak bladder, or crohn's disease.

For young people who don't break well, the answer is AD/HD, video games, not paying their "dues", lack of respect for elders, and bad music.

 

[Quesports]

Thanks tough guy. I didn't know that. Point I was trying to make is, when asking a question, I can't stand it when people offer opinions. I can't tell you how many times I've said, when asking someone directions, "Just admit you don't know, or please stop talking." Because invariably people say things like, "I think it's about a mile up the street to the right," or, "Maybe it's the third building on the left." I never ask anyone what they think about anything unless it's an opinion about a movie or something. If I ask a question, I expect someone to say it's xyz or "I don't know." Other than that, STFU.

This is a forum and you asked for opinions in your OP, what were you expecting?

 

[slide13]

This is a forum and you asked for opinions in your OP, what were you expecting?

Agree. Instead of everyone else needing to STFU, if you don't want to hear peoples opinions then you should GTFO of internet forums.

 

[bradsh98]

Thanks tough guy. I didn't know that. Point I was trying to make is, when asking a question, I can't stand it when people offer opinions. I can't tell you how many times I've said, when asking someone directions, "Just admit you don't know, or please stop talking." Because invariably people say things like, "I think it's about a mile up the street to the right," or, "Maybe it's the third building on the left." I never ask anyone what they think about anything unless it's an opinion about a movie or something. If I ask a question, I expect someone to say it's xyz or "I don't know." Other than that, STFU.

This is a public forum, where people gather to express their opinions. That's how forums work.. You asked a question, based on your opinion, that older players don't break as well as younger players. You provided no statistical evidence, to suggest that your theory even holds water, nor did you elaborate on what your opinion of a 'good break' is.

The definition of a 'good break' is all a matter of opinion anyway. And, in my opinion, Earl breaks just as good now as he ever did.

 

[measureman]

Measureman from Denver has a great break, @ 67. If he makes a ball or two grab the rack cause he is getten out.

Thanks for the compliment Jim.
I will be 68 in May.
You just killed my $1.00 a game action at the senior center.
I've been stalling for years.
And to stay on the thread breaking to me is like a boxer throwing a punch. The power comes from the legs. So if you can get all the body parts moving at the right time a hard break is pretty easy.

 

[cardiac kid]

I'm thinking specifically here of Earl and Efren. Maybe I'm wrong, but Shane or Dechaine's 10 ball break does not seem to be based on pure power. It seems to be a wrist pop and just solid contact making it hop and general racking knowledge. And their 9-ball breaks are great too, but there are players (Larry Nevel, Mike Davis, etc. come to mind) who break really hard but are not nearly as productive as Daz, Shane, Dechaine, Ko, etc. If it isn't based on power then why can't these old dogs learn new tricks? Because once the hurdle of the break is overcome, I defy the average pro to beat Earl at anything.

Perhaps you should have attended the recent Gold Crown Billiards event. Making a ball on the break is not required. The breaker gets first shot at the rack regardless. Guess what? Earl didn't win against Hatch, Dechaine, Groce and other top line players. He did beat me though :embarrassed2: .There is far more to the game than the break. Earl is just another great player today. Perhaps amending your last sentence may be necessary.

Lyn

 

[Drop The Rock]

Really?

Because those 2 old dogs Earl and Efren were more complete players in their era and need not have powerful break to offset their weaknesses in other areas
These days it is era of big breaks so guys like Shane and Ko rely on their power which is also why they are not very complete players eg. they are not as strong the defence/ safety

Meanwhile Shane and Ko are champions and neither Earl nor Efren 3peated the US Open and Shane is probably the best long race player of all time. Mind you I dont mention these things to detract from Earl or Efren, they are both gods among pool players, but there will always be new players who match or surpass the old. The reason its the "era of big breaks" is because 10 ball is such a difficult game to break well at. Efren and Earl's golden years were playing 9 ball, where a ball on the break wasn't a guarantee but a pretty sure bet. The difference between them and The new generation IMO is that guys like Shane and Ko put HOURS into practicing the break daily.

To the OP I don't think its so much that the old guys don't break well its that 10 ball is tough as shit to break and the young guys put a lot of time in to overcoming that adversity.

 

[macguy]

Breaking well I guess would be spreading the balls well, getting a shot on the one or some sort of decent position in the middle of the table, knowing how to pattern rack/read a rack and knowing how not to get slugged, knowing when to use what sort of break (cut break, soft break, etc.), knowing how that particular table is breaking and how the room conditions (humidity etc.) are affecting the table.

How does a younger player have an advantage in your scenario based on the title of the thread? If anything, experience would be an advantage in what you suggest giving the edge to the older player.

 

[alphadog]

Honestly if a older player gets beat by a younger player,someone says well he has lost his break.
Go to old Accustats and you will hear that breaking was always Efren's weakness:frown:
Personally I think it's more mental then physical-it's easy for the older player to say "I just can't break like these young guys. I used to,not any more".

I really hate the breakshot because of all the "luck" involved, Play 9 ball,break make the 1-7 and be hooked on the 8? Yes I saw it happen.

 

[fastone371]

Unless you know the actual answer, like "older players can't break well, because the 5th wrist ligament in their right arm deteriorates because of the angle of the sun" or whatever, then why speak? Telling me that Earl had a great break back in the day or anything else here so far is useless information. I didn't ask a rhetorical question.

I know there is not much I can do about the angle of the sun, but is there a method in which I can exercise or possibly regenerate the 5th wrist ligament of my stroking arm? Is corrective surgery an option? I have been working on my break but not exactly getting the expected improvement, I thought possibly it was muscle degeneration until I learned of the wrist ligament. I assume this is probably a pretty common pool injury?

 

[TASK]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there was a TAR podcast with Earl and Shane in which Earl stated that he had lost his ability to consistently hit the 1 ball square as he aged.

 

[hang-the-9]

Thanks tough guy. I didn't know that. Point I was trying to make is, when asking a question, I can't stand it when people offer opinions. I can't tell you how many times I've said, when asking someone directions, "Just admit you don't know, or please stop talking." Because invariably people say things like, "I think it's about a mile up the street to the right," or, "Maybe it's the third building on the left." I never ask anyone what they think about anything unless it's an opinion about a movie or something. If I ask a question, I expect someone to say it's xyz or "I don't know." Other than that, STFU.

The only two people that would know for sure why their breaks are not as good would be Earl and Efren. Everyone else, unless they are with them every day and watch them practice now like they did 20 years ago, is giving you an idea of why they think they play bad.

If you want solid facts, ask what 2+2 is, there is only one right answer there. I'm thinking that even the players won't have a single answer as to why they don't break or play or fart like they used to 20 years ago.

 

[bdorman]

Unless you know the actual answer, like "older players can't break well, because the 5th wrist ligament in their right arm deteriorates because of the angle of the sun" or whatever, then why speak? Telling me that Earl had a great break back in the day or anything else here so far is useless information. I didn't ask a rhetorical question.

Ahh, another "Give-me-the-answer-I-want, or-else!"

Only Al Gore can have that attitude, because he invented the internet.

It's probably different for each player...so what's the point? Clearly, just being old isn't the issue.

 

[WildWing]

Anybody who thinks older players can't break never saw Luther Lassiter in his 60s, or Cowboy Jimmy Moore in his 70s crack the rack.

 

[The Renfro]

On the old cloth with the old balls even when you hammered them alot of the time the 1 ball hung around the side pocket... The hit em hard and hope approach ruled those days with the days that could crush the rack having an advantage... Think Wade Crane.... Buddy and Earl.. When the balls and cloth got better some of the young guns figured out that the break was no longer more random than not and as such started to break differently...

The old dogs assuming nothing was wrong with what they had been continued to just pound the break and think it was the pool gods that were against them and not a consistent rack....

I was watching Mike Sigel a few years ago in the Open and he broke from the same spot and hit them as hard as he could and made nothing every time... He lamented to the crowd he could not hit them any better... Everyone in the room knew the definition of Insanity at that moment but him.. I would lose that match to Jesse Engle simply because he had not came into the new world to learn what the great cloth and perfect balls had done to what used to be a random event.......

It's kind of like Danny DiLiberto... He is a good friend so I am not knocking him but he thinks all the stuff about the break and the rack is a bunch of voodoo... Regardless of who tells him otherwise... Danny WILL however tell you the worst part of his game in the old days was the break... I think if he was coming up in this day and age he would be studying it with the rest of us......

Some players just look at the break differently and there seems to be a line on the calender as far as who buys into everything Joe Tucker put out and who still thinks it's crush them and get lucky.....