Break From Center or Side?
8/6/2007 12:52:00 AM
Break From Center or Side?
Where is the best spot on the billiard table to take a break shot from? Is it best to break from the center of the table, right on the line, or should I break from either the left or right sides from the line?
Also, should I break from the line directly, or should I pull the ball back a little from the line? Is it better to break with the cue ball closer to the rack as possible, or should I bring it back some?
Break From Center or Side?
Replies & Comments
jags on 8/6/2007 11:43:49 AM
I think the two most important aspects are to have a good solid bridge hand and to be very well balanced so your body isn't thrown forward when you break. If you place the cue ball up to the line and this leaves you leaning over the table that your bridge hand is supporting your weight you probably want to pull it back some. I usually break 5 inches to the left of center, I find this keeps me from scratching in the side. When trying to make the 8 on the break I put the cue ball at the side rail close to the line and aim for the second ball.
Ginger on 8/6/2007 11:52:14 AM
Thanks for the reply. You mention making sure that your body is not thrust forward when executing the shot. It seems to me that most of the time you see people break, they almost throw their back-hand shoulder in to the shot, maybe to get more power?
This is kind of touchy, I think it is a technique or habit, if you are used to doing it that way and you feel like you have good cue ball control I wouldn't say you should try to do it differently. If I was going to teach someone from scratch I would recomend not throwing your body into it. I used to break that way and have found it works better for me to stay balanced. The cue ball stays on the table more often and less scratching. I think at first I may have lost some power but that comes back up as you get used to it and I would argue that I get a more powerfull break this way. There is no right way, only the way that is right for you. Willy Masconi stood up straight when shooting but most people will tell you to bend over the stick. Try it every way you can think of and see what works best. Now you have me thinking about it I'm gonna have to go downstairs and try both ways with a couple of beers...
Karlton79 on 8/7/2007 11:31:02 AM
Hey Ginger,
My advice is that if you are just wanting any ball to fall, then you have a decent chance of that if you hit the ball straight up without any english. You wanna make sure you hit it straight though because, as Jags said, it tends to bounce back to either of the corner pockets where you are breaking from and scratches.
Now..what I try at times is to make the one ball in the side pocket off the break. To do this I place the cue ball at the line and about 5 or 6 inches away from the rail. If I break from the left I put bottom left english when I break to try and make the one ball in the right side pocket. If I break from the right I put bottom right english to try and make the one ball in the left side pocket.
Good Luck!
DLCBreaks on 12/8/2007 12:28:10 AM
I have been playing pool for 58 years and have used many different spots on the table for the break. Here is my best strategy. First, I want to keep the cue ball as close to the center of the table as possible after the break. I don't want the cue ball to move around at all. I now break from the right side, about three inches from the rail. ( I am right handed ) I aim for slightly right of the head ball using moderately low english. To get a perfect hit I stroke the cue back and forth at least five or six times slowly, keeping my chin down close to the cue so that I hit the spot right where I want. Try it and see how you like this technique. Duane (DLCBreaks)
This is a clarification of my previous reply. From the right side, I want to hit the head ball STRAIGHT ON with slightly low english. Any hit left or right of that spot would move the cue ball left or right, which is what I don't want. I want that cue ball to stop or move a little bit backward. Naturally, the butt of the cue stick would have to be slightly elevated from the right side and I must be perfectly balanced in my stance.
Fenwick on 12/22/2007 9:43:51 PM
Have you heard of the term, breaking from the box? Do a search. I check the rack in every game and look for lose balls. I want a tight rack. Every rack will not be straight and that is how I decide what side I'll break from. You may also pick a side and not pocket a ball and decide to go to the other side to make a ball. I watch the pros and they throw their whole body into the shot not unlike when you play table tennis correctly. I believe in having a break stick. Low deflection shaft, 21 ounce Cue Stick for 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 ball. The thing I do is as DLCBreaks suggest, try to position the Cue Ball as close to the center of the table as possible. I also practice the soft break in 9 ball. In straight pool I will at times call the head ball in a side pocket or a corner pocket or either end ball in a corner pocket on a bank shot. I practice, I repeat practice, a lot of different breaks. My goal is to be as good as DLCBreaks when I'm in my 70's.
Break From Center or Side?
- Title: Break From Center or Side?
- Author: Ginger
- Published: 8/6/2007 12:52:00 AM
