The break...

[shoutout33]

Hi all. Been a while since I've posted on these forums but I have a question for you. I've been trying to get my break packed down so I can least have a fighting chance starting a game off. :rolleyes: However, I'm noticing at least two different ways to break.

One way, and I think this is the "traditional" way to break in one pocket, is to put top-left on the cue ball so it'll come of the rack, drive into the foot rail and land below the side pocket or 3rd dot. Now, I have been able to pull this off, but sometimes, even when I hit the rack correctly (where I don't double kiss the cue ball off the rack and it scratches... :o) , the ball takes off straight back off the foot rail and doesn't go anywhere near the side rail...huh????

Way number two. Someone explained that instead of putting top-left, put bottom-left. Now at first, I was wondering how this would work, but believe it or not, I was able to pull it off after the first couple of tries. The only thing I'm trying to work out now is how "high" the cue ball lands on the side rail. If I remember correctly, it's supposed to end up between the 2nd and 3rd dots. I put it between the 1st and second...more towards the second though. :rolleyes:

The danger I find with this is that if I play a really good banker (and most in one pocket are decent at this...) I could be giving a ball away quick. But for the most part, it's way easier to pull this break off than the first. Has anyone ever tried breaking this way and been successful? :confused:

[hemicudas]

Hi all. Been a while since I've posted on these forums but I have a question for you. I've been trying to get my break packed down so I can least have a fighting chance starting a game off. :rolleyes: However, I'm noticing at least two different ways to break.

One way, and I think this is the "traditional" way to break in one pocket, is to put top-left on the cue ball so it'll come of the rack, drive into the foot rail and land below the side pocket or 3rd dot. Now, I have been able to pull this off, but sometimes, even when I hit the rack correctly (where I don't double kiss the cue ball off the rack and it scratches... :o) , the ball takes off straight back off the foot rail and doesn't go anywhere near the side rail...huh????

Way number two. Someone explained that instead of putting top-left, put bottom-left. Now at first, I was wondering how this would work, but believe it or not, I was able to pull it off after the first couple of tries. The only thing I'm trying to work out now is how "high" the cue ball lands on the side rail. If I remember correctly, it's supposed to end up between the 2nd and 3rd dots. I put it between the 1st and second...more towards the second though. :rolleyes:

The danger I find with this is that if I play a really good banker (and most in one pocket are decent at this...) I could be giving a ball away quick. But for the most part, it's way easier to pull this break off than the first. Has anyone ever tried breaking this way and been successful? :confused:
If you are using top or bottom left english all the time when you break, shoutout33, you had better be nominating the bottom left pocket as yours every time you break. The more proper term, IMO, would be, inside, english. Because when you break to the bottom right pocket your inside english would be, Right, english. Where are you hitting on the rack?

[gulfportdoc]

I put it between the 1st and second...more towards the second though. :rolleyes:

:

I think it's trustworthy to say that you're better off with the cueball coming to rest between the 2nd and 3rd diamonds, preferably frozen to the rail. Leaving the CB too low presents too many options to your opponent.

Doc

[Troy]

The most common and reliable break is with high inside english and barely hitting the head ball.
Cue ball speed should result with the CB on the side rail between the 2nd and 3rd diamond.

Troy

[kollegedave]

In hitting the break (to the left corner pocket) with bottom left english the results you have are more dependent on good speed than if you used straight left or high left...

As the cue ball approaches the rack the bottom english is coming off the cue ball (like a drag shot) and hence at some point the ball will begin to take on normal roll. This can result in a good break, but I find that it is touchy. I have seen Cliff Joyner execute this REALLY well. But of course that is why he is Cliff, and I am a student (not a pool player).

Your other question was about the cue all not coming close to the long rail but coming straight off the short rail (or this is how I understood it), and this happens when the cue ball is really juiced up with left.

kollegedave

[shoutout33]

Man, thanks so much for the replies you guys! :D I'll try and answer each reply the best I can:

To Hemicuda...

The more proper term, IMO, would be, inside, english.

So instead of saying left-top english, the proper way would be inside-top?


Where are you hitting on the rack?

I'm trying to split the 1st and 2nd ball in the rack; however, I went to Bill Strouds one pocket site and he does something different. He shows that you hit the ball like you say on the break, (inside-top...) but in his diagram, he shows the cue ball hitting towards the bottom of the rack. Can't remember where exactly, but I'm guessing between the 3rd and 4th ball in the rack.

To doc...

I think it's trustworthy to say that you're better off with the cueball coming to rest between the 2nd and 3rd diamonds, preferably frozen to the rail. Leaving the CB too low presents too many options to your opponent

Workin' on that Doc. I feel that using low-inside english will give me the confidence I need to make a good break each time and I feel very comfortable making this shot. What I have to do now is find out what's best for me as far as hitting the rack on the break. I'm going to try out Stroud said on his website using low-inside next time I practice.

To kollegedave...

In hitting the break (to the left corner pocket) with bottom left english the results you have are more dependent on good speed than if you used straight left or high left...

Yeah, I know. I'm realizing that I HAVE to get that ball at least above the 2nd dot. What I have realized using low-inside english, is that even if you give some good speed (and hit the rack correctly between the 1st and 2nd balls...) you'll just make the second dot. This leads me to believe you can give it some more umph on the break. Not 100% sure about this yet.

Guys, thanks again for the help. :D