The break off shot

[brendan147]

Alright,

I knew there is a similar thread for this topic, but this type of shot (which is very simple...no side...no nothing...but plain ball strike only) is what I use to do in my game for quite sometime already.

Sometime my CB end up exactly behind the brown, but most of the time behind the green area (I'm right handed), or tight at the baulk cushion. Put the CB 1/2 and 3/4 ball distance from the brown and with the correct amount of power, hit only last red of the pack. I believe this is another basic routine that might improve your game.

Here is the link:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00UqRf6JEG8

Comments and opinions are most welcome.

Cheers.

[RocketRoy1983]

Break off however you like mate so long as you leave nothing and cueball as tight as possible to that rail. I dont care if you use top, bottom, side, left, right or whatever its one of the most important shots of the frame and if you get a great start with your break off shot youve got a great chance to win frame.

[mike.crowe]

I am right handed and find the best break off shot is aiming at second from last red (on right side of pack) with plenty of right hand side on cue ball to react of two cushions and keep you well below the blue on the way to returning to bulk.

[brendan147]

I am right handed and find the best break off shot is aiming at second from last red (on right side of pack) with plenty of right hand side on cue ball to react of two cushions and keep you well below the blue on the way to returning to bulk.

I was using this kind of break off shot (right hand side of CB to 2nd last red of the pack) before I watch Neil's video per the link given. But since then, I feel that it was easier to it in Neil's way. Simple.

It is a personal preference anyway. I'm only suggesting the simple+affective way.

Cheers.

[Terry Davidson]

Although I have to agree with brendan here, I don't use this break-off shot myself, but I'm thinking of changing to it for the following reasons:

1. Any shot with side over distance on a strange table especially can go horribly wrong.
2. Any shot with distance and side is a difficult shot to control precisely.
3. Hitting the end red with no side and coming back to baulk on the right side of the blue gives the player a much better opportunity to control the power required to get the cueball on or very near the baulk cushion and hopefully hiding any loose red(s) with the baulk colours.

When I watch the pro matches on DVD or the internet the shot they screw up the absolutely most on is the break-off shot off the last red with side. This is because they won't know the amount of slide they will get off the second cushion with the new cloth and they may hit the blue or end up near the baulk line, giving their opponent a crack at a red with his hand on the table. Disaster at that level.

I am constantly amazed at how badly Ronnie O'Sullivan hits his break off shot and all the body movement when he does it left-handed. I always thought a player with his intelligence would soon realize he should do something to improve his break, but I noticed in the recent Masters that he is still breaking the same way and still leaving a shot for his opponent most times.

However, during the Masters they showed the results of Mark Selby's break-off shot and he was consistently behind the yellow and all were within a 6in circle, but none of them were on the cushion and sometimes his opponent (Ronnie in this case) had a shot at a red. Selby uses the opposite side of the pack but it's still the end red with side. Too risky!

Terry

[brendan147]

Although I have to agree with brendan here, I don't use this break-off shot myself, but I'm thinking of changing to it for the following reasons:

1. Any shot with side over distance on a strange table especially can go horribly wrong.
2. Any shot with distance and side is a difficult shot to control precisely.
3. Hitting the end red with no side and coming back to baulk on the right side of the blue gives the player a much better opportunity to control the power required to get the cueball on or very near the baulk cushion and hopefully hiding any loose red(s) with the baulk colours.

When I watch the pro matches on DVD or the internet the shot they screw up the absolutely most on is the break-off shot off the last red with side. This is because they won't know the amount of slide they will get off the second cushion with the new cloth and they may hit the blue or end up near the baulk line, giving their opponent a crack at a red with his hand on the table. Disaster at that level.

I am constantly amazed at how badly Ronnie O'Sullivan hits his break off shot and all the body movement when he does it left-handed. I always thought a player with his intelligence would soon realize he should do something to improve his break, but I noticed in the recent Masters that he is still breaking the same way and still leaving a shot for his opponent most times.

However, during the Masters they showed the results of Mark Selby's break-off shot and he was consistently behind the yellow and all were within a 6in circle, but none of them were on the cushion and sometimes his opponent (Ronnie in this case) had a shot at a red. Selby uses the opposite side of the pack but it's still the end red with side. Too risky!

Terry

Thanks for your comments Terry. It's been a while since our last chat in TSF. If you remember Neil (the person who own that youtube video here), he told me that he did play against you in the Pro-Am competition before. He send his regards to you. I have his e-mail if you want to contact him. Just PM me.

Regarding the break off issue, I am totally agree with you. It is much easier to control the amount of power in the shot (consistently) using plain strike towards the last red of the pack.

What is wrong with ROS lately, anyway? His body movement is quite obvious during the shot.

Cheers.

p/s-How is the rear pause of yours? Get it right already?

[magicman]

It has been mentioned in commentary a few times over the last couple of tournaments about how poor pro's are generally breaking off now. Or to be exact how often they leave a shot on for their opponent. It'll be interesting to see if a different break becomes the norm.

[Terry Davidson]

brendan:

Yes please, pass me Neil's email via PM. I'm not sure I remember him but as I was a Canadian on the British pro-am tour they all remember me I guess.

As far as Ronnie goes, I know his coach very well and he hasn't asked for any coaching help over the past 3 months or so and I've recently been talking to his coach and he is dying to help Ronnie get those glitches out but he won't force himself on Ronnie so I think the problems will carry one until Ronnie finally realizes he has a technique problem which can be fixed with a little work and fixing it will make him much more consistent, especially in the long ball potting area and maybe a new break-off shot too.

I also wonder why the pros are not working on a better break-off shot. Steve Davis tried rolling up to the pack, but that's too negative. I'm sure all the pros are well aware of the problems, just from the frames they lose due to a poor break-off shot, so I figure someone soon will come up with something that works like maybe 4th red up with a ton top inside stuff and a lot of power which will spread the reds very nicely, maybe fluke one in a top pocket and also get the cueball back to baulk. Of course being consistent would be a real problem

Terry

[Terry Davidson]

The rear pause is coming thanks to some help from Wayne Griffiths, Nic Barrow and Jim Donnelly. For me at least, it appears having a rear pause is dependent on my eye rhythm, which was a little screwed up in that I locked on the object ball at the front pause (so no need for a rear pause at all) when I should be shifting the eyes from the cueball to the object ball nearer the end of the backswing or else during the rear pause and giving my eyes time to focus on the sector of the object ball I want to hit.

I also got some sound advice from Steve Davis on his blog

Terry

[Rane]

I´ve sometimes thought that Ronnie O´Sullivan is aiming to leave a temptation for his opponent, as he is very effective himself in punishing any mistakes made on a half chance. A kind of calculated risk.

[brendan147]

brendan:

Yes please, pass me Neil's email via PM. I'm not sure I remember him but as I was a Canadian on the British pro-am tour they all remember me I guess.

As far as Ronnie goes, I know his coach very well and he hasn't asked for any coaching help over the past 3 months or so and I've recently been talking to his coach and he is dying to help Ronnie get those glitches out but he won't force himself on Ronnie so I think the problems will carry one until Ronnie finally realizes he has a technique problem which can be fixed with a little work and fixing it will make him much more consistent, especially in the long ball potting area and maybe a new break-off shot too.

I also wonder why the pros are not working on a better break-off shot. Steve Davis tried rolling up to the pack, but that's too negative. I'm sure all the pros are well aware of the problems, just from the frames they lose due to a poor break-off shot, so I figure someone soon will come up with something that works like maybe 4th red up with a ton top inside stuff and a lot of power which will spread the reds very nicely, maybe fluke one in a top pocket and also get the cueball back to baulk. Of course being consistent would be a real problem

Terry

You can check your PM later.

Speaking about the break off shot, I have played with few players with the different styles. As an example, one of my playing partner always tend to hit the top cushion first with loads of power and break the reds pack all over the place (which I think destroying the beauty of the game). The other mates (including my eldest brother) will shoot straight into the pack with different amount of power (sometime soft, sometime hard). With the CB end up in unsafe position, that's already ruining the art of snooker.

Who's ROS coach anyway? Do you think Ronnie breathing (which contribute to his body movement) when he taking the shot? I am now practically not to breathe when get down into the shot, from feathering until striking the CB. Is that the correct way?

The rear pause is coming thanks to some help from Wayne Griffiths, Nic Barrow and Jim Donnelly. For me at least, it appears having a rear pause is dependent on my eye rhythm, which was a little screwed up in that I locked on the object ball at the front pause (so no need for a rear pause at all) when I should be shifting the eyes from the cueball to the object ball nearer the end of the backswing or else during the rear pause and giving my eyes time to focus on the sector of the object ball I want to hit.

I also got some sound advice from Steve Davis on his blog

Terry

That's great. So, rear pause is not that necessary in your opinion? As far as I concern, John Higgins using rear pause almost in all of his shots. What do you think?

However, rear pause for the break off does very helpful to me, at least.

I know that blog of Davis @ myspace. Will check it out again when I have extra time.

Cheers

[brendan147]

I´ve sometimes thought that Ronnie O´Sullivan is aiming to leave a temptation for his opponent, as he is very effective himself in punishing any mistakes made on a half chance. A kind of calculated risk.

But he cannot do that too often, especially when against the likes off John Higgins, Murphy, Williams and Robertson (those I think they are really consistent in long potting so far). A calculated risk which also can caused him the frame so easily. Not a very good idea, Ron...

[magicman]

If I'm totally honest I don't think many pro's put in that much practice on their breaks though recent comps suggest they should. Commentators have blamed the sliding of the cushions when certain players have failed to get the ball behind the green, and yet a new match starts on the same table and suddenly these 'new' players are finding the baulk cush right behind the green no problem. If you're not getting behind the green you haven't applied enough side, period. One attempt, at that level, should be all it takes for you to remedy that problem next break.

At one point in history I think players did leave their opponents 'tempters' but with the quality on display nowadays I think any pot left on with the cueball not nailed to the cush is just an inferior safety shot.

[Harv]

i missed the reds once in a league match, too much side and it swerved and missed. Always concentrated on my breaks after that, was a bit embarrassing

[Rane]

i missed the reds once in a league match, too much side and it swerved and missed. Always concentrated on my breaks after that, was a bit embarrassing

LOL yes that hurts.