Breaking off

[sf_yang]

Hi wanna find out how you guys break start the reds when starting a match? I normally place cueball between center of yellow and brown hit 2 o'clock and aim at right side of 2nd red ball from top right. Sometimes cueball goes into top right pocket or hit blue. I'm trying to figure a way to hide cueball behind either yellow, green or brown.

Any tips on breaking?

[Sidd]

Hi there, well there are two types of break off suggested by pros. One that you seem to be doing, hitting the second last red, which is rather easy but opens more balls from the pack. The other way is to hit the last red its difficult to achieve with consistency but normally tends to open only two reds at the most. Placing the cue ball would be more of a practice thing, experiment with different positions like in the middle of the yellow and brown, nearer to the brown or nearer to the yellow and see the reactions and develop an understading as to how the cue ball behaves. As for the side simply try to hit 4 o clock with a smooth follow through and you would never again have an in off... experiment and let me know. I m no coach but am a learner myself and do experiment on break offs and this is what I have learnt so far...!!!

[Deepscrew]

Ball between the yellow and brown, positioned a few inches from the brown. Right hand side hitting the last red. Pushes the opposite red of the left cusion back into the pack and the red you hit should stay close to the pack too. It can go up near the middle bag though.

[Sidd]

That too Deepscrew, well pointed out.

[Bigmeek]

Ball between the yellow and brown, positioned a few inches from the brown. Right hand side hitting the last red. Pushes one of the left cusion back into the pack and the red you hit should stay close tot he pack too. It can go up near the middle bag though.

This is the way I do it. Most common mistake for me is no follow through with the cue and hence no side imparted on cue ball. result is I hit the blue.

[sf_yang]

Thanks I'll try out those suggestion.. Btw do you take into account whether opponent is left handed or right handed in order to determine whether to break off from left or right side of the semi circle?

[Deepscrew]

I dont do that no. My breaks as above should, if hit properly end up behind the green/brown on the top cush with no red pottable.

[thelongbomber]

place cue ball 1/4 inch from the brown, with deep screw and right hand side - between 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock - aiming to just miss the 3rd ball from the back and hitting 2nd to last ball on the right side of the pack. This isn't a soft break, you can play this with medium stroke pace. This break opens at least 4 to 6 reds every time, loosens the pack significantly, and leaves the black unobstructed for the most part. It's an easy break to adjust to as you can hit with more or less pace. This break never hits the blue or goes in/off and comes in between green and brown on the back cushion. With practice you can generally get the cue ball in line with the green and far left corner pocket, and snooker your opponent on all reds (blue and pink cutting off all escape routes). When I play this break, if in the off chance my opponent hasn't racked the balls properly (which happens a lot!) they are sometimes left a shot on but it's a dodgy red with the cue ball going into an already loose pack.

Best of luck.

[thelongbomber]

Thanks I'll try out those suggestion.. Btw do you take into account whether opponent is left handed or right handed in order to determine whether to break off from left or right side of the semi circle?

Personally I never do but I suppose it's useful to have the break off from both sides of the brown - it just adds to your cueing toolbox should the time arise. I only have two breaks I consistently work with both off the right side of the pack. One to open the balls (as I previously posted), and one to keep the balls tight.

[thelongbomber]

Anyone know how to break off, open the balls, and sit the cue ball right behind a baulk color? That one I could definitely use with my m8's

[thelongbomber]

Forgot to mention, strategically speaking it's useful to have two break offs. One to "open the pack" and the other to "keep the pack tight". Which break off to use depends on a number of factors:

1. Whether your generally an offensively minded or defensively minded player
2. Whether your opponent is generally an offensively minded or defensively minded player
3. What your current state of mind is during a match/session
4. Ability of your opponent to score more than you
5. Quality of the table, cushions and cloth
6. Current match score (maybe use a tight break off to not risk leaving a ball on?)
7. Whether you are risk averse or risk friendly
8. Whether you like potting balls off lampshades (aka Trump) or playing a more conservative, controlled, match-tight game (aka Higgins)
9. Results of your last break off at this table (tip: always carefully study the outcome of your break off as you leave the table and make a mental note and adjust if necessary for the next time you break off).

There are probably a few other reasons/ideas but just can't think of them at the moment.

If you watch Ronnie OSullivan, he tends to keep the pack fairly tight after the break off. Maybe it's because he plays opponents that can run centuries, or maybe because he prefers a tighter pack for break building for himself - only he knows. There are a lot of factors involved as you can see

Hope that helps!

[Jools]

one not mentioned here, white as near to brown as possible, no side but plenty of top, aim for bottom red as thin as possible and hit firm but not hard, keeps pack tight and white will come behind green with right judgement, harder would find baulk cushion. this never goes in off or collides with blue.