Trouble with my opening break . . . HELP !!

[mythman69]

I don't seem to be able to make a good opening break . . . it almost always either hits the blue or finishes half way up the table. Also a red seems to end up out from the pack and easy to pot and I end up on the back foot from the start.

Any good tips to help improve please . . .

I have tried to put a bit of right-hand side but it doesn't seem to fix the problem.

I even missed the reds on Monday night at my club game : (

Thanks again !!

: )

[jim evans]

its been covered befor this but i break from at the side of brown only about 3mm away from right it cue about betwwen 1-2 oclock it last red and normally hits bottom cush, right side cush passed blue hits left cush close to baulk line and then baulk cush behind the 3 colours

[mythman69]

Thanks Jim - I will try it out and let you know how it goes. . .

: )

[poona]

2 inches from the brown. Strike 4 o'clock and aim to hit half ball on last red. (8 o'clock if white placed between brown and green)

[throtts]

I normally break off with cue ball in the between the brown and yellow and in line with the last red to the right of the pack. Striking the cue ball at 3 o clock. Remember to push through the cue ball as you should with all shots.

[mythman69]

Throtts . . . this is the break I have been trying (for ages) and I rarely get a good result . . .

[throtts]

Throtts . . . this is the break I have been trying (for ages) and I rarely get a good result . . .

It always works for me, in fact if anything, I get too much on the cue ball, meaning, it misses the blue by a mile now and again.

Make sure your bridge is sturdy and also that your tip does not wonder off the 3 o clock position, keep still and push the cue through. It maybe that your just getting a bit tentative on the shot which then makes you fail what I have written above..

[poona]

It always works for me, in fact if anything, I get too much on the cue ball, meaning, it misses the blue by a mile now and again.

Make sure your bridge is sturdy and also that your tip does not wonder off the 3 o clock position, keep still and push the cue through. It maybe that your just getting a bit tentative on the shot which then makes you fail what I have written above..

That's why I strike at 4 o'clock; I find it's just the perfect amount of side and means my breaks are more consistent.

[sberry]

We all do it differently and some of us change the way we do it.

For me it's the cue ball one balls width to the right of the brown, aim to hit either the last red (or the second last red if you want more reds opened up) quarter ball and strike the cue ball half way between the centre and 3 o'clock a good strength shot and following through. Just swap it round if you want to break on the left side of the table.

Like most shots you need to practice it shot after shot until you can do it at least 9 times out of 10 and get the white close to the bottom cushion.

[Terry Davidson]

the easiest break shot to master is the 4 o'clock one hitting the last red about 1/4-ball and with the side and touch of botton it will swing the cueball about 6" from the blue and it will hit the side cushion just before the baulkline and end up behind the green.

What you have to master is the strength you use and ensuring you hit the end red at least 1/4-ball

Terry

[alabadi]

The professional break is what Terry has described, however easier said than done.

it all depends on the table you are playing on, the condition of the cloth...etc

for a fast cloth such as the ones pros play on it grips more easier and you don't have to hit it as hard.

I find that on the club cloths that are much slower i have to hit the cueball with more pace, this in turn causes problems becuase hitting the cueball at 4 o'clock causes it to swerve more and therefore hitting the last red thicker than intended which of course means opening the pack more than intended and the cueball not returning to baulk.

disaster

so for me it dependends on the table and conditions, a nice clean pro fast cloth i will use the professional break as described, on club cloths that are slower and not in good condition, cussions not as responsive i will play slightly closer to the yellow and aim plain ball 1/4 on the last red and come down the right hand side of the table and hopefully land on the baulk cussion behind the Yellow.

Alabbadi

[poona]

the easiest break shot to master is the 4 o'clock one hitting the last red about 1/4-ball and with the side and touch of botton it will swing the cueball about 6" from the blue and it will hit the side cushion just before the baulkline and end up behind the green.

What you have to master is the strength you use and ensuring you hit the end red at least 1/4-ball

Terry

You must be quite close to the brown for that 1/4 strike? I'm about 2-3 inches away from brown but with a more aggressive 1/2 strike.

[pottr]

Oh my... Are we really doing this?

Yes, last red, touch of side, allow for the white to throw a little if you wanna keep the pack tight.

If you can't master that shot then it's panic stations and I suggest you just 'Hann' the pack open from the off