9 Ball Breaking Help

Have played 7 and 8 ball most of the time and have just started playing 9 ball regular.......I have a big problem on the break......can't get the 9 to move anywhere toward a pocket and the CB is a good bet to scratch..(side)..You guru 9 ball players tell me the best way to break....where to you try to strike the QB and what do you aim at on the rack? Where do you place the QB before striking it? This has been aggravating and is costing me money........... :oops:

There are (to begin with) two standard 9-ball breaks. One from just off the long rail on either side, the other from about a ball left or right of center. From the left long rail, hit just below center and about 1/4 tip left-hand english (opposite from the right), and hit the one-ball pretty flush (from that angle -- if you hit the center of the cue ball as seen from the middle of the table, you'll jump the cue off the table). You don't need to hit it hard -- the cue ball should come off toward the left-hand long rail and wind up near the center of the table, and you should make the ball behind the cue ball on the right cross side into the left side pocket most of the time. Not a lot of 9-ball action with this one, unless you hit it pretty hard -- which increases the possibility of sending the cue ball to someone else's table.

I've had better luck making 9-balls from near center. From a ball or so left of the middle of the table, hitting just left of centerball. Again, the hit on the one is flush. If I'm playing a lot, I can pretty consistently get the cue ball to jump back from the rack and stick near the middle of the table, which the 9-ball tends towards the corner opposite the side I broke from.

I've seen people break from dead center with some success, but cue ball control seems to suffer -- from just to the side, leaving the cue ball in the middle of the table (and out of the side pocket) is pretty easy.

Hope that helps. Any standard 9-ball breaks I'm forgetting?

Nik

I'll give them a try tonight....I've been trying from the long rail, but not with that English....thanks for the advice

First of all, quit trying to make the 9 on the break, it is the least likely ball to go in. When it does go in, it was probably the result of a secondary hit from another ball. Trying to plan such an event will drive you nuts. Instead, do like the pros do, try making the 1 in the side since you have a slight ability to control where it goes. Two other balls which have a high chance of sinking in the far corners are the ones at the side points of the triangle. As far as the cue ball is concerned, break with enough draw so the CB ends up in the middle of the table. I often rely on something other than the 1 to go in and get to to come out of the rack toward the side pocket but end up beyond the pocket and position the CB so I always have an opening shot on the 1 in the corner pocket. I can do this with great regularity on my home table, but of course the sweet spot on other tables, if there is one, has to be found by trial and error.

[9ballgirl]

The author who uses the left or right of center has the right idea.

I always break a ball or two right of center, hit dead into the 1 ball with pretty good velocity, while implementing a little draw.

Even on a 9 ft. table I usually pocket at least one ball, sometimes more. What I also find more often than not, is the 9 floats to the opposite corner pocket. This puts you in a higher percentage of getting a good cheese ride.

This can also work against you if you don't have an open shot or if you don't line up right. :roll:

Hope this helps.