How to Break Better in Pool

Guide Note

A good break shot can make or break a game of pool. If you need to improve your break shot, this page will introduce you to a few techniques to help you do it.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Tip 1: Use a Break Cue
• Tip 2: Tighten the Rack
• Tip 3: Change Your Bridge
• Tip 4: Adjust Your Stance
• Tip 5: Move Through the Shot
• Tip 6: Increase Your Follow-Through
• Tip 7: Place and Aim the Cue Ball
• Tip 8: Where to Hit the Cue Ball
• Tip 9: Practice Your Stop Shots
• Tip 10: Assess and Practice
• Conclusion
• References

Pool Breaking Tips

1. Use a special break cue stick.
2. Make sure the rack is tight.
3. Adjust your stance and bridge for your break shot.
4. Put your whole body into the shot and move with it.
5. Practice your break shots.

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Introduction

• It doesn't matter if you are a beginning or advanced pool player; chances are you are looking for ways to improve your break shot. A good break shot can make the difference between winning and losing a game.¹ No matter what type of pool game you are playing, a good break shot should:

1. Scatter the balls, hopefully so that no two balls are touching or in clusters.²
2. Sink at least one ball, which will keep you at the table.³
3. Keep the cue ball at the center of the table, or at least ensure you don't scratch.⁴

• If your break shots are not accomplishing these three things, then you want to improve it. Here are a few of the best tips you can try to manage this feat.

• 
  
  
• YouTube: Best Break in Pool (Time: 0:10)

Tip 1: Use a Break Cue

(Creative Commons photo by Morgan Johnston)

• Many professional pool players use a different cue stick for the break shot than they do for playing. While some will say this is because the players don't want to break or mangle their playing cue, in reality a good break cue is different than a playing cue.

• One of the major differences between a break cue and a playing cue is weight. In the past, players would choose a cue that was heavier than their playing cue because they believed the extra weight would give them more power. In more recent years, players realized that a lighter cue gives them more speed. They can accelerate faster with more control and give them a more powerful shot.³

• Break cues also have a different tip than regular cues. The tip is usually harder, flatter and wider than those on playing cues. Finally, the shaft is usually tapered less and slightly stiffer, which will curb deflection.⁵

Tip 2: Tighten the Rack

• When you are setting up the balls before your break, it is important that you make the rack tight.⁶ This means that the balls are frozen and there are no gaps.⁷ Any gaps in your rack will mean less energy transfer and a clumped break.⁴

• Expert Village: How to Rack Pool Balls

Tip 3: Change Your Bridge Formation

• How you form your bridge for your break shot can affect your accuracy, power and aim. Therefore, you may want to use a different bridge formation for your break shot than you would your other shots.

1. Use a closed bridge formation because it will give you more accuracy and it will keep your tip down.⁴
2. Relax your bridge arm and bend it slightly to allow your body to move into the shot.³
3. Move your bridge distance further back from the cue ball to allow for more acceleration.³
4. You may want to consider breaking from the rail because the angle of approach is more conducive to pocketing balls.⁸

• Expert Village: How to Break on the Rail in Pool

Tip 4: Adjust Your Stance

• Like your bridge, your stance should also be slightly different for your break shot as for your other shots.

1. Stand more upright. This allows for one long flowing motion with your shooting arm.⁹
2. Shift your weight to your front foot, which will give you more energy for your swing.⁴
3. Pivot your shooting side foot. This will free up and lengthen your arm motion and body which in turn adds power.⁶
4. Narrow your stance, which should help you propel your hips and torso forward on the break stroke.³
5. Keep your legs bent, which helps generate momentum.³

Tip 5: Move Through the Shot

• During a normal stroke, you want nothing but your lower arm to move.¹⁰ However, during a break shot you want to move your body because it will add power to the stroke.¹¹ The idea is to propel your hips and torso forward with your stroke. Use your back leg to generate more power, which may mean it ends up off the floor.³ However, you don't want to sway backwards with your backswing. Instead, lean forward into your bridge hand when you pull the cue back.⁸

• Metacafe: Pool Lessons by Charlie Bryant (Time: 5:54)

Tip 6: Increase Your Follow-Through

• After you have hit the ball, your cue should continue moving forward. This is called "follow-through." Don't be afraid to drive 12 inches past the contact point, as this will increase your stroke's accuracy and power.⁴ Since your cue may be descending into the shot at a short angle, don't be surprised if your cue tip hits the cloth and slides. During one pool tournament, a player fouled after his cue tip struck the head ball because his follow-through was so long.³

Tip 7: Place and Aim the Cue Ball Correctly

(Creative Commons photo by Leslie Kalohi)

• Where you place your cue ball will affect where you aim it. For this tip, there is no right answer. However, your goal should be to hit the head ball as fully as possible in order to transfer all the ball's power into the rack.³

1. Inspect the table before deciding on a position. Look for signs of wear that could indicate a "sweet spot," or optimal spot for breaking.³
2. If you are a beginner, you may find it easier to control the ball if you break closer to the side of the table.⁹
3. Try to hit the head ball so the cue ball bounces back toward the center of the table, which will make it easier for you to make your next shot.⁹ If you cue ball veers off to the right or left, you are not making a direct shot to the head ball.⁷
4. In 9-ball, most pros will break a few inches from either the left or right rail, unless rules mandate otherwise.³
5. In 8-ball, many pros will break within the first diamond from center on the left or right, which gives them a solid hit directed straight into the head ball and rack.³
6. If you are playing a game of 8-ball where you can win automatically by sinking the eight ball, you may want to aim for the second ball. This will send the ball towards the pockets and likely sink it.¹² To see an example, check out one of the following videos:
   1. YouTube: Dr. Cue - Lesson 21 - Making the 8 - Ball on the Break! (Time: 2:51)
   2. Expert Village: The 8 Ball Break in Pool

• 5MinLife Videopedia: 9 Ball Break by Sigel (1:05)

Tip 8: Where to Hit the Cue Ball

• For your shot, you want a nice clean hit on the cue ball. This will usually mean you will be aiming for the center of the ball or just below it.

1. Many experts suggest you should aim slightly below center (anywhere from a hair to a full tip below), which will create back spin.³ This is known as draw.¹³
2. Do not hit the ball above center, which will create topspin. Top spin can cause the ball to jump in the air, which loses energy for the shot, or leave the table.⁹ If you notice that your cue moves up during your stroke, you might be dropping your elbow.¹⁴
3. Avoid hitting the ball to the left or right (also known as English).¹⁵ Side English will propel the cue ball around the table, which increases the danger of scratching. If you are unintentionally hitting the ball to the left or right, you might not be keeping your stroke straight or your bridge might be too long.¹⁴

Tip 9: Practice Your Stop Shots

• A good break shot is basically a firm stop shot.⁷ If you don't have a good stop shot, then chances are you won't have a good break shot. A stop shot is when the cue ball stops after it contacts the object ball.

1. Depending on how far away your cue ball is from the object ball, you will either need to hit the ball at the center or slightly below center.¹⁶
2. If you hit the ball too low, you will either miscue or have a draw shot, which means the cue ball will come back towards you.¹⁶
3. Practicing your stop shots is the best way to learn how much draw you need to add. ¹⁷

• YouTube: Dr. Cue - Lesson 16 -Stop Shot Practice (Time: 1:54)

Tip 10: Assess and Practice

(Creative Commons photo by John Lewis)

• Nobody gets better without the most basic of elements: practice. Although it might seem like a pain to continually rack up the balls, practicing your break shot is important. After each practice shot, look at the table and evaluate your shot.⁴

1. Are the balls scattered?
2. Are there any clusters of balls?
3. Where is the cue ball?

• You might want to make a chart and track your results. Try switching positions and speed to see what happens. Don't try to maximize power as you start out. Instead, wait until you can consistently and accurately hit the head ball before increasing your power.³ You should always start with easy shots and then move on to progressively harder ones.¹⁸ If you are looking for some aids to help you with your practice, check out some of the following:

1. Amazon.com: Rempe Training Ball
2. Amazon.com: Ghost Ball Aim Trainer
3. Amazon.com: Elephant Practice Balls Pool Balls

Conclusion

• As you may have learned, a good break shot combines power and accuracy into one fluid stroke.² It is not something that develops overnight or with a quick fix. Instead, it takes trial and error until you find the perfect blend, giving you a good, consistent break shot. However, the results will be well worth the effort if you are successful.

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References for How to Break Better in Pool

1. ↑ MNBilliards.com: How Can I Improve My 8-Ball Game?
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Billiard Coach: Effective 8-Ball Break Shots, Part I
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13} Billiards Digest: Break It Down!: 28 Tips for Smashing the Rack
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5} Men's Health: Improve Your Break Shot in 8-Ball  
5. ↑ TheCueStick.com: Break Cues: What's The Difference?
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} About.com: Ten Top Break Shot Tips  
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Brightcove: Breaking the Balls (Time: 5:11)  
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} AZBilliards.com: Power Break
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} About.com: How To Snap the Break  
10. ↑ TheCueStick.com: Pool & Billiard Fundamentals
11. ↑ About.com: Breaking an 8-Ball Rack With Power  
12. ↑ Billiard Coach: Effective 8-Ball Break Shots, Part II
13. ↑ Tom Simpson: Draw Like Crazy (November 2003)  
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Tom Simpson: Micro Bridging (April 2003)  
15. ↑ AZBilliards.com: Breaking To Win
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} easypooltutor.com: The Stop Shot
17. ↑ The Tip Jar: Calibrate Your Stroke: The Stop Shot is Your Friend (November 20, 2005)
18. ↑ AZBilliards.com: Shut up and Practice!

How to Break Better in Pool Videos

• YouTube: How To Break (Time: 9:26)
• Expert Village: How to Rack Pool Balls
• Expert Village: How to Break on the Rail in Pool
• Expert Village: How to Break off the Rail in Pool
• Metacafe: Pool Lessons by Charlie Bryant (Time: 5:54)
• YouTube: Dr. Cue - Lesson 21 - Making the 8 - Ball on the Break! (Time: 2:51)
• Expert Village: The 8 Ball Break in Pool
• 5MinLife Videopedia: 9 Ball Break by Sigel (1:05)
• YouTube: Dr. Cue - Lesson 16 -Stop Shot Practice (Time: 1:54)