February 2009 page 6
Effective 8-Ball Break Shots, Part II
Br Bree ak the Glass C Cee iling!
(c) 2008 Mike Fieldhammer, BilliardCoach.com
By Samm Diep (c) January 2009
Part I of the break shot details the most common approach to breaking by hitting the ball at the apex of the stack. This article will detail a highly effective alternative-the second ball break. As summarized in Part I, a successful break shot can be defined as follows: * One or more balls have been pocketed * The cue ball is in a position that offers an opening shot * Object balls have scattered sufficiently and few clusters exist The second ball break still benefits from a tight rack, but is more forgiving. One of the two balls directly behind the apex ball is struck and the action of the rack can be thought of as an explosion from the center of the rack. Energy from the cue ball is directed at the core of the rack with the object balls scattering from the inside out.
The term “glass ceiling” most commonly refers to situations where advancement is stopped at a lower level due to some form of discrimination. In the case of this article, we often times hold ourselves back from advancing because we’re stuck in a place where we have been for so long. We want to improve but we hold ourselves back. We lose to players that we look up to. We tell ourselves, “I’ve never beaten him before. He’s better than me.” In turn, we are the ones discriminating against ourselves and our own abilities. As we improve, we may leave some of our peers behind. We will also inevitably face players that were at one point better than us. By now, we may be pretty even with them or in some cases even Samm Diep better than them. Regardless of how much we admire their game, we can’t lose sight of our own abilities. Remembering how great they are and how much we idolize them only reinforces that glass ceiling. The truth is: we might be able to beat them but if we still look at ourselves as that timid beginner player, then we stand no chance. The only way to break through the invisible barrier we’ve created is to compete, compete, and then compete some more. Hiding out in your basement for two years shooting nothing but drills might give you the knowledge and skills, but it will not give you that competitive edge and tournament toughness required to beat your hero. How well competition pressure is handled is what separates the ball-bangers from the masters. The first couple times we play the local champ, we get our butts handed to us. We go back and practice. The next time, maybe we make some really nice runs but miss the money ball. We go back and practice that shot. In the next tournament, run a few more racks but still lose. We go back and work on our break shot. Until, eventually, we finally beat them. If we continue the hard work, the day will come. We may not beat them again the next time after that, but we now know they’re beatable. They all are. Congratulations, you’ve just taken the first step towards breaking the glass ceiling. Glass ceilings can be set by us, our peers, our family, or any of those random thoughts that creep into our subconscious. We’ll never break through if we don’t believe in ourselves and accept our own improvements. It’s not who you were, it’s the player that you’ve become. Keep practicing, keep competing, and keep breaking through.
This concentrated strike is more of a sniper shot than an all out blast. Accuracy supercedes power in the second ball break. English and spin are employed to make aiming at the small target even more difficult. The power of the stroke must be held in check so as not to sacrifice a deadly accurate hit. The cue ball must originate from near one of the side rails. This offers the shortest path and most advantageous angle to hit the second ball as full as possible. The cue ball should miss the apex ball and impact the second ball back. Clipping the head ball may cause a scratch in pocket ‘1’ or even jump the cue ball off the table. Steering too far clear of the head ball can be costly as well. Hitting too thin (low) on the second ball can send the cue ball straight into the corner or into the long rail and across to scratch in corner pocket ‘2’. Even if the scratches are avoided, you may be stuck beneath the stack or on the foot rail with no shot at all. Outside English and draw (Low left in the diagram breaking from the left side rail) should be used in moderation to contact the side rail and direct the cue ball to the shaded oval position zone. As in the head ball break, the center of the table will offer the most options for an opening shot. Don’t overdo the low, outside spin because a scratch in pocket ‘3’ is possible. Cue ball kisses are highly likely, but if the cue ball is sent along the path illustrated the kiss may not hurt you. Keeping the cue ball away from the pockets greatly reduces the chance of getting kissed into a scratch. Players new to the second ball break should begin without employing any left or right spin. Play the shot with draw only and focus on an accurate hit on the second ball. Some players have great success without adding the sidespin and hitting the break with high speed. Equipment and playing conditions may influence how you choose to shoot the second ball break shot. This alternate break shot works well, especially when the head ball smash break is not satisfying the first two goals of breaking. You’ll often make a ball but may face a more difficult run out due to a less effective spread of (Billiard Coach continued on page 13)
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