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Home Games 8 Ball Pool: How to Execute the Perfect Break?

8 Ball Pool: How to Execute the Perfect Break?

Do you play 8 ball pool but can’t achieve a perfect pool break? This article will give you insights about the pool break rules and tips which will help you achieve it!

The end goal of the 8 ball pool is to ensure that all your designated balls (be it the stripes or the solids) are put in the pockets, and the black ball (8 ball) is the last one to enter the pocket. If you are the one who manages to be the player who pots the black ball at the end, you emerge as the winner. The most important element of this 8 ball pool game is to achieve a perfect pool break. This will enable you to have the right option to aim for – solids or stripes. In this article, we tried to highlight some of the important techniques that can possibly help you in achieving the 8 ball pool perfect break. 

Pool Break Rules:

  • Before the start of the 8 ball pool game, the 15 object balls need to be placed in a triangular rack and positioned towards the lower end of the table such that the apex ball of the rack lies on the foot spot. The order of the balls can be random apart from the black ball (8 ball), which should be placed in the centre of the third row. The white ball needs to be placed anywhere behind the service line on the pool table.
  • After the first game of the match, the break is taken in turns by the two players competing out there.
  • In order to make a good legal break, you should hit the balls and ensure that the four balls hit cushions and also make sure that the cue ball does not go down any of the pockets. If the 8-ball is potted on the break, the player is entitled to ask for a re-rack. If you manage to pocket any of the coloured balls (solids or stripes) in the break shot itself, you get another turn to determine the assignment of all seven solids or all seven stripes. Once you miss pocketing a ball or commit a foul, the other player gets his/her turn, and the game continues turn-wise.

How to Execute a Perfect Break:

Executing a perfect pool break while playing the 8 ball pool game is a major challenge experienced by the players.

1.Begin With a Good Rack:

Make sure that the balls are racked well, frozen together, and properly placed on the table.

2.Chalk Up:

Apply the chalk liberally and evenly to your cue tip. Don’t wipe it off.

3.Break Strategy:

There are two main break strategies used in the 8 ball pool break, i.e., Run Out Strategy or Sinking Strategy.  A simple objective of the break could be to shatter the rack so effectively that the balls are spread near the pockets, giving you a good chance to win the game.

Run Out Strategy:

At times it is best to scatter the balls widely i.e., send 7 or 8 balls past the side pockets towards the head of the table. This helps to get several balls being spread up nicely. Using this, you can easily pot the balls in respective pockets in a short span of time.  However, for sheer power to scatter balls, a bit of deviation on the break stroke and quick movement can add plenty of force to the 8-ball break. 

Thus, if you are going for a run-out strategy (scattering the balls), place the cue ball right at the centre of the table. Place your aim in such a way that your cue ball has a good chance of striking the apex ball head-on. If you manage to pull off an accurate stroke here, it will impart a lot of energy towards the rack, resulting in spreading the balls all over the pool table, while simultaneously killing that cue ball, leaving it near the centre of the table for easy run-out.

Sinking Strategy:

Victory in the 8 ball pool requires a commitment to sink the black ball on the break itself. In such a scenario, you need to adopt this sinking strategy. If you have set up to sink the 8 ball (black ball), you need to strike the cue ball with your cue stick such that you impart good enough spin to prevent scratching in the back pocket. If you are attempting to break from the right, you can opt for low-left spin, while you may choose low-right spin while breaking from the left.

4.Stroke It Well:

You need to strike your cue with a head-on, straight attack; making use of a medium to a hard stroke. Try to follow through well, and do not allow the cue stick to rise up during this stroke. Ensure that you maintain appropriate control by gripping your cue stick as hard as required (neither too hard nor too loose).

 5.Follow Through:

Bear in mind that the real factors affecting your shot are:

  • the speed of your cue stick which will have a direct impact on the cue ball, and
  • the angle of the strike since the cue ball impacts the target ball

You need to take care of having a proper follow-through in your break shot so as to deliver the power required to cue the ball.

 6.Practice Breaking:

Of course, you are not going to manage to have a perfect break shot without regular practice. Consistently practice the strategy you adopt for the break, and you will see the results sooner or later. Be patient, and don’t lose focus from attempting the perfect break in every pool game that you play.

Final Thoughts

This article on pool break rules and guidelines to execute the 8 ball pool perfect break are likely to help you in improving your game. Do remember that a perfect pool break can make it relatively easy for you to have the right coloured balls assigned for the rest of the 8 ball pool game. These 8 ball pool game tips could go a long way in enhancing your chances of winning at the pool game table. So, download a good online pool game app like MPL and start playing right away!

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