124. The Break Off Shot - Hints and tips

[@DavidSalagean]

Barry,I improved my snooker game so much watching your videos.You make very qualitative videos.Keep doing it please because I've watched all your videos and I want to learn more about this wonderful game. RESPECT !!!

[@stonedagain5191]

Addictive game, isn't it? LOL

[@peterpetigrew2869]

Great stuff, thanks Barry 👍

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Peter. My pleasure. Sorry for the late reply I have been on holiday.

[@chrisparsons5733]

I’m still intrigued as to what the answer is for your question in the last video! Has me puzzled ha! Great video btw Barry! 👍

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Chris. It had me stumped as well when Paul Collier asked me, I have just recorded the answer and it will be in the next video.

[@tomquirke8033]

Thank you so much for all these videos Barry! So much great info!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Tom. My pleasure, glad you like them.

[@dpow888]

Good advice as always Barry. I usually break off close to the brown but at times put too much side on, I’ll try with the same side closer to the yellow or try to adapt less side from near the brown. 👍👍👍

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

DeanoP. Usually you will need less side if you place the cue ball close to the brown and as a reult you should be more accurate with your contact on the triangle of reds.

[@georgedagosdagopoulos7587]

Hello Sir from Greece, personally I prefer to break off with the white close to the brown. It gives me a better angle to go round the top cushion and it requires less side. Another excellent video, keep up the good work Sir, thank you for everything and have a nice day!!!!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

George. I agree, the fact that you are using less side should mean that your contact on the triangle of reds is more accurate.

[@georgedagosdagopoulos7587]

Most definitely Sir, I decided to adapt this kind of breaking off, because it gives me a really good line. The length is a matter of pace and needs to be practiced a lot!!!! Thank you for your reply Sir!!!!

[@michaelparanormal]

Great tips Barry, i always break off next to the brown and 8 times out of ten i get behind the green or on the bulk cushing as you said pratice makes your game better at the start, also players break off on the brown and green side applying the opposite side on the cueball of in the yellow and brown, the break off`s is the key to winning or losing the frame!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Michael. Well said, it certainly can win or lose you a frame and the better the standard you play against, the more applicable that statement is.

[@michaelparanormal]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thanks , just one other thing about touching balls on a red, i`m sure its not a foul but my nephew thinks its a foul shot when you play away from the red off a cushing and hit the same ball again, its not a foul is it Barry?

[@martintemelkov]

Another fantastic video! Thank you so much for all these lessons, sir! You have no idea (well, probably you do, since you are making the videos haha) how much they have helped me improve my general play. Keep going strong! Much love from Bulgaria! :) I personally always break close to the yellow ball and I would say my break-off success rate is about 70%. I would like to improve that so I will definitely try to break off close to the brown next time I play.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Martin. I think if you play from close to the brown ball you should be a little more accurate with the contact on the triangle, simply because you will need less side on the cue ball, please try it and see how you get on.

[@meharaftab6735]

Helpful video

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mehar. Glad you found it useful.

[@one-armvlogs259]

One of the most important shots. Especially in professional snooker.

[@thecommission6662]

The most important shot.

[@thecommission6662]

The break off shot is the most important shot because, if you get wrong it could be your only shot of the frame.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

The One-Armed. Certainly the break off is very important and professional players will place a lot of importance on it, striving not only to not leave an opening but also trying to put their opponent in trouble.

[@Andy-cj9hh]

Nice one Barry........don't know if it makes any difference being right or left sighted but this video certainly helped me cheers !!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Andy. Being right or left eye dominant shouldn't make any difference at all, glad the video helped.

[@graemeisgreatohyes]

Another great video Barry, but I don’t think you’ve given us the answer to the poser in the previous video?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Graeme. I have just been reminded of that and recorded the answer, it will be in the next video.

[@gintautasnik5214]

Thanks Barry, been a long time.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Gintautas. Fitting it all in with my family and other commitments does give me a few problems from time to time.

[@gintautasnik5214]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach bless you Barry, everything will be OK

[@stonedagain5191]

All about the weight and speed of the shot. If you break from the right side of the D use a trace of right-hand side (running side) If breaking from the left of the D use a trace of left-hand side (running side).

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Stoned. Correct, couldn't have said it better myself.

[@kaidavidsonpool2315]

I’ve always broke off next to the yellow with right hand spin to end up hopefully on the bulk cushion or behind the brown or green. Thank you Barry for your tips! Gratitude!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Kai. My pleasure, try placing the cue ball closer to the brown, you should find that you will need less side and therefore possibly more accurate with the contact on the triangle of reds.

[@kaidavidsonpool2315]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach I have just tried it and used less side as you said to do so, the result was better and improved. Thank you Barry. Your tips are the culmination of coaching.

[@jackmack1061]

2:53 very instructional, thank you.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

jack. My pleasure, glad you like the video.

[@meharaftab6735]

But sir there iz a problem in our snooker club thre is ten reds and when i applied this break whre cue ball near to 4, in this break the cue ball goes to corner green pocket ,so what i have to do in ten red frame,how to break ???

[@stonedagain5191]

Use the last ball at the back on either side of the pack.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mehar. This is still just a question of experimentation of where you place the cue ball before you break off and the amount of side that you use, still hitting the end red.

[@robertconnell5302]

I find it easier to hit 2nd last red when playing with a touch of side to come inside the blue.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Robert. Thats fine but there is a tendency to disturb a few more reds that way and there is possibly a greater chance of leaving an opening for your opponent.

[@robertconnell5302]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach that's true Barry but gives me a bigger target especially first shot rather than hitting last red thin.

[@craignicholls6709]

If you mis cue off the break and don’t hit a ball, is it foul 4 or foul 7, only when breaking

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Craig. This would be a foul and four points away.

[@paultaylor4032]

Hi Barry, another great video thankyou, could you just explain the optimum amount of the end red to hit, as in is it as much of the ball as you can see or half the available surface area?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Paul. Hitting the end red thicker will mean that the cue ball will come off at a wider angle, consequently you should be able to get the cue ball around the angle using less side and therefore possibly more accuracy. Having said that if you use more side it will speed the cue ball up as it goes round the angles and therefore your are able to get the cue ball into the desired position but without disturbing the triangle of reds too much. So you see from those statements that it comes down to personal preference.

[@kecikqila4823]

nice tutorial thanks sir.from malaysia

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

You are welcome

[@ericthekingthekingtheking4842]

Barry would kyren practice the break off in his routines or is it just classed as a basic fundamental shot that they are confident with

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

RK. He doesn't practise it all the time and to some extent you are right, it is considered one of the fundamentals of the game, however, there has been occasions when he has not been happy and we will spend some time on its practise

[@royalhero4608]

Good to see Kyren and Jack doing well in the world cup

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Smooth. Two great players that form a great partnership, like you I wish them well and hope they go all the way.

[@BBBBD147]

Thanks for yet another great video Barry. Have you seen/heard that Neil Robertson breaks off on either side depending on what hand his opponent plays with?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

billyrm. I haven't really noticed but it can be useful to throw your opponent out of his comfort zone.

[@stonedagain5191]

And there's a thought, I'd love to hear your take on what buzzing means? Because it's something we can see from the basic Amateur to the very top of the game.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Stoned. Have you ever noticed when you are playing well that you feel all you have to do is point the cue, hit the ball and you just know that it is going in and that the cue ball is going where you intend it to. That is euphoria and that is buzzing.

[@stonedagain5191]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Spot on, and yes mate, only I don't get that buzz often enough LOL..I practice with a former top 20 player, Andy Hicks from Plymouth, If you've heard of him?

[@stonedagain5191]

I've cleared a Pool table using a Bar Stool before LOL

[@mariokadastik5754]

Thanks for the refresher, however one breakoff you didn't mention is the one Ronnie did a few times during the tournaments. Kinda exhibition shot, but basically place the white close to the green and aim between the blue and the pink to the opposite side red. You get a thin cut, bounce around the pocket and come back to the baulk area. It's an interesting take on the breakoff shot, what are your comments on it?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mario. Not a fan and if I remember correctly even Ronnie struck the blue with the cue ball on its path to the triangle of reds.

[@mariokadastik5754]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach he did on one occasion so yeah it’s a lot tighter aim, but he did do a few times and succeeded on most in getting the white safe. Just thought it as an interesting option that wasn’t mentioned. I’ve tried it myself a few times, it does work, but takes a bit more concentration :)

[@andrewsmith5619]

Barry, In Tennis it is well understood that the server wins most games and has a big advantage. Is there a similar advantage to breaking off, or not breaking off when you win the toss before a match? Has this ever been studied?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

ANDREW. Certainly the break off was always considered an advantage but the modern player has became so much better at long potting that players are having a rethink on this issue. It is still an advantage if the break off is done correctly but I often wonder how many players actually practise it.

[@stonedagain5191]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Spot on! The biggest change we've seen in the game of snooker over the last 30 years is the second shot of any frame.

[@MEECHIO]

Hi Barry, many thanks for another informative and excellent video. Just a question regarding my game, I play right handed but break off in the area between the green and brown spots - is this unusual as a few guys who I play with in the local team say that I break off as a left handed player would. Firstly Is this down to sighting and a preference to a particular eye being stronger than the other and secondly is this fine to continue doing as I find it comfortable even if it is unorthodox? Cheers..:-)

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

MEECHIO. This is not down to eye dominance, good players can break off adequately from both sides, it is just down to personal preference. Please don't worry about what other players say, being slightly unorthodox can have its advantages anyway by throwing your opponent out of his comfort zone. If it is right for you just carry on.

[@MEECHIO]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach top man!! Thanks for your words of wisdom and encouragement.

[@stonedagain5191]

2:11. They are so different from a club table, the pockets will not accept anything not hit well, trying to pot a ball from distance down a rail or along the back rail are virtually impossible. You can pot them, but you've got to be hitting the ball very well. The pro table really sharpens your potting right up if it hasn't broken your heart to many times LOL.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Stoned. Very true, it can almost be a different game.

[@101spirited]

Which pros break off by rolling up behind the pack?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

101. One or two have tried it but soon abandon it because it is so negative and lets not forget that the game is supposed to be an entertainment at professional level.

[@stonedagain5191]

When I was a kid, my uncle had a Victorian 3/4 size slate bed Snooker table. Well Billiard table, but from about the age of 4, I never put the cue down, I'd play all day and as much of the night until I couldn't keep my eyes open.. I'm 50 now, and my cue is still in reach LOL, It's a bug!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Stoned. Delighted to hear that and also that you still have a love for the game, very well done.

[@stonedagain5191]

Barry, with the way the game has opened up at professional level, could leaving a tempter be seen as clever or is it really all about covering the lot? I've noticed on occasions and usually when we see a player pause and think a little before he breaks that often they'll leave a tempter, top players buzzing can do this I believe.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Stoned. They certainly don't try to leave a tempter, as you put it, nobody can guarantee how the triangle is going to split and I have yet to see a player that can dictate where the cue ball is going to end up after breaking off, although some are better than others.

[@stonedagain5191]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach That's what I've always thought, you can probably guess the player I'm thinking of? Judd Trump. I've spoken to Judd many times, and he comes across as a player that would be thinking about these things. I'd suppose it would be largely dependent on the frame scores, frame of mind, It was just a question to throw at you, as a Young Trump. Would not only leave the tempter, but the cocky git had no problem telling us he was going to LOL If he sniffs a little weakness he will keep putting you where he knows you don't really want to be. I rate him, but tbh I rated him far more when he was a teenager.

[@stonedagain5191]

I live in Cornwall, where Judd spent a bit of his misspent youth playing Snooks

[@a.bakker64]

You hit the cue ball at two o’clock, but where do you hit the object ball?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

A. You can only see a portion of the object ball and it is down to each individual player to practise and experiment on the contact to see which gives the best results.

[@omidrastin3745]

Nice video.... And first😘😘😘

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Omid. Glad you like the video.

[@BornElite337]

Looks like Barry is using a lot of right hand side, not "a touch".

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Duane. I do like to zip the cue ball around the angle with a degree of side but its up to each individual player to determine what is best for him.

[@pasiheinonen7708]

Thank you for your great videos! Is there some disadvantages by making diagonal break off shot? Never seen anyone done that. I have tested it couple of times and seems to work well. Picture explains what I mean by this: i.ibb.co/gSN62BY/Screenshot-20200201-201333-01.jpg

[@meharaftab6735]

From Pakistan,i hope that you will understand my English as well as question

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Mehar. I understand and I hope I have answered the question to your satisfaction.

[@stonedagain5191]

The break off shot. Very Important in the professional game as it could well be your first and last shot of any particular frame. Not anywhere near as Important in the Amateur game as the chances are you'll soon be back at the table.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Stoned. Still important in the amateur game otherwise your opponent may gain a substantial lead.

[@srvafool]

You mean right hand side. You said left hand side while you were actually striking the cue ball with right hand side.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Alan. It may have sounded like that to you but if you listen carefully I actually said less side not left side.

[@srvafool]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Oh ok, my fault for hearing it wrong. Thanks for clarifying. And, thank you for all the great videos!!

[@noorbaloch296]

Osm

[@magnusclaesson5843]

You forgot to tell players to also practise playing it with white between green and brown, to not develop a preference ;)

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Magnus. You are right, all skills should be practised from both sides of the table, thanks for reminding me.