Can Snooker Break Off Be Improved?

[@AlonsoRules]

Quinten Hann approves of your techniques

[@trevm02]

Anthony Kernich you mean old marry arse

[@johnrupesh4535]

Lol. He is an ass.

[@colincolenso]

One-Pocket and 14.1 Straight Pool also have defensive breaks.

[@tigerfish66]

love the content BTW, in a snooker league i played in years ago when i was a young keen 15 year old 50 breaker, an older player in our team would use a rather unusual break. His logic was sort of based on making a break building harder for the player following him. He would hit the cue ball into the bottom cushion at fair pace with backspin, so when the cue ball hit the cushion the spin reversed. This would have 3 resulting actions, 1. cue ball embeds itself in the split pack meaning awkward cueing 2. pink is sent up the table and also hits the blue dislodging that from the spot. 3. any resulting break from the reds spread up the table only leaves the black on it's spot and makes significant break building harder for the AVERAGE CLUB player.........his frames would end up as low scoring affairs which HE felt evened up his chances........it's not gonna work for pro's of course.......

[@londonkeith4804]

Instablaster...

[@herrdoktorjohan]

An anecdote from Mechelen, Belgium. A friend of tends to break off in the following manner: cue ball next to the yellow, aim about straight down the table with a bit of left hand side so the cue ball clips the edge of the pack on the way back. A bit tricky to get right, but done properly it disturbs the pack very little, and brings the cue ball back into baulk.

[@emilyscloset2648]

Because of that left hand side, I could see this going wrong ways than it could go right. e.g too much left and its stuck behind the pack with a potentially easy start, not enough left and you miss the pack, or even hitting the red too thick so you don't quite get back to baulk and leave an easy pot on the other side of the pack

[@nahmy]

Just tried this on Snooker19 practice mode. IT WORKED FIRST TIME!!!......unfortunately i wasn't able to reproduce the result despite trying 25 more times. love the videos, keep it up!

[@billynewton202]

One quick point, if the balls aren't touching when set up then there is less energy transfered to all the balls as some is lossed due to sound and friction, therfore less momentum (kinetic energy) and less chance of potting. This is why they tend to have a good look in pool, but not in snooker. As well as you mentioned less confidence on where the balls are going :) great videos tho keep it up.

[@mozb87]

As a left hander, I always break from the green side as it makes it more likely I push a red to the right hand side of the table near the cushion, this red will likely be easier for a left hander later in the game, where a right hander will likely need a rest to pot it! Pro tip! From a complete amateur :) Dallas, Texas

[@Fuzcapp]

As a fellow molly-dooker ... thanks for that.

[@everythingyoudwanttoknow]

Straigth pool and one pocket.

[@emberklavins9567]

In one pocket you don’t make a ball, but the break is definitely still an advantage if you can get balls near your pocket and hide them.

[@right8630]

Straight pool doesn’t start with safety.

[@51Dss]

@@right8630 yes it does. Good and experienced straight pool players always attempt to make a legal break while leaving the incoming player with a difficult (as close to safe as possible) shot. "Safe" does not mean the incoming player can't see a legal shot. It means he is left with a difficult or very difficult situation. IMHO the opening break in Straight Pool is a safety play.

[@michaelolson6982]

In nine the players are obsessed with checking out the rack for inconsistencies of the way the rack is set, I often wondered why snooker players just accepted the way that the reds are in the set up

[@billynewton202]

If the balls aren't touching when set up then there is less energy transfered to all the balls as some is lossed due to sound and friction, therfore less momentum (kinetic energy) and less chance of potting. This is why they tend to have a good look in pool, but not in snooker.

[@StandAndStare]

Would be interested to see your success rate at trying to snooker behind a baulk colour. It seems like, at the business end of a match, pros should know the conditions well enough to make this a plausible shot.

[@blackbirdsr71]

I always thought the same. This is the shot to aim for. But is there a rule that the opponent cannot be snookered on their first shot?

[@StandAndStare]

@@blackbirdsr71 Nope, it's just very risky. If you miss the snooker your opponent will have a strong advantage. I just think this is the only option that's better than the standard break off if the player is good enough to make the snooker consistently -- players get better ever year so maybe one day we'll see this being played (as mentioned, later in a match when they know the conditions).

[@azngoku666]

yeah, I remember someone talking about this with the cueball starting closer to the green/yellow, the shot ronnie messed up here (maybe on an old break from life comment section?) anyway, great video. glad to see it!

[@couto619]

Thank you for taking time to not only help yourself but everyone else with snooker I’m from Seychelles Victoria

[@gregconroy1535]

I really enjoy your videos greetings from belmullet, mayo in Ireland

[@satautenyo]

Excellent video! only played at short pool tables but hooked to snooker on TV... greetings from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

[@LexL147]

I was working on that O'Sullivan break before lockdown, nailing it behind the brown quite a few times in practice. Hit the pink a few times but I still think that type of shot has legs

[@AD-kv9kj]

Naah.

[@邵悦-d5y]

I am a fan of snooker, enjoy watching your video every time. Greeting from Shanghai, China. Now in Leicester study abroad.

[@stenligermanov9965]

I have a friend that sometimes break with one cushion and hit the reds from behind with left or right spin.And occasionally pot a ball in the middle poket.

[@ryanohh3]

I don’t play snooker often but I always use the exhibition break off between where you put a touch of side to slip past the blue and I’ve always had good results with it. Ryan from Sunshine Coast Australia

[@HDMensur]

Great Explanation as usual! Greetings From Wuppertal, Germany

[@FishnChips136]

Try this same break with extreme low spin on the cue. You spread the rack and draw the cue ball back to the rail behind the lower colors. Result is an open table but, a defensive break.

[@michaelolson6982]

At one point I developed the two cushion break to a point where I could get the cue ball behind the green using bottom right hand spin with quite a firm hit because you are using check side

[@paulriggall8370]

Straight pool has a very defensive opening stroke. Very similar to snooker. Watch The Hustler!

[@kennygraham2665]

Yup straight pool.

[@seanellen6514]

one pocket is the 3rd cue sport that usually doesn't start with an offensive shot. You can say straight pool too, but you see some people play offensively to start too. But at major tournaments everyone plays defense to start.

[@abhishekbadhan25]

8:10 Commendable Editing Skills there.. ❤️ Love from New Delhi, India

[@the_alchemy_method]

Your a real historian and scholar of the game mate. Good work

[@michaelparanormal]

i always break off from yellow side near brown with lots of right hand side and judging the power right will always get you near or on the bulk cushing behind the green, i can do it on 6ft,8ft or 12

[@TheRealBoroNut]

I played the perfect break-off once in a refereed away league match. I hit the corner ball a bit thin and it bounced off the top cushion and back into its original position in the pack. The opposite corner ball went straight across and back too. No other balls moved and the pack looked practically perfect, with the white ending up tight behind the green. I've never been able to replicate it. What was even better was my opponent had his back turned sorting his cue and drinks out, and when he came to the table he assumed he'd been put in to break (even though he'd just won the toss and put me in, and the spectators had clapped the shot). He picked the white up and placed it as if to break off, and couldn't understand everyone saying he'd made a foul. He thought everyone including his teammates and referee were pulling his leg. So I got an extra 4 points to begin with as well as the two complete misses he then made trying not to split the pack. He was a notable player at the time but I won fairly easilly as he never really regained his composure. He was still muttering about it to his mates when I left the club.

[@danecobain]

I'm glad you looked into this because I've always wondered!

[@jamz_sama5760]

That’s why in some pool tournaments they use something called a magic rack which allows for the perfect rack every time.

[@kevinkattai3255]

Yes, but due to Magic Rack they've introduced bunch of new rules for break shot in order to make it more interesting.

[@williamhrivnak7345]

Magic racks are only good for hard break games like 8 ball and 9 ball because you want to remove it right after the break if possible which is easier the less balls are near it. It can mess up the roll of slow moving balls otherwise so it would be terrible for snooker, straight pool etc, where it would still be covered by many balls for several turns before you have a chance to remove it.

[@Krushard]

Way beefore magic racks, during important matches, they used to have some sort of mechanical bulky device that tightens the rack.

[@simonwilson1686]

Try the extreme topspin, back of the pack split - So slight left hand side, masses of top spin, which of course revereses off the top cushion. It splits the reds down the table and effecively screws the white back to the top rail. Great shot if you get it right, but probably only a 1 in 10 :(

[@steverichards575]

Fron breakoff right hand side hard into the top cushion Always a great breakoff with no risk of potting.

[@djMacMahon]

Another great video, loving this channel! Best snooker content on YT. Salutations from Eastbourne England

[@Vidlaste]

That break where you go across the table between blue and pink that we saw Ronnie attempted is not bad at all. I used that in practice and amateur tournaments many years ago, and I found that the success rate wasn't any lower than when I played the traditional break-off. Actually I felt that I would more often land on the baulk cushion or behind a baulk colour playing it that way. Also, if something actually went wrong, I would almost always go in-off instead of leaving the white short, hitting another red, hitting blue or anything like that, so it still ended up safe. Also, no risk at all of hitting the red too thick and having another red go to the other side of the table, leaving a possible pot to middle. Playing that break-off is also a confidence booster and psychological play, similar to how Ronnie often plays the break-off left handed.

[@nathanyardley5472]

Love your videos, I’m lucky enough to have my own table now so will be watching a lot again.! ( there is room for a pin in Spilsby lincs 😀 )

[@Rubster760]

Awesome stuff my friend. Rubster Suthern California 👍😎

[@jonyG1991]

Really enjoyed your videos in lock down they have kept me sane ..john from Barrow

[@shahanaj6227]

your videos have helped me improve my game, much love from Gujranwala Pakistan 🇵🇰❤

[@DodyPaluify]

Here in Brazil there is a game called ''bolinho'', it is a pool variant and the first shot is a safety

[@billynewton202]

Could another 'break off' in cue sports be a respotted black in snooker. If not this could be the 4th case in cue sports where defence is the best option. Billy newton in Leicestershire

[@neilhudson3908]

Greetings from Davis, California. This is how I break: skim the corner red and land the cue ball near the corner pocket or have it touch the bottom cushion. Usually no playable shot for opponent if cut well.

[@TheJohnCooperShow]

Hi, why don’t players just thin off the reds so that only one or two red comes off the pack and you can leave white towards top corner pocket/side cushion.(instead of coming inside the blue and bringing lots more reds out). You mention it’s because it’ll encourage opponent to go for any red on?

[@FvGa]

Excellent vid, agree that consistency is the problem otherwise players like Judd would do it. On flyordie it is possible to pot a red in the middle consistently coming of 2 cushions from behind but I doubt anyone could get that much action on the white in real life.

[@dave101t]

Straight pool, a la paul newman in the Hustler!

[@abhishekkukreja275]

Love watching your videos!! Greetings from New Delhi, India 🇮🇳❤️

[@wildthing6668813]

What about the break off where you put the white near the yellow ball and play the white across the table to hit the red on the green side or the table and back into balk? You showed it near the end.

[@KeithJawahir]

14.1 continuous aka Straight Pool, and one pocket. From NYC.

[@bradj1526]

Another great video. From Winnipeg Canada.

[@LawnBowlerUK]

I know this may be an odd question, but what are the dimensions of your room please? The width ideally from one wall to the boxes. Thanks!

[@crondawg101]

I can think of four total major cue sports in which the first shot is not usually an attacking shot. Snooker and English billiards were mentioned in the video. The only others I can think of are straight pool and one-pocket. What am I missing?

[@CallumCraystonGamingAndRacing]

Great video's. Loving snooker from Workington, Cumbria, England.

[@RandomIndyWrestling]

Hi! Great video. I know in 2018, John Higgins (I think?) commented that he believed he could get the white to end up behind the green on every break-off. I've always thought, given just how good the professional players are from range, why not play the shot as a snooker (with a little more pace to end up behind a baulk colour?)

[@billynewton202]

I get what your saying, but I think they play the standard break off with the aim to find the baulk cushion, as all they are trying to do in essence is get another shot and not lose the frame by a bad break off. But the main objective I think is more to have another shot, more than putting the opponent in trouble.

[@Mitjitsu]

The problem with that shot is the other player will often play a dead weight shot off a cushion and nestle into the pack. Getting the ball into the area shown in 7:10 is probably the best percentage shot off a break.

[@dringypie]

Very interesting video! Always wondered this myself. Also greetings from Mansfield, England

[@toddphillips8899]

Is the other game without an attacking shot Carom?

[@EduardoAmaroP]

I really enjoy watch your videos, learn a lot. Greetings from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

[@ryanbennett2667]

Absolutely loving the videos. They are making lockdown so much more bearable and I’m picking up some useful tips for when I can get back on a table. How do I go about getting a pin on the board?

[@Breakfromlife]

Just mentioning your name and closest city

[@TheJestinator]

Looks like Ryan missed his opportunity! I'm from Harrow, London ;)

[@sheldonskinner9837]

From Edmonton Alberta Canada

[@angrybomb1]

I guess the third one would be one pocket

[@flobbingdonkey]

So glad i found this channel. Very informative. Id be curious to see what the percentages would be if you broke off off 1 cushion with left hand side hitting the pack hard from the top cushion. Sort of like the break off shot deployed in big break the TV show (which was from behind but not too hard) but played a lot harder. Need to be careful you dont hit the black of course.

[@kevincronin6393]

I Always played the basic shot to land behind the yellow from the yellow side.. And that seems to work for me..

[@steveoliver2317]

All I can say is snooker is too difficult! Anyone who takes it up and plays to pro standard after years of dedication - you have my sincere admiration

[@elicampbell-stokes1032]

Enjoying your vids from Dunedin NZ

[@sandrograndi7674]

In italian billiard the opening shot is a safety shot. Was that the answer to the third cue sport question?

[@marcocipollone4823]

I play 5 pins italian biliard. Its now illegal to score points on the 1st shot but even when it was allowed not many players would prefer to score and leave a shot on rather than defend and get the game right and bright from the start

[@johnwoods1728]

Very enjoyable Greetings from Newmarket on Fergus Clare Ireland

[@christopherlord3441]

I once made an unrepeatable perfect break in 8-ball. As long as you strike a ball, your opponent has to nominate a shot after you, so I used to do this sneaky break where you go off the left-hand side cushion and just graze the balls so that they hardly move, sending the cue ball off the end cushion, around the other side, and back to near where it started. If you miss you go again, so you can do it as many times as you like until you hit the balls. You then have the advantage because there is no shot your opponent can make. I was in a bar and a really beautiful girl looked casually over to watch me break, and like magic the cue ball struck the end ball of the row parallel to the end cushion, but because all the balls happened to be touching, the only one that moved was the one at the far end, which rolled in a straight line to the side cushion with just enough energy to bounce and roll back to its original position, while the cue ball went around all three remaining cushions with just enough energy to roll gracefully to a stop on its spot. The girl didn't even notice. I suppose she thought it was something people did all the time.

[@fnzertify8541]

You should do a video about table top pool

[@redrob6026]

Is the left hand side one less likely because left handed people would play it? My preference is that side and I'm left handed

[@beesharp3664]

Eddie Charlton for exhibition matches would hit the back of the pack with power to force the second red from the pink as a double into the middle while the white slides across the back of the pack staying for the black lets see you show this break

[@EVG_Channel]

Break off by aiming just before the middle pocket and roll up to the pack just behind the pink, makes it unlikely the opponent can play back to baulk and no pot on while also making their recovery shot tricky to cover reds. Warning: may end the frame in a stalemate (re-rack).

[@wayneford5323]

Awesome video! Greetings from Gainesville, Fl, US

[@RobKandell]

Straight Pool (14.1) is the third.

[@umairzafarofficial]

Amazing video ❤️❤️

[@mandal0r1an147]

Enjoying your videos from Korolyov, Moscow Region

[@tonywebber5098]

Off the back rail with top right max power.....red in the middle and stay on the black😎

[@NuubiKakku]

Hello! Great video again! Thank you! (Fan from Joensuu, Finland)

[@Fuzcapp]

I saw a pro match once where the player did a break off where he clipped the bottom red so fine, it went almost straight to the side cushion and bounced back into the position it started, leaving the pack exactly as it started. It was hilarious.

[@Fuzcapp]

It was Doug Mountejoy on Pot Black. It's on You Tube as Doug Mountejoy The Perfect Break.

[@nicholasmartin787]

Is the other carum/carrum, the French game similar to billiards but without pockets?

[@BornElite337]

There is also the thicker break off where you intentionally push the black safe if you know the opponent is higher standard.

[@TheOmniscientAtheist]

Thats called "the Selby"

[@neilharvey314]

If the balls are set up properly you can break off through the blue and pink to catch the outside red the white has to tight against yellow or green 👍👍

[@realtalk4124]

Can u tell me when snooker halls will reopen in uk

[@Breakfromlife]

The way things are going I’d be surprised if it was before September

[@phillip391984]

Steve Davis old break off

[@jakedavies215]

Loving the videos lad from Drogheda,Louth,Ireland

[@paulriggall8370]

Cue ball behind the brown, off the side cushion, baulk, other side, missing the blue, hitting the top side cushion and going into the pack from the side, hopefully disturbing them enough and leaving the cue ball very close to the pack.

[@gurditrehal3348]

How about this one: play the top cushion with left hand side starting as close to the yellow as possible, flicking the last red of the pack on the way back to baulk?

[@pengu1064]

Very wonderful and well made video ,greeting from Ha Noi, Viet Nam

[@scottmclennan6114]

Last year I saw Barry Hawkins slightly mis-cue on a break off, hit the reds in the middle rather than the bottom of one side and he potted a red in the side pocket. The cue ball ended up near the blue and I thought why wouldn’t you do that all the time. But I think it was such a fluke that re-creating it would be too difficult.

[@giulianalexandrubuturuga6538]

Ca-n you make a brake more then 147 if you start with a Free Ball?

[@tfwhatesyoutube]

checking in from Wollongong, Australia 🤙🏻

[@holunho0710]

Hi, I am from Hong Kong and want to get pin on the map. Pot a red in the break off, I think Quinten Hann is a role model. 😂😂

[@Krushard]

TIL that lose rack is common in snooker :). Those gaps are massive and pool pro players tend to examine racks for ages before the break (well, because they run out all the time and rely a lot on the break). The real thing that is nagging me: manual ball placement after the fault in snooker. That ceremony with constant back and forth between operator and judge is just ridiculous: one inch to the left, a hair to the southwest... It's 2020, can't be that difficult to install a laser pointer.

[@darkangleslate9117]

Can you do a history of snooker and other q sports video

[@edwardlewispaxton7104]

Haven't you been jumping it onto the corner reds often enough to clear from the break?

[@mark-147]

Can you break off across the table, but between brown and blue?

[@Leothegoat13]

Can I get a pin in Escondido, California, USA? Slightly north of San Diego

[@jamesgarrison9143]

14.1 , and one pocket are both cue sports where the first shot isnt attacking

[@jm4176]

I’m thinking Your table must play very slow as your breaking off really hard either the cushions are dead or the cloth runs slow ??

[@teodorhristev7864]

Actually if you do the second shot right, with placing the cue ball just outside the line of the reds and then play straight shot with left/right spin, with the right speed you will have the cue ball in the middle of the triangle with reds from the outside going out but nowhere close being played since the reds in the last line of the triangle will be blocking them. Never saw that go wrong

[@mdabdulnazim8943]

Hi, which brand of the table you have, and what cloth type ?

[@Theodore1999]

I remembered barry once pot a red without blasting the pack in world championship against Marco

[@LiveBhangra]

What’s your highest break?

[@jumpa654]

@break from life Are you a professional snooker player? If not, why not?