How to Break Better in 8 Ball, 9 Ball and 10 Ball (Not Just for Beginners) - Free Pool Lessons

Learn the Secrets to Breaking in 8 Ball, 9 Ball and 10 Ball. In this video you will learn how to break better in pool games without changing equipment, break speed etc. Good for intermediate players; Great for beginner to learn How to Make More Balls on the Break.
Visit Our Streaming Platform for Tons of Content NOT on KZbin: www.fxbtv.com
Check out our Multi Video Training Programs at fxbilliards.te...
Personal, Private, Zoom Lessons are available at a discount. Visit fxbilliards.com/ for more information.
Follow on Instagram: / fxbilliards
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AND HIT THE NOTIFICATION BELL
Bryan Mitchell is playing on an Olhausen 9 foot table with 4 1/2" pockets. The cloth is Predator's Arcadia Reserve Tournament Blue Pool Table Cloth amzn.to/40GGxdJ
In MOST but not all cases, Bryan is using a Predator P3 cue, set at 19 oz with a Victory Soft Tip and a Revo 12.4mm Shaft. amzn.to/4hFshIg
Cues Also Used: Predator Throne, Blak, Ikon, and SP II ( #predatorcues sponsors FX Billiards )
When you use the links below, it helps support the channel and does not cost you any extra. Thank you.
Our Equipment
Solvita Pool Table Lights: amzn.to/3Cl7lGl
Cameras One and Two: Canon XA60 amzn.to/4fJ1JnL
Mics: Rode: Wireless Go amzn.to/3Cl7lGl
Bulletproof Pool Ball Cleaner amzn.to/3cbW7qK
Arcos Pool Balls amzn.to/3uAFolq
Taom Pool Chalk amzn.to/3LGRK6t
Predator Pool Chalk amzn.to/35UjvA4
Apple MacBook Pro amzn.to/48Qb6Qk
Spotted Pool Ball (High End) amzn.to/3age69O
Spotted Pool Ball (Basic) amzn.to/360WxY3
MAGIC RACK amzn.to/3rU0pWs
DON'T SEE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ABOVE? Use any of the links to get to Amazon.com and support FXBilliards.
Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content and First Looks at New Content. / @fxbilliards
FX Billiards is a KZbin channel dedicated to the growth of pool and the education of pool players worldwide. Your goal may be to become a professional pool player, or to simply learn to spin back the cue ball with a powerful draw shot. Either way, we are here to help.
Our goal is to provide the best pool videos and best pool lessons on the internet. Our website fxbilliards.com also provides you with audio books and private pool lessons by way of zoom.
Copyright Disclaimer. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Please feel free to contact Bryan Mitchell with any pool questions, billiards questions, or business opportunities at [e-mail]
プール ビリヤード #8ballpool #poollessons #9ballpool

[@we_r_fallenangels]

There is something I have never seen anyone address in all the instructional videos I have watched. I always wondered why, no matter how hard I tried, my breaks hardly ever worked like the pros or videos, and I have been playing pool 58 years, then I found out a HUGE contributor to the BIG BREAK that no one talks about. And that is simply the Caliber of Equipment a shooter is using. I had been playing on my newly reconditioned table and getting fairly decent breaks. Someone talked me into getting a new set of balls. I bought a good medium expensive set and my break action got better. Then I resurfaced by kids table with good medium felt and they bought new balls that cost DOUBLE what I paid and I couldn't believe the difference it made. And not just on the break. English and ball movement was DRAMATICALLY improved. Long story short, great breaks and ball movement is MUCH more difficult without good equipment.

[@FXBilliards]

We do talk about the benefits of quality equipment. And the fact that even on quality tables, some of them roll faster or have more active rails. All of this leads to more balls on the break.

[@DUSTERELLI]

I used to break with an open bridge. Practiced the closed bridge for quite some time and it helped my break tremendously!

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for taking the time to watch. Have a great new year.

[@Jamesullivan]

I always rack the same. 1 on top 1,9,2,10,3,11,4,12,5,13,6,14 counter clockwise with 8 then 7,15 in the middle. This takes a lot of thinking out, I know immediately what ball went in what pocket. I also rack my balls in the area of the spot, not back by the basement bumper, what this does is avoid getting burn marks in 2 locations. Your videos are always good food for thought. And the table cloth looks extremely neat. Cheers. 😊

[@planetmediaskateboarding]

For 9-ball, I like to put the cue ball in the middle, and just do a perfect stop shot, that way I always have a shot on any ball. The cue ball hits the rack, then moves back an inch or two and stays there perfectly. If I do it right that is.

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for watching Happy happy new year

[@Tallhandsome77]

I just had a breakthrough with my break a few days before this video. Perfect timing for me. I like knowing which balls to keep my eyes on.

[@FXBilliards]

I truly appreciate you watching Thanks.

[@tomferguson9922]

Brian, I have been focusing on my break lately by simply breaking and repeating for 15 minutes every practice of 2 to 3/ week. Í put all 15 balls in the same location in on every rack . Sometimes I take photos to assess the table, just a little overkill, but it reinforces the need to review the table, Thank you so much for your knowledge. Many channels focus on shots, but your focus is on shot tecnique and running the rack which wins games. Thanks.

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for taking the time to watch. Have a great new year.

[@TheTommyLasordaExperience]

This is great, thanks. Our band loves your videos

[@NineBallPool]

Thanks Brian , Will incorporate this into next Break & Rack, Break and Rack Session, 🎱☘

[@FXBilliards]

Sounds great! It’s always thanks for watching

[@SenseiNatePlaysPool]

Nice one good sir. A lot of my videos are breaking videos, but more specific to the break I'm talking about in each video. Nice to have a generic rules of thumb video for folks to point to.

[@thegodofpez]

I love the dichotomy between rack break differentials in 8 & 9 ball. I’ll take your advice and try to learn to break with a closed bridge, the rail is just so easy. Thanks, B!

[@FXBilliards]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video and I hope it helps you improve your game! Happy new year, my friend

[@saleemullahkhan3316]

Thank you very much Brian . For good lesson on 8 ball breaks

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed the video. let’s make it a great 2025.

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

Great video with excellent information. Free gold here folks! Get your pen 🖊 and paper 📃 out and take notes!

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for watching! I appreciate the support!

[@shader26]

Great! Can’t wait to try it. Specially thankful for the tips on how to adjust when your normal break isn’t working. What to look for. Where I play we have the three ball rule (three in the kitchen or pocketed) and your nine ball breaks all were “legal” with that rule as well! You e given me what I feel like is a good way to learn what works for me! Thanks Brian!

[@FXBilliards]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jamuraan1638]

Great information and the break concepts you delve into are spot-on.

[@FXBilliards]

I appreciate you taking the time to watch.

[@procrastinator6902]

Excellent information here and I really wish that people out there would take your thoughts on the second ball break to heart, I totally agree with you on this one! I think most people who swear by it are vastly overestimating how often they get an 8 on the break. It offers no CB control and doesn't reliably pocket any ball. There is one small, but important, detail that I think needs correction/clarification: A longer bridge doesn't give you more "power", it gives you more "speed". Tho the two often get used interchangeably, there is a distinction. Power is force, speed is velocity. I've discovered that for me personally, a change in speed is usually what I need instead of power. I consistently play with about a 9" or 10" bridge on every shot and just change back swing length depending on needs. Only a couple of inches for most standard shots, a few more for shots where I need spin or massé to take, and just about all the way back to the bridge hand for top speed shots: breaking, force follow, screw back/power draw, etc. My force is just about the same regardless of bridge length and being able to have the same bridge and stroke on every shot has helped my game out tremendously.

[@FXBilliards]

Happy new year. Thanks for watching.

[@NicS-q8n]

Developed my own break style . Aim cue high, then on the hit drive down hard . This re-drives cue into the rack twice + keeps the cue on the table, Work's for me

[@kpayne2911]

Appreciate the very good lessons. Going to try the closed bridge. Our Wednesday night play, guys usually don't get a good break and leave a lot of balls clumped together. Also a lot of scratches.

[@FXBilliards]

Happy new year. Thanks for watching.

[@Deep_Divers]

Great channel, great advice Brian. Someday I hope to be half as good as you :)!

[@FXBilliards]

I'm glad you like the channel! I appreciate you taking the time to watch. Hope you’re subscribing.

[@kennethsilvestri4161]

Great video!

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for the visit

[@Bobcaygeon-1]

Often I'll use the 2nd ball break to puddle up the table against superior players so they can't run out and I have a chance. APA 4 here.

[@FXBilliards]

Happy new year. Thanks for watching.

[@randallgibson8619]

Loose grip, it’s crazy how much a loose grip will help a large majority of low/intermediate players. A lot of people dont get the concept of accuracy over power either, a medium power solid hit wins over a sloppy hard hit all day everyday. Great stuff as usual pal, still need to get my ass lined out on the 8 ball break lol

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for taking the time to watch. Have a great new year.

[@JonarhanPhillips]

If the balls arent moving from the rack, could also be a bad rack. Seen ppl purposely give bad racks to try and impede their opponent from winning. Based on how the rack looks is how i break. Ur a great teacher im just adding to it not disagreeing with anything u taught. Have a good day

[@FXBilliards]

Anyone intentionally giving me a bad wreck can expect to be racking again. But you make very good points.

[@90ld3n60y]

Great info. Btw where do we need to put the cue ball when breaking on 9 ball [how far from the side rail]? Is there any difference if we break from the right or the left side of the table? Thanks man!

[@theleftwich1]

I like second-ball breaks on bar boxes, because I'm not (yet) a runout 8-ball player. I do have better cue ball control than most of the bar bangers I play. Since it leaves some ugly clusters, I can usually take advantage of playing a conservative game, and leaving tough shots for my opponent on purpose, while they play a lot of offense and leave me open shots when they miss. But I don't do 2nd-ball breaks on larger tables, because I don't think the same margins are there.

[@vazzzyyyy]

Funny you did a video on this right when I start practicing my breaks

[@FXBilliards]

Glad to be of service, I hope you find it helpful.

[@zombienectar]

Use a second ball break against a superior player. It will lower his chance of an ero or runout. Use a headball break against an equal or lesser player.

[@robertbell6230]

Great as always, can you do a video on 10ball breaks?

[@FXBilliards]

Yes, soon

[@jriley7164]

So funny.I used to break from side hitting the 2nd ball and was successful but i didnt play for 3 years.I came back trying that same break and was getting destroyed.I switched it up to dead center and was able to get a way better spread .My logic was im taking a chance with a spread table that the other guy runs 6 or 7 and leaves me a duck hunt.Its been working...btw.I made it from a 6 to an 8.Spread the balls and take out your trouble ball(s) asap and you will win more games!Brian knows

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for taking the time to watch. Have a great new year.

[@alexcamalda9898]

Excellent video Brian, very helpful hints. On 9 ball break, are you always hitting the cue ball dead center? I seem to get better breaks when hitting with a slight low English. And I break within the box... I know... sorry. 😄

[@FXBilliards]

I hit pretty low on the cue ball. But I do change up, depending on how things are going.

[@dangoldenberg704]

Great stuff! Are you against the 2nd ball eight ball on a bar table (looks like you are on a 9 footer)?

[@FXBilliards]

You are far more likely to have success on a bar box, but you are far less likely to run racks with the second ball break on anything. If I thought I was outclassed, I would use it on a bar box.

[@gordonsmith4039]

Brian, you mentioned the nine ball break from the box thing as a means to eliminate such precise control during the break. However, you didn't mention placing the nine ball on the spot instead of the one, effectively moving the rack forward. What effect, if any, would this have on the predictability of the break? Thanks in advance.

[@FXBilliards]

Good points, we are on it

[@tonyhanna1392]

Thanks for that Brian - just subscribed. I have a table in Australia that is 7ft long. Can you please advise how far the marking dots should be from each end cushion for the cue ball and the front of the rack. After watching your video I think we have marked those markers in the wrong position - this is for 9 ball. Thanks.

[@FXBilliards]

The dots should be along the center vertical line and along the second diamond - so essentially directly between the corner and side pockets

[@MikeBilliardsFun78]

👍 i like breaking center left and i about have fun playing soon for Club League starting Sun. oh tomorrow

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time to watch.

[@JohnsonTravis27]

Top spin I always scratch, so I aim lower and that helps with my game.

[@prestonjanney4711]

Brian, what are your thoughts on weights of break cues. Light, or heavy. More speed vrs more power??

[@FXBilliards]

The Jurry has been out for 15 years -lighter cues to tend to break better. You would have a difficult time finding a top player breaking with anything over 20 ounces.

[@DeaconJones1961]

8ball break: was wondering if it’s the same for 7,8,9 ft tables ?

[@FXBilliards]

Some brakes work better on smaller tables like if you do go for a second ball break you’re more likely to make the eight ball on the 7 foot table, but you’re more likely to have anything happen on the 7th foot table - otherwise it doesn’t matter about the table size.

[@Otingocni]

Imo the second ball break (8 ball) is useful for 500 ish fargos give or take. Reason being it forces a chess match which for some guys(like me) is an advantage as opposed to trying to run out in traffic which is rarely successful for most players below 600 fargo. Keep in mind the overwhelming majority of pool players never reach 600 fargo. Naturally on 9 ft tables this wouldnt apply but on barboxes i win a lot due to my safety break and ability to out move my opponent.

[@FXBilliards]

I understand you’re thinking about this. Unfortunately it SOMETIMES backfires because higher rank players also play clusters much better. I personally like to run racks but truly love when the table is clustered up - as a straight POOL player my advantage has magnified substantially. But the second ball break IS a very good way to keep your SL low.

[@vincent6692]

Preach it.

[@FXBilliards]

He got me- thanks very much for watching. I appreciate your support of the channel.

[@christianelliott3667]

How close to the headstrong are you putting the cue ball?

[@FXBilliards]

I put the cue ball directly behind the head string, but change it up if things aren’t going well

[@ThePoolTryHard]

18,000 more SUBS and you'll get your plaque!!!!! Let's goooo

[@user-do1fq8oy9c]

Secondary collisions are purely up to chance. I have had MANY great breaks go to $hit 3 seconds after contact

[@FXBilliards]

Sometimes it’s a good idea to take off some speed so you don’t get as many secondary collisions.

[@jimmysupafly1547]

Having gaps between balls will leave clusters in 8 ball breaks. Especially if the 8 and the balls behind it arent touching the head ball.

[@slobodan2908]

I did not know that Denzel Washington is good at pool 🤔

[@jonathonkrueck4028]

Something to add to the point about not hitting the cue ball where you think you're hitting, it found that i improve that by not trying to hit as hard. Over time i improved, and as I improved, i started hitting harder and harder while maintaining the efficiency of it.

[@FXBilliards]

Thanks for taking the time to watch. Have a great new year. Thanks for your comments.

[@christianelliott3667]

What size table are you using?

[@FXBilliards]

9 foot table 4 1/2 inch pockets

[@nicholaskillmeier4895]

Real question, does anyone's APA use a Magic rack? I've been out of the game since 2010, thinking of going back.

[@FXBilliards]

I would say most don’t use it, but it’s some more serious regions of the country you might find it.

[@davidstephens9600]

Why does my cue ball constantly jump straight up in the air ? If I take speed off I don’t get much distribution and balls stay in rack area

[@FXBilliards]

You’re most likely shooting down on the cue ball and it is airborne. It’s just slightly when it reaches the rack. Or you’re heading too low on the cue ball and it is slightly airborne when it reaches the rack. Many players don’t realize were they’re actually making contact with the cue ball because their stroke is off.

[@kb3170]

Spirit breaker

[@iripitup]

Am I the only one who wanted to see the 10 ball break and didn't get one?

[@FXBilliards]

No, you are not. But the tin ball break is essentially the same as the eight ball break.

[@kb3170]

[@FXBilliards]

Happy new year. Thanks for watching.

[@Drewdownkali]

There is a 2nd purpose. Keeps opponent from running out. 😂🤣

[@FXBilliards]

That’s funny. The places where I play I have to run out also.

[@Doc-s7w]

Give the break to someone else...

[@michaeljones781]

I smack the 9 ball rack head on and have golden breaks about 30% of the time.

[@FXBilliards]

You either don’t know what 30% is or you’re the greatest 9-ball breaker in the entire history of the sport and the entire history of the universe. The best breakers on the planet would fall less than 5%. You can watch an entire U.S. Open and never witness even one golden break - but you’re making three out of every 10 breaks?

[@FXBilliards]

Visit us at www.FXBTV.com

[@EugeneKelly-gc4ki]

Eightball break in the side I beat Rafael one game like I don't use it all the time I break straight on with a solf hand