What is a break in pool?

Asked by: April Love

So what is the break? The break involves hitting your first ball – the cue ball – into the 15 other balls which are in a rack in the shape of a triangle (numbered for American pool, red and yellow in English pool) in order to start play.

What is a good break in pool?

You will often see good breakers aim low on the cue ball at address. But with these people the tip rises up during the stroke with shoulder motion and elbow drop used to add.

How does the break work in pool?

To make a legal break, the player must hit the balls and ensure that four balls hit cushions and that the cue ball doesn’t go down a pocket. If the 8-ball is potted on the break, the player is entitled to ask for a re-rack.

What is breaking in pool called?

It is called the “break ball” because it is common for players to try to leave this ball in such a position that they may easily pot it and billiard off of it to break open the rack of fourteen balls and continue their run.

Who gets to break in pool?

Lagging for the break means both players pick any ball and shoot it from behind the 2nd dot going towards the long way of the pool table. Whomever’s ball hits closest to the short rail (it should be the rail right in front of you), wins the lag and gets to break.

What happens if you miss a break in pool?

If he fails to make a legal break, it is a foul, and the incoming player has the option of (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) having the balls re-racked and having the option of shooting the opening break himself or allowing the offending player to re-break.

When you break in pool and a ball goes in?

Some bars and pool halls will have standard 8 ball break rules and most of the time this is the rule that will be followed. If you do land both the cue ball and the 8 ball, you immediately lose. Usually the other player will ask for a re-rack or you can spot the 8-ball at the head spot and re-play the match.

Why is it called the kitchen in pool?

The terms prominence. Also makes sense as when you scratch the other player gets to place the cue ball anywhere. They would like in the kitchen scratching.

Where do you shoot from after a scratch?

A scratch, foul, or illegal shot results in ball-in-hand, where your opponent can place the cue ball anywhere on the table in preparation for the next shot. The only exception to this is the break (see the 8-ball and 9-ball differences that follow).

How many shots are in a black pool?

Under current English Pool Association rules (which are the same as the World Eight Ball Pool Association Rules), a foul when the black is “on” still results in the opponent receiving two visits to the table. A foul results in a loss of frame only if the black ball is potted.

What side of the pool table do you break from?

The area behind the head string is where you break from, and where you must place the cue ball in a game of 8-ball after a scratch, for example.

Where do you hit on a break?

Aim for the second ball on either side of the head ball.



If you are breaking from the right, you will try to hit the second ball to the right of the head ball. If you are breaking from the left, you will try to hit the second ball to the left of the head ball.

Is it an advantage to break in pool?

The break determines the layout of the table after the break, the position of the cue ball, and who gets control of the table directly after the break. It’s a huge advantage because whoever is at the table gets to make the decisions at the table.

How do you put a ball on break?

You lose part of the transfer of energy from the one to the eight but if you hit the second ball on the rack that balls. Against the eight ball and it hits the eight ball immediately.

Where is the best place to break in pool?

The big part is to really control the cue ball. So what I do is is I hit the cue ball about just above the center just a little bit above the center.

What is a golden break in pool?

The break consists of hitting the 1-ball, with the attempt to pocket any ball. If the nine-ball is successfully potted, the player automatically wins the rack. This is sometimes known as a golden break .

What happens if you scratch on the break?

If you scratch on the break, your opponent can place the cue ball anywhere behind the head string (i.e., “in the kitchen”); and in executing the next shot, the cue ball must cross the head string before contacting any object ball. 7.

Can you put the cue ball anywhere after a scratch?

Tournament rules are “ball in hand”, which means that if you scratch the ball your opponent can place the cue ball anywhere on the table, without any restrictions. By contrast, bar rules require you to put the cue ball in the “kitchen”, which is the area behind the head spot where you break.

Do you win if you hit 8-ball in on break?

APA rules state that the player wins if the 8 ball goes in on the break and the white ball does not scratch at the same time. If the Cue Ball and blackball both go in the pocket, then the breaker loses. Once the breaker takes the shot, the table is declared open regardless of which ball gets pocketed.

What happens if black ball goes in on break?

If the black is potted, the game is restarted with a re-rack , broken by the original breaker. If the cue ball is potted on an otherwise fair break, it is a “non-standard” foul (foul) that simply ends the breaker’s turn, with no further penalties.

What happens if you make a stripe and solid on the break?

It's still my turn on the table is still open since I made a stripe and a solid I choose the category of balls to shoot. If I don't make a ball on my next shot the table is still open for my opponent.

Can you have 2 shots on the black?

As I play, this is a foul but as the next player is on black they do not get 2 shots, however this tactic was employed to have the black ball moved by the player not committing the foul to move the black from a tricky position. In the rules that I play, a foul on the black means game over.

Do you lose pool if you sink the white on the black?

What happens when you sink the white ball before the black? A player that sinks the cue ball while attempting a final shot on the black ball automatically loses the game. In some leagues, the scratch counts as a normal foul, and the opponent player gets a ball in hand.

What does chalk do in pool?

Chalk lets you add friction to the cue tip, which allows you to make a shot, rather than have the cue slipping off the ball prematurely. Your pool cue tip will come in great condition to play, but over time, it will get worn down, which is why having solid chalk is key to staying on top of your game.

What happens if you hit the cue ball into the pocket?

Pocketing the Cue Ball



When the cue ball goes into the pocket during your shot, this is considered a foul no matter what rules you’re playing by. Most players and rule books call this a scratch. Bar Rules: Your opponent can place the cue ball anywhere they would like behind the head string.

Do you have to hit 8-ball first on last shot?

Combination shots are legal shots, but you can never use the 8-ball as the first contacted ball. In other words, you can use the 8-ball in combination with another object ball to pocket an object ball, as long as you don’t strike the 8-ball first.

Can you double kiss on the 8-ball?

The most basic type of double kiss is a kiss back safety where you use the double kiss to separate the cue ball and object ball like. This. Here if there were enough room you could play a safety like.

What is a slop in pool?

Billiards Forum notes that “a slop shot is a billiard shot that was not called, and that results in a ball being pocketed via luck or via fluke. Slop shots are legal when playing a slop version of various billiard games, but are illegal when playing any game in its no-slop version.