As I also play the game of golf I have transferred some of the ideas from the driving shot to the Break shot in pool, which I feel is very much like a good golf swing on the driving range. The movement of shoulders and hips make the biggest success by shifting body weight. This is what you should master to have an explosive break. Like so many of the different aspects in pool, a good break can mean the difference between winning and losing a game. The aspect of control however is more important than power, as if the cueball finishes in a tough spot this may ruin your chances at that inning, or worse the game. Try to leave the cueball somewhere near the center of the table when it finishes.
If you hit the cue ball just like you would on a break shot but without any of the object balls you will see that the cue ball will travel a great distance. The energy that the cue ball uses to travel that distance is the energy that normally is received by the pack. You must learn to increase and channel this energy to maximize energy transference to gain maximum spread.
Aiming
You must aim for a full ball contact into the pack in order to maximize energy transference otherwise the cue ball will still hold some of the energy after impact.
Achieving compression of power in the Break shot
Try to think of the break shot as if you were compressing a lot of power into it as you go through the downswing, with your hips and shoulder in the action.
Setting up the balls
DON’T POLISH THE BALLS
I cannot over emphasize this enough. Whatever you do don’t polish the balls too much as a little dirt actually helps each contact. I’ve played in some bars where they polish the balls every day, try getting a decent break on a table like that, the balls just can’t spread properly because of bad contact between them.
Some points to consider whilst setting up the balls:
* New balls will break better than old ones
* All balls must be touching to maximize energy transference
* Different types of cloth will effect the movement of the balls after the break
An old trick to pot a ball used to be to move the triangle forward an inch when setting up in order to have a greater chance to pot a ball. This can work on some tables but I always win by skill and never cheat.
Placement
The placement of the cue ball and your bridge is vitally important in order to gain more energy into the break. The nearer the pack the more energy can be transferred.
Weight Of The Cue
There is a physics equation for kinetic energy, which explains that a heavier cue does not make the break better.
In the equations most basic form, if you:
* Double the mass you double the energy
* Double the velocity you quadruple the energy
Timing
The cue ball must be hit at the moment that the cue is traveling fastest (at the bottom of the pendulum swing. Think about that Golf swing again)
Body movement
You may have seen the nine ball players throwing themselves at the cue ball whilst breaking. Although this movement creates more power in the break it will also increase inaccuracy.
Placement for striking hand
Try to hold the cue a little nearer the butt to maximize energy.
Can the break be too good?
Sometime we can spread the balls too well, but not potting anything, so leaving the opponent to clear up. Its something to keep in mind.