14.1 Break

If you are getting into straight pool, I would recommend practicing the break over and over, because if you catch that corner ball just a little thick suddenly your opponent has a shot and the cue ball winds up in the middle of the table rather than frozen to the rail. A mistake in just millimeters can make all the difference in the world.

It's also pretty convenient to practice the break, since you are breaking soft, the balls don't spread, so it's not like you are breaking and spreading them out, then going around the table to collect them and rack it again.

Another thing that I can't stress enough is break balls. This is when you are on a run. When you come to an open table, you might have several break balls, or you might have none that are sitting that well for it, so you may have to 'manufacture' one by going into balls as you weave your way through the rack.

I've seen a lot of players that know how to leave an angle for a break ball, then they shoot it and the cue ball gets stuck in the rack, or it glances off a ball and goes one or two rails and scratches, or winds up all the way down table in no man's land, etc.

For break shots (still talking about while on a run) you almost never want the cue ball to be going straight into the side of the pack. It takes all the energy off of the cue ball, and you've pushed balls to the other side of the table that you can't see, because you are frozen against the cluster that remains. You want to be going into the rack at an angle, even a slight one. On top of that, you need to learn when to use top, draw, running, and reverse english. All of this is crucial to getting a shot after you pocket your break ball.

There is tons of info on it, I would recommend looking up videos on pattern play in straight pool as well. Or you could just go and pick up an old Accustats of Mike Sigel. He did everything almost as perfect as one could when he was playing. Listen to the commentators, and after a while it will begin to make sense as to why he leaves this ball there and shoots that ball instead, etc. etc.

One last bit of advice, a rule of thumb while you are working out your pattern, you usually want to pocket the balls that are on the rail as early as possible. When you have a wide open table but several balls are frozen to the rail, even with a pocket, you don't have as many options as you you do for balls that are in the middle of the table.

Good luck and have fun, straight pool is a great game.

/r/billiards Thread