Vol. I of the Video Encyclopedia of Nine-ball and Ten-brawl (VENT) covers all 9-brawl breaking strategy, furnishings, and techniques in slap-up particular. This resource is strongly recommended. For a good overview of 9-ball suspension strategies, for all types of breaking rules, see "9-Ball Interruption Strategy" (BD, January, 2022), "How to Rack and Break 9-Ball Like a Pro" (BD, March, 2022), and the following videos:

The most important strategy is to have skillful break technique. This is covered in item on the interruption technique resource page and in "How to Break Like a Pro" (BD, September, 2022).

By and large, as shown below, the goal on a nine-ball break (either by breaking from the side rail or with a cut break from the "box") is to pocket the "wing brawl" and squat the CB in the eye of the table to get a shot at the 1 after the pause. For the "wing ball" to go, the four balls in the "Fifty" or "hockey stick" path must be frozen. If they are not, the wing ball volition generally go too high.

9-ball break strategy

An alternative way to get a look at the 1 is a softer draw break like this:

If the ix is racked on the spot, the fly ball can be pocketed by breaking from the side with a cut intermission, where you lot striking the one at a slight angle (off square slightly) on the outside. You tin also pocket the one in the side or depository financial institution information technology off the side rail to the upper corner pocket. You can change the directions the wing and i balls caput past changing the amount of cut (more cut makes both balls go lower). The far corner brawl (contrary the wing ball) tin also accept a tendency to bank three rail to the side pocket with a 9-on-the-spot side cut intermission (depending on atmospheric condition and the amount of cut). Here are demonstrations of various ix-on-the-spot suspension strategies:

An advantage of a cut suspension is that the CB tin can come off the side rail into the stationary 9, peradventure resulting in a "golden suspension" (pocketing the ix on the break). Here are some examples (detect how the CB is also at adventure of scratching with this approach):

If the iii-point rule is in forcefulness, and you are required to interruption "from the box," a larger cut is required to pocket the wing ball (specially if the 9 is on the spot), and a cut intermission tin be a little risky since you cannot get as much power into the rack.

If the nine is racked on the spot, and if you are required to break from the box, and if the 2 is placed in the back of the rack (as it is in some tournaments), a good approach is to pocket the 1 in the side and send the ii 4 track for shape in the side pocket like this:

If pattern racking and brawl gapping is not prohibited, you might desire to take advantage of those approaches (mayhap in combination with a soft break per the Corey Deuel example on the pattern racking folio).

The following videos also take some useful advice and analysis of what some tiptop pros practise to break well (and sometimes crook):

For more information, see: "How to Rack and Intermission 9-Brawl Like a Pro" (BD, March, 2022).

It is helpful to know racking and breaking strategy, but it is just equally important to know how to get a tight rack.

Here are some statistics for effectiveness of pro ix-ball breaks.

Here are some example great breaks by pros:

And here are some more:

  • 7 assurance on the pause by Hamookis (Saudi player)
  • vi assurance pocketed with a gilt break past Hong Son (Vietnamese player)
  • 6 balls on the break by Jose Garcia in APA online lucifer
  • five balls on the break by Albin Ouschan
  • 5 assurance on the interruption by Efren Reyes

from Jeff Johnson (in Facebook mail):

In the TAR 17 match vs Shane , Donny Mills repeatedly executed the most amazing nine-ball break I've e'er seen (encounter below). Notice how the 1-4 assurance cease on 1 side of the table and 6-9 on the other. Discover besides that the iii-ball goes 2 rails and RICOCHETS off the six-ball, sending the three-ball upwards tabular array. I'm not lying; he did it time afterward time.

Donny Mills 9-ball break

Dr. Dave keeps this site commercial free, with no ads. If y'all appreciate the gratis resources, delight consider making a 1-time or monthly donation to evidence your back up: