8-Ball Break by Harold L. Simonsen Harold L. Simonsen, past president of two former governing bodies for the sport, both the NPCA and PBTA, has received the BCA President’s Award and was inducted into the WPBA’s Hall of Fame in 2007. Email rules questions: Harold@poolmag.com Mini Shots! by Donny Lutz Donny Lutz is one of P&B’s Top 20 instructors, as well as the only active instructor in Florida certified by both the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) and the American Cuesports Association (ACS). Visit his website at www.poolcool.zoomshare.com 14 P&BÊA ugustÊ2009 T he leagues or events you play in may or may not have governing rules that are specific to their own programs. Either way, it’s up to you to know the rules. League websites that publish their rules include: • American CueSport Alliance (ACS): www.americancuesports.org • American Poolplayers Association (APA): www.poolplayers.com • BCA Pool League (BCAPL): www.playbca.com • Tap LLC (TAP): www.tapleague.com • Valley National 8-Ball League Association (VNEA): www.vnea.com KNOW THE RULES: The World Pool-Billiard Association’s (wpa-pool.com) rules are published in the Billiard Congress of America’s (www.bcapool.com) annual “Rules and Record Book”. The World Standardized Rules (WSR) for the break shot in 8-Ball: (a) The cue ball begins in hand behind the head string. (b) No ball is called, and the cue ball is not required to hit any particular object ball first. (c) Breaker pockets a ball and does not foul, he continues at table, table remains open… Jump shots and masse shots are exciting and fun. While not easy to perfect, they are vital to the competitive player. Unfortunately, the average or intermediate player makes the mistake of considering jumps or masses only when they are hooked by a full or close to full ball. Time to recognize the advantages and opportunities that mini-jumps and minimasses can bring to your game. How many times have you been just barely hooked and opted for a kick without considering the mini-jump or the mini-masse? Quite often these are relatively easy shots and may also offer the best opportunity for position on the next shot, allowing you to continue a run. The reason these “mini’s” are a good choice is that they do not demand jacking up your cue to 45 degrees or more, which allows you to sight the shot more easily (easier to aim) and do less with the stroke. Mini shots are much easier to control than “maxi” shots. Two secrets to success: First, remember that mini shots are available, and second, do not jack up more than necessary! By the Book (d) If no object ball is pocketed, at least four object balls must be driven to one or more rails, or the shot results in an illegal break, and the incoming player has option of (1) accepting the table in position, or (2) reracking and breaking, or (3) re-racking and allowing the offending player to break again. (e) Pocketing the eight ball on a legal break shot is not a foul. If the eight ball is pocketed, the breaker has the option of (1) re-spotting the eight ball and accepting the balls in position, or (2) re-breaking. (f) If the breaker pockets the eight ball and scratches… the opponent has option of (1) re-spotting the eight ball and shooting with ball in hand behind head string; or (2) re-breaking. (g) If any object ball is driven off the table on a break, it is a foul; such balls remain out of play (except the eight ball which is re-spotted); and incoming player has option of (1) accepting the table in position, or (2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string. (h) If breaker fouls in any manner not listed above, the following player has option of (1) accepting the balls in position, or (2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string. Guest Instructor If you’re just barely hooked, only a very slight jump or curve shot is necessary, and such shots demand only the slightest elevation. Most average players think that every masse requires jacking up to the max. That’s just not true. Think about how many times you’ve “over-juiced” or accidentally curved the path of the cue ball without jacking up at all. Mini-masses require very little elevation. The same for goes for mini-jumps. If you’re hooked by a quarter inch, you need to jump only more than ½ inch to clear the edge of the blocking ball (when you need to jump a full ball, you are hooked by 1 1/8 inches and need to jump just over 2 ¼ inches). A mini-jump requires very little elevation, only sufficient force. If position is not a factor (such as when you’re shooting at the game ball), the mini-jump is generally the best choice. The cue ball cannot curve in mid-air, so while a bit too much masse may result in a miss, a tad too much jump will often be okay. Set up several shots where you are barely blocked by an impeding ball and work on your mini-execution. You’ll be happy to have this shot in your arsenal the next time you’re barely blocked! ÊÊÊÊwww .poolmag.comÊ
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