# 8-ball pool - most balls sunk off a break? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 11, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543 "2005-02-11T04:42:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Molinaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f17d59/32.png) [@Molinaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molinaro)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543/21 "2018-06-26T05:02:41Z")
I sank 8 off the break consisting of 5 solids, 2 stripes and the 8 ball. This was at the Ryerson Polytechnic University pub in Toronto, back in 1991. I was a student there at the time. Obviously I can’t prove it. But there were over a dozen witnesses. Since then I have checked on a semi-regular basis and have found no filmed, or confirmed pro match involving that many or more sunk on the break in a game of 8 ball. It was a 3x6 table. Prior to moving to Toronto in 88 to attend Ryerson, I had only ever played snooker on a 6x12. When I first saw a 3x6 table I laughed like crazy. I could hardly miss a shot on such a small table. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543/22 "2018-06-26T05:17:02Z")
Let’s move this to the Game Room. Note that this thread was started in 2005. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543/23 "2018-06-26T09:57:51Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > On the U.S. 9-ball tour, there is a company called ‘accu-stats’ which records the matches and collects huge numbers of stats, including balls made on the break. But nothing like it exists for 8-ball that I know of. So what’s the record for most balls sunk on a 9-ball break? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543/24 "2018-06-26T13:13:14Z")
In addition to witnesses, you’d also want some sort of certification that the equipment was all regulation (in particular, that the table was level). Even a slightly-unlevel table would make it much easier. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543/25 "2018-06-26T17:46:05Z")
Anyone here play 8-ball pool on their phone? I need to talk about it with someone. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543/26 "2018-06-26T17:56:41Z")
> [@Molinaro](#): > > Obviously I can’t prove it. But there were over a dozen witnesses. Were all the witnesses struck in the head and killed by flying pool balls? I think a couple of witnesses constitutes decent proof. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543/27 "2018-06-26T18:28:41Z")
Seems to me like the amount of energy that could be imparted to 9 balls is finite. How many times could a player bounce a cue ball cushion to cushion up and down the table? Even if it was 9 (which seems a lot) that only gives one table length of energy (maximum) to each object ball. (assuming the energy loss through cushion impact is equal for both scenarios). Sure the spread of energy with be uneven, some of the balls will go straight into pockets and “waste” their remaining kinetic energy, some balls would need more energy to keep bouncing round till they drop and they won’t have it. So perhaps, if each ball flew in off the break it could be possible but as the rack ensures an uneven spread I doubt that’d happen. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543/28 "2018-06-26T18:43:00Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Seems to me like the amount of energy that could be imparted to 9 balls is finite. The constraint is that at high acceleration it becomes increasing difficult to make a clean smooth strike on the cue ball, increasing the probability that balls jump off the table. There’s considerable skill involved in making a high-energy break without fouling. It’s worth noting that many serious pool players use a “break cue”, much heavier than a regular cue, allowing a slower strike to impart the same energy. I’d be surprised if the record (if one exists) is not held by a pro player using a specialized cue. ---
**Author:** ![Molinaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f17d59/32.png) [@Molinaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molinaro)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543/29 "2018-06-27T01:43:02Z")
I was playing with a 19 oz cue. For the break it is not about the impact with the pack. It is about getting a second high speed impact after the cue comes off 2 rails. That is how you get lucky with higher numbers of balls sunk on the break. I’ve never done 7, but I have sunk 6 three times. And I’ve sunk 5 too many times to be able to remember. I place the cue 3/4 of a ball width to the right of center, on line as far forward as allowed. I aim as if I was trying to cut the ball at the head of the pack into a hole located 1 ball width right of center of the back rail. I strike with upper right english. The cue hits left side rail, then bottom rail, then the spin catches and the cue ball drives up into the spreading pack from the underside. This often results in balls being sunk in the right middle as well as right corner behind the break line. It is a fine line you have to walk with how hard you hit. Too hard and the cue will elevate and when it strikes the side rail will fly right off the table. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-ball-pool-most-balls-sunk-off-a-break/289543.md?page=1)