With the widespread use of the Sardo Rack in tournaments we have a new aspect to the 9-Ball break: consistency. First, the balls were racked in the standard configuration with the 1 racked on the foot spot.
But the pros soon found that by hitting the rack more softly the wing (outside balls on the middle row of three) balls would go reliably into the corner pockets. So the powers that be decided to move the rack up so that the 9 was racked on the spot instead of the 1, this to take away the certainty of continuing to shoot after the break.
But the pros have now had time to work out this configuration as well. Here are three ways to break the Sardo-Racked triangle.
The first is to use a slight cut break. Hit at the proper speed, the 1 Ball can be made to drift reliably into the side pocket (diagram 1)
The second is to hit the rack squarely with a slow but firm break shot. With the proper speed the wing balls can still be sent into the corner pockets. (See figure 2.) The one also still tracks to the sides. Using this break Cory Deuel sank 4 balls on one break during the finals of the US Open.
Finally, Evgeny Stalev of Moscow found another option which he used to sink two 9 Balls at the same event. He also hits the rack squarely (figure 3), but hard. This method sends the rear ball straight into the foot rail and back into the rack where it collides with the waiting 9-ball and can send it into either the side or the upper corner pockets.
Work on these with the Sardo Rack and find the method that works best for you. As new methods of breaking are discovered, we will tell you about them here.
