COLUMNIST
Ask the Viper
Question:
“I have always had trouble consistently making balls on my break -- no matter what game I’m playing (8 or
Melissa Little
Melissa “The Viper” Little has been a WPBA Touring Professional for over 10-years, she has represented the USA in Four WPA World Championships and has over 20 top-10 WPBA career finishes. Melissa is currently the housepro at the Wynkoop Brewing Company located in Downtown Denver. She teaches monthly clinics, gives private lessons, and has created a juniors program that promotes billiards education to the local youth. For more information about Melissa please visit: www.melissalittle.com
Answer:
If you can learn to make a ball on the break each time you get to the table it’s a HUGE part of controlling the game right out of the gate! It’s funny to see amateurs get up and whack the balls on the break without ever walking over and checking the rack. There are so many reasons to check the rack… Are the balls touching each other, is the 1st ball even on the spot, are the balls tilted? Some players get offended when the breakers come and check their rack. But in the real world it is a necessity. It is your responsibility as a player to check the rack and give yourself a fair chance to make a ball! When the 9-ball goes straight into
BY: MELISSA LITTLE
9-Ball). I have tried moving the cue ball around and moving where I strike the cue ball. Any tips?”
the pocket off of the break- sorry to say but its not because the breaker has a tremendous break but instead it was the racker who gave you a gift! There are plenty of resources to break down the logics of racking/breaking but one of my favorites is “Racking Secrets” written by Joe Tucker. I spent an enormous amount of time reading up on Joe’s interpretations of the rack and I truly recommend doing so yourself! Best of luck to you, Viper If you have a question for “The Viper” please e-mail them to Melissa Little at Melissa@melissalittle.com
Read more articles by Melissa Little at www.onthebreaknews.com
MANSOR - WALKER
8-Ball
MEMORIAL 9-BALL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2011 ONE DAY ONLY Randy Mansor (left) 1944-2007 Thomas Walker (right) 1951-2011
No “A” Players
(...you know who you are...)
Oct 8, 2011
$500 Added
w/64
$25 entry fee Open to the first 64 paid players Double Elimination Pays Top Woman $$$ Race to 4 Winners/3 Losers Players Meeting & Calcutta at Noon Play starts immediately following Doors open at 10 am FRI NITE 9-BALL $5 ENTRY - 8PM
Food & Beer Specials All Day
Leagues Starting last week in October Mon: Scotch Doubles - Wed 5 person 8-ball
115 N Hayes Ave Downtown Emmett, ID
off Hwy 52 - 1 block N of Main & E of Wasington
208-398-7321
Hosted by Diamond Jacks 5586 Hwy Spur 95, (Annex headed to Weiser) For information contact: Onie Mansor at 208-371-1553 or Chris Cornell at 208-371-2125 Thomas “Tom” Walker 1951-2011 Come and join us for this great tournament as we pay tribute to and honor the memories of two wonderful men who loved to play pool! Registration : 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Tournament 12:00 Noon 1st, 2nd, 3rd place purse $25 entry fee 2011 VNEA 9-ball League Rules apply 32 Player Bracket Raffle Prizes $5.00 OF EACH ENTRY FEE GOES TO THE FAMILY PLACE - $20 OF EACH ENTRY FEE PAID BACK TO PLAYERS
16 The Break - September 2011
www.TheBreakMagazine.com