Thanks Androd for the comment! Yes, I was young and self taught. The wrong long rail by my pocket to reach and stroke the ball towards my hole was the deciding factor for me. But, of course no one ever said I was breaking to the wrong pocket.
I wish more members would talk about Fats. He seemed that he was action, and could create it, and that always a good thing, even though not known to match up against say a Fitzgerald player. I just have to wonder if the Hustler Jackie Gleason was portrayed after Fats, it sure seems plausible.
But mr3c brought up the lag. In '61 @ Johnston City the winner of the lag in OP would maintain the choice of their scoring pocket even though they passed the break! In '62 @ JC they changed the lag to the way we modernly play the break. But, BCA in '67 when they adopted OP they then stayed with the original way the lag was played in '61 Johnston City, I do not know when they changed, nor why.
But I really like the original way '61 JC played it.
I agree with mr3c that OP should only lag for the break. The most highly skilled game should use skill to determine who breaks.
Being left handed and taking the right pocket meant I put my right handed opponent on his wrong side pocket also, and possibly the side he was not as use to. It also meant I was playing to the side I wanted anyway, and use to.
Whitey