THAT'S how good 8 ball is played! I remember the first year I won the city championship, in the finals, my opponent and I each had 6 turns before a shot was made. Once the first ball was made, game over. It's very much like a chess game, settingup traps, manuevering the balls you want, trying to force him to take the 'bad' balls. First one to screw up position an inch or two and leaves a shot on the good balls looses. A lot of fun playing that way!
The hardest thing to teach lower skill level players
- Thread starter jdxprs
- Start date
THAT'S how good 8 ball is played! I remember the first year I won the city championship, in the finals, my opponent and I each had 6 turns before a shot was made. Once the first ball was made, game over. It's very much like a chess game, settingup traps, manuevering the balls you want, trying to force him to take the 'bad' balls. First one to screw up position an inch or two and leaves a shot on the good balls looses. A lot of fun playing that way!
Great advice, received gratefully. Now the hard part, putting it into action. :embarrassed2:
As for why I'm there, to have fun or to get better... well, I want to do both. I have no illusions of being any great shooter, league is probably as high as I'll get. Maybe some local tournaments, but you'll not see me going to any big-shot stuff, even were I to get "good". (fat chance, that) I'm starting too late in life, with too many responsibilities and limited time. So yes, I want to get better. But my free time is so scant I want to have some fun, too. It truly is a dilema, playing and having fun, versus practice, with limited table time available. (Pesky employment requirements, funny how they expect me to actually be at the job rather than off playing pool!)
I'm trying to work out some time where I can take my lunch breaks and get somewhere to do the drills and practice stuff, since I can only sneak away for 30 minutes. That's a possibility. You folks with your own tables sure are fortunate!
I would love to be able to take an earlier posters advice about practicing just before bedtime. I have found that I shoot better later in the evening, when I'm a little tired, and thus more relaxed. I'm often the last one to play on league nights (since I'm not as old as some of the team, heh). Just this past week, I was completely awful during the warmups games I was playing earlier in the night. I took a turn keeping score, and then it eventually fell to me to play. I was getting tired at that point, and was discouraged by my play earlier in the evening. But I let the game come to me, I was relaxed, and I made more shots in my two games in the match than did all night in warm-ups. The earlier poster made me remember how that worked out for me.
Thanks again for the advice folks. It does help us beginners.
I agree with you on both points. I have encountered players who sometimes refuse to listen to me when I try to give them advice, simply because I am much younger than they are and have not been playing the game as long as they have have. Sometimes they may just be plain stubborn.
I'll admit that I lack the years of experience that other local players have, but in my 2 years of CONSTANTLY playing,I have picked up a wealth of knowledge from fellow pool players who want to see me excel. I have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for the game,which separates me from most local pool players who only care about playing once or twice a week on league nights and afterward getting drunk. Plus I'm basically a pool room rat now. :grin-square: Hell for the first year I started playing I would play 6-7 hours a day,6 days a week. How many people do you know that have jumped into anything that seriously? Not many I bet.
Perhaps both.
You can do drills like the 3 rows x 3 balls (1-9) drill taking ball in hand for the first shot and put the 8 ball in the group and plan to shoot it last. When you can run all the solids off and pocket the 8 ball last you can add in some stripes as blockers in the mix still shooting the 8 ball last. When that becomes too easy use 3 rows of 5 balls so you have all 15 balls and shoot the 8 ball last. That will help you on your small shape and patterns. Then when you've practiced this a few times, go play with your friends. Just a thought.
I just got back from taking my lunch break. I ran this drill for about 40 minutes. Actually, a modified, less difficult version, just trying to clear the balls in any order without hitting another ball.
I really suck.I mean, really suck. trying not to get discouraged type of suck. More inspiration, this is. Cuz I really suck!
Oh well, practice, practice, practice.
Thanks again for the advice folks. This is good stuff.
jdxprs
Banned
You could shoot them in sequence but in this drill as posted you would shoot the solids in any order with the 8 ball last. If you hit another ball start over, or continue with ball in hand and note the number of times it takes you to clear the pattern.
If you get a good mix of stripes in the mix as blocker balls (use 3 rows of 5 balls) and you are working on running out a rack of 8 ball on 1/2 a table.
You can always make it harder if it gets too easy.
I didn't read all the stuff written in this thread but If it wasn't mentioned, I find the longer the person has been playing the harder it is to break the bad habits they have instilled in their game.
It's also easier to teach a younger person than some one past the age of thirty. The older you are the more inhibitions you have about looking foolish trying something your not comfortable with and you may look foolish if you do it wrong.
It's also easier to teach a younger person than some one past the age of thirty. The older you are the more inhibitions you have about looking foolish trying something your not comfortable with and you may look foolish if you do it wrong.
Well I'm certainly in trouble, as I'm trying to pick up this game well beyond 30! 
I'm still working on that drill, and getting a bit better with it. I can clearly see how this sort of thing is going to help. I shall continue to get as many times at the table doing this (and other similar drills) as I can with my limited time. It is good stuff.
I'm still working on that drill, and getting a bit better with it. I can clearly see how this sort of thing is going to help. I shall continue to get as many times at the table doing this (and other similar drills) as I can with my limited time. It is good stuff.
dru
Registered
well jd knuckleheads like me would play you anyday anytime and Ill teach ur ass a few things
dru
Registered
this may be true however, if I remember correctly me "playing pool" beat you "pool player". But I think there are people on your team that wouldnt want me on it am I correct?!?!
dru
Registered
well in that case maybe next season Ill just have to switch it up and crossover to the "dark side" ie calvert
Jeff and Dru
If you guys get any gayer please start typing in pink so I can immediately recognize the post as having nothing to do with the topic.
Dark side huh? Everytime I cross that bridge I'm crossing into the dark side.
If you guys get any gayer please start typing in pink so I can immediately recognize the post as having nothing to do with the topic.
Dark side huh? Everytime I cross that bridge I'm crossing into the dark side.
jdxprs
Banned
LMAO!!! we'll give you a pass to cross the bridge for pool night only
LOL if Dru plays on anybody elses' team I'm complaining about sandbagging. His handicap is rediculous, but then again that's the theme in calvert tap. Dru and I are gonna tear it up in some scotch doubles when we get to valley forge.
Jeff you still a 6 in tap? I think the handicap limit for doubles is 11 right? I think Jacob might need a partner in vf.
Jeff you still a 6 in tap? I think the handicap limit for doubles is 11 right? I think Jacob might need a partner in vf.
jdxprs
Banned
yes, still a 6 in tap. cant make vf. have to work.
Dude I have the same problem, work interfering with my pool playing. Dru told me you might have been going up to vf. We have quite a contingent from somd playing in the big tournament this year it should be fun.