Yes, people assume that since they are near each other that they are easy or can somehow land between them at the end. Well, maybe you can, but I like to mitigate my risk by taking one out. I know my limitations, lol!
8 Ball POOL TIPS on the Bar Box
- Thread starter JoeyA
- Start date
Yes, people assume that since they are near each other that they are easy or can somehow land between them at the end. Well, maybe you can, but I like to mitigate my risk by taking one out. I know my limitations, lol!
Absolutely on your first point. There are times when I might be downtable on a long straight in shot and to get on the correct side for the next shot in the side to come back down table for the 3rd ball might mean there is traffic to contend with by following 3-5", so I will stop the ball instead, and use the back angle cut on the side pocket shot and go around 2-3 rails for shape on the 3rd ball.
Also, you're right, you are going to play a lot of combos, either because they are there for you to pocket balls, because it may move 2 trouble balls, or to combo in an opponent's hanger and control the pocket. You also need to learn accuracy for when you want to make both balls.
I'd like to add this as well, I know many have said this but in their own way..
8 ball bar box.. 95% of my run outs come about with minimal movement of the cue ball. You won't see me running tables lengths etc.. unless NECESSARY. I'll typically walk about the table and choose the path of least resistance and movement. A lot of people don't realize (especially with bar tables) the more the cue ball travels the bigger pockets become. So unless it is absolutely necessary, keep your shots and position play simple.
Don't ever slow roll the 8 or shoot it easy. You have to be confident when shooting it. Doesn't mean always fire it in, but always keep in mind cue ball position just IN CASE you do miss it. The last thing you want is to slow roll an 8, catch a chunk of chalk etc.. and have it roll out and sit in a pocket.
8 ball bar box.. 95% of my run outs come about with minimal movement of the cue ball. You won't see me running tables lengths etc.. unless NECESSARY. I'll typically walk about the table and choose the path of least resistance and movement. A lot of people don't realize (especially with bar tables) the more the cue ball travels the bigger pockets become. So unless it is absolutely necessary, keep your shots and position play simple.
Don't ever slow roll the 8 or shoot it easy. You have to be confident when shooting it. Doesn't mean always fire it in, but always keep in mind cue ball position just IN CASE you do miss it. The last thing you want is to slow roll an 8, catch a chunk of chalk etc.. and have it roll out and sit in a pocket.
Hey Joey, I appreciate you adding some of my tips to your list, but you paraphrased a couple so I wanted to clear up a couple points.
#42 (you have 2 of them.
) - One of the reasons I said even good to intermediate players miss wired shots is because you missed one. You extrapolated and wrote "for balls that are frozen together or are just pointed to the pocket" and that is not the only wired balls I meant. Wired balls can be perpendicular to the pocket, with the tangent line going to the pocket. They can have a slight gap, the tangent line can be above the pocket and still go by using draw, you can combo another ball into them so they go, etc. And just because the balls point at the pocket in a straight line do not always mean they're on, and conversely, balls don't have to point at the pocket to be on, so that's why I said some don't even look like they're on.
Also, if your opponent's balls are ON in the same manner, I wouldn't say to make sure and nudge them just for the sake of messing them up, but IF the opportunity came up as a result of a shot I'm playing (perhaps using the cluster as a stopper) then it works. My primary goal is offense, and hopefully, I've run out before they can use theirs or perhaps they don't even see it, as is the case in many instances.
#43. You added at opposite ends of the table, which is good strategy too, but I was more talking about having 2 balls on the long rails on opposite sides of the table, placed in roughly the same spot, like the 2nd diamond from the corner pockets. Hard to explain without a diagram.
You used my point 13 without referencing point 12 because it is now your point 43.
Just wanted to clarify a few things and it may be better just to use my whole quote without paraphrasing. Thanks Joey!
Oh, and another thing on point 42 when you say do it as early as possible. If it is my shot, sometimes I will not take it right away. For instance, I may need to get one of my balls off the rail and pocket it first before going into the stack, because I know that once I do, another ball is going to that same rail and would have blocked my previous ball on the rail, thus short-circuiting my runout. You just have to play smart and think of all the contingencies that can happen.
Hey Joey, I appreciate you adding some of my tips to your list, but you paraphrased a couple so I wanted to clear up a couple points.
#42 (you have 2 of them.
And just because the balls point at the pocket in a straight line do not always mean they're on, and conversely, balls don't have to point at the pocket to be on, so that's why I said some don't even look like they're on.
Also, if your opponent's balls are ON in the same manner, I wouldn't say to make sure and nudge them just for the sake of messing them up, but IF the opportunity came up as a result of a shot I'm playing (perhaps using the cluster as a stopper) then it works. My primary goal is offense, and hopefully, I've run out before they can use theirs or perhaps they don't even see it, as is the case in many instances.
#43. You added at opposite ends of the table, which is good strategy too, but I was more talking about having 2 balls on the long rails on opposite sides of the table, placed in roughly the same spot, like the 2nd diamond from the corner pockets. Hard to explain without a diagram.
You used my point 13 without referencing point 12 because it is now your point 43.
Just wanted to clarify a few things and it may be better just to use my whole quote without paraphrasing. Thanks Joey!
Yeah, I see your point. This is getting to be a little time-consuming for me. I think I am going to have to shut-down my organizationing of the tips. Will try to get back to fixing that later on.
Thanks!
Joey
No worries, Joey. I did think of a few more, which many already know, but it may help someone out there.
23. In 9 ball, the pro side is usually to overcut a ball so that it ends up on the end rail. But in 8 ball, that's the kiss of death for your balls to be sitting there. So if you're going to miss, try missing so it ends up on the long rail and visible to make from 99% of the table (excluding obstructing balls, of course).
On angled side pocket shots, make sure to aim for the far side of the pocket, not the hole. And never blast at an angled side pocket. I can't tell you how many have been rejected. So now I just shoot softer and accept the shape, if I have to shoot it.
24. If your ball is blocked by another ball, try thinking creatively. I'm showing you a carom that came up on one of my 9 ball games, but could be easily applied to a hanging ball. The lines are not accurate, it is hard to draw lines with your finger on an ipad. Basically, aim your object ball to go rail first into the back side of the blocking ball which sends it towards the pocket (or wherever you have the tangent line aimed).
I have gone off a ball in a cluster 3 rails to make a hanging ball and it also took out my ugly ball. Just be creative.
25. Speed is crucial in 8 ball. While hanging a ball in 9 ball can mean curtains for you, in 8 ball, it can be a good thing because you own that pocket, at least temporarily.
26. Be careful and watch out where the 8 is in a cluster when trying to break out trouble balls. In the examples of 'On' balls mentioned previously, be careful. I have seen people crash into a cluster and the 8 shoots directly for a pocket and then they claim they had bad luck when it could have been prevented with a little foresight.
And it goes without saying to be aware of your hit on the object ball you are going to connect with on breakouts, as well as where it is going to go AFTER contact.
27. Here is one that comes up a lot but gets overlooked by weaker players. He's on the 8 and your last ball (or vice-versa) are both on the same rail - too close to make either ball. Either it landed there by accident or someone played a safe to tie them up. If you get BIH, simply shoot gently against your ball to separate them enough so now yours is makeable. Don't leave their ball near a pocket though, and make sure to get a rail with the QB or one of the object balls. If possible, freeze the QB onto your ball to take away the one rail kick. Even if they are able to make a good hit, chances are you can make yours. More often than not, you just now won the game. If you didn't get a good enough result and they just hand you the ball, play the same shot again.
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Hey Joey, I appreciate you adding some of my tips to your list, but you paraphrased a couple so I wanted to clear up a couple points.
#42 (you have 2 of them.
And just because the balls point at the pocket in a straight line do not always mean they're on, and conversely, balls don't have to point at the pocket to be on, so that's why I said some don't even look like they're on.
Also, if your opponent's balls are ON in the same manner, I wouldn't say to make sure and nudge them just for the sake of messing them up, but IF the opportunity came up as a result of a shot I'm playing (perhaps using the cluster as a stopper) then it works. My primary goal is offense, and hopefully, I've run out before they can use theirs or perhaps they don't even see it, as is the case in many instances.
#43. You added at opposite ends of the table, which is good strategy too, but I was more talking about having 2 balls on the long rails on opposite sides of the table, placed in roughly the same spot, like the 2nd diamond from the corner pockets. Hard to explain without a diagram.
You used my point 13 without referencing point 12 because it is now your point 43.
Just wanted to clarify a few things and it may be better just to use my whole quote without paraphrasing. Thanks Joey!
My goal was to make the pool tips a concise set of suggestions for ease of memory and refeence and leave the intricate details to the original posters. I was also attempting to not be redundant with the suggestions and if someone had already mentioned another person's suggestion, I'm not going to put similar suggestions in the same first post of this thread because I don't want them duplicated. If someone wants to read the details and discussions they can go into the poster's reply.
I'll do what I can tomorrow or late tonight.
Thanks,
Joey
Sounds good, but don't work too hard on it. You need to be out there practicing for the big tournament!