8-ball break and runout problem

Billy_Bob

Billy_Bob

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've been working on my 8-ball break for a couple of years now and every once and a while I get a perfect break, no clusters, cue ball central area of table, balls spread all over table nicely, and easy runout (made at least one ball). Able to shoot a either a solid or a stripe for my first shot.

So I see this *nice* runout and start salivating. See in my mind how I can easily runout...

Then BAM I miss my first shot which is an easy shot! Arrrrggg!

Now if this was not a possible runout, I would have made that first easy shot 10 out of 10 times. (That easy of a shot!)

Suggestions for this problem?

Maybe I need to stop thinking about the easy runout and think about something else instead?
 
Sounds like the ol' get ahead of yourself syndrome. Look at your layout and get the run in your mind, once that is done it becomes secondary. Then its time to focus only on shot and position, ball to ball.
 
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Billy_Bob said:
I've been working on my 8-ball break for a couple of years now and every once and a while I get a perfect break, no clusters, cue ball central area of table, balls spread all over table nicely, and easy runout (made at least one ball). Able to shoot a either a solid or a stripe for my first shot.

So I see this *nice* runout and start salivating. See in my mind how I can easily runout...

Then BAM I miss my first shot which is an easy shot! Arrrrggg!

Now if this was not a possible runout, I would have made that first easy shot 10 out of 10 times. (That easy of a shot!)

Suggestions for this problem?

Maybe I need to stop thinking about the easy runout and think about something else instead?
Click to expand...


Okay, what I am about to tell you is probably ranked in the top five great secrets of awesome pool. I'm serious, any great pool player is going to agree with me and yet, every pool player that makes a complaint similar to yours underestimates the value of these upcoming words or does not understand them.

REMEMBER TO LOOK AT THE BALL YOU'RE GOING TO SHOOT


So many times, we miss a step because in our minds, we're already two shots ahead of ourselves. Remember to examine the shot infront of you. Give it a good look and then execute. Tell yourself, "This first shot is as important as the last shot!"
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
REMEMBER TO LOOK AT THE BALL YOU'RE GOING TO SHOOT
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Actually that makes a lot of sense. In my mind I am "looking" at my next shots. So my mind is not looking at the ball I am shooting, it is "looking" at all the other balls. Picturing the runout. Visualizing the runout.

Hummm. I guess that is it! I am not visualizing my first shot, but something else...
 
Billy_Bob said:
Actually that makes a lot of sense. In my mind I am "looking" at my next shots. So my mind is not looking at the ball I am shooting, it is "looking" at all the other balls. Picturing the runout. Visualizing the runout.

Hummm. I guess that is it! I am not visualizing my first shot, but something else...
Click to expand...


It's so funny because when you really start doing this, you're going to realize how cluttered your mind was before and your game is going to immediately jump.

I can have the same problem when playing straight pool. Since I don't play it a lot, I'll pay a lot of attention to my sequence and forget to look at the ball I'm shooting. Seriously, it's the exact same thing. Simplify everything. Make your decision and then turn your focus to the ball you're going to shoot and execute.
 
I have had similar issues. The short answer to how I deal with it is 'take more time'. I find that if I spend an extra five seconds (5!) while standing, my mind finishes working out the run and can focus on the shot in front of me.

But really, Jude's right, lol.

-s
 
Billy_Bob said:
Actually that makes a lot of sense. In my mind I am "looking" at my next shots. So my mind is not looking at the ball I am shooting, it is "looking" at all the other balls. Picturing the runout. Visualizing the runout.

Hummm. I guess that is it! I am not visualizing my first shot, but something else...
Click to expand...


Jude is on point about 99% of the time!

There was once that he said I was wrong :eek: :D
 
Billy_Bob said:
Actually that makes a lot of sense. In my mind I am "looking" at my next shots. So my mind is not looking at the ball I am shooting, it is "looking" at all the other balls. Picturing the runout. Visualizing the runout.

Hummm. I guess that is it! I am not visualizing my first shot, but something else...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree with Jude, and I would add that especially in 8-ball, you tend to look at the table and visualize the ENTIRE run, which is a good and necessary step. But then you have to take a step backwards and just look at the first three balls of the run: the first one which you're shooting, the second one which you're playing positions for, and the third one that defines what angle you want on the second one which defines exactly where you play position. Then again you have to take a step back, now that you've got your ball and intended position in mind, and put your full focus on that one shot. So you've looked at 8 balls (or 7 if you've made one), you've looked at 3 balls, and now you have to look at just 1.

Then you look at the table again before your next shot, and revise the remaining 7 balls, the new next 3, and then bring it back again so you're only thinking about 1 shot. It's a continuous process. It may help you to say this out loud in order to ingrain it in your mind; between every shot, say out loud "total run" and make your decisions about how you're going to run the rest of the rack, say out loud "next three" so you can figure out exactly where you want to place the CB after this shot, and then say out loud "one shot", and get down on the ball and do your thing.

-Andrew
 
Andrew Manning said:
Yeah, I agree with Jude, and I would add that especially in 8-ball, you tend to look at the table and visualize the ENTIRE run, which is a good and necessary step. But then you have to take a step backwards and just look at the first three balls of the run: the first one which you're shooting, the second one which you're playing positions for, and the third one that defines what angle you want on the second one which defines exactly where you play position. Then again you have to take a step back, now that you've got your ball and intended position in mind, and put your full focus on that one shot. So you've looked at 8 balls (or 7 if you've made one), you've looked at 3 balls, and now you have to look at just 1.

Then you look at the table again before your next shot, and revise the remaining 7 balls, the new next 3, and then bring it back again so you're only thinking about 1 shot. It's a continuous process. It may help you to say this out loud in order to ingrain it in your mind; between every shot, say out loud "total run" and make your decisions about how you're going to run the rest of the rack, say out loud "next three" so you can figure out exactly where you want to place the CB after this shot, and then say out loud "one shot", and get down on the ball and do your thing.

-Andrew
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Yes, I agree whole-heartedly with what you say here. 8-ball can be a very funny game. You have to come up with a game plan but also be flexible. When examining the table, you have to determine a lot of things. Can you run-out, can your opponent run-out, if you can't what can you do to open things up for you and tie things up for your opponent. It can be a huge moves game. BUT, you still have to refocus and remember to make that shot. It's important to take your time in 8ball as opposed to 9ball which is much more point and shoot.
 
I have this same problem, basically.

I break, then I don't run out.

What am I doing wrong?

:D
 
ScottW said:
I have this same problem, basically.

I break, then I don't run out.

What am I doing wrong?

:D
Click to expand...

you could be missing, but that's only my guess
try not missing ;)
 
hang-the-9 said:
you could be missing, but that's only my guess
try not missing ;)
Click to expand...


Yes and if you're missing, you're probably hitting the ball wrong. You should always try to hit the ball in the right spot.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Yes and if you're missing, you're probably hitting the ball wrong. You should always try to hit the ball in the right spot.
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here I thought it was because he's related to DCP... that's why I come to this forum.. to learn stuff...
 
Another thing I would point out is while determining your run and the sequence of shots that you are going to make to achieve this, try starting at the 8 ball and reversing your sequence of shots to come up to the first ball played.

A lot of times I have seen people get down to the last 2 balls or 1 ball before the 8 ball and they have already shot in the ball that would have put them on the 8 ball in a better position.

Most times when balls are all spread out like you stated, there are several methods to take to achieve the same run. Making sure that you achieve your goal can be better determined by working backwards. JMHO
 
Snorks said:
here I thought it was because he's related to DCP... that's why I come to this forum.. to learn stuff...
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I mean, I know the original post question sounds funny but it's actually a very legitimate problem. A lot of solid pool players will miss routine shots at the start of a rack because their focus was more on their plan than the present shot.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
REMEMBER TO LOOK AT THE BALL YOU'RE GOING TO SHOOT
Click to expand...

Indeed, you need to give your full and complete concentration to the shot at hand on each and every shot. Like everything else in pool, you get better at doing this by practicing it, so when you practice (or play someone), practice giving your complete and full concentration to the current shot, each and every shot, and you should get better at it.
 
PoolBum said:
Indeed, you need to give your full and complete concentration to the shot at hand on each and every shot. Like everything else in pool, you get better at doing this by practicing it, so when you practice (or play someone), practice giving your complete and full concentration to the current shot, each and every shot, and you should get better at it.
Click to expand...

Full focus is key I think. A while back someone told me that basically the difference between a B and an A player is focus. An A, or an open player, concentrates on each shot, nothing is automatic. Once you get to C level, you think you can make anything easy, and don't focus on the shot, that's when you leave a bad angle or hook yourself or scratch.

I had an issue with this just yesterday. Playing in a race to 4 tourney, break and run a rack. Break the next one, run to last 2 balls, miss a shot. Break a game or 2 later, run to last 2, miss a shot. What happened? I made a tough position shot to get to a ball, then when there did not focus 100% on actually making the shot because I assumed it was already in. I let myself relax when I saw the game is pretty much over, and screwed the pooch by losing focus.
 
klockdoc said:
Another thing I would point out is while determining your run and the sequence of shots that you are going to make to achieve this, try starting at the 8 ball and reversing your sequence of shots to come up to the first ball played.

A lot of times I have seen people get down to the last 2 balls or 1 ball before the 8 ball and they have already shot in the ball that would have put them on the 8 ball in a better position.

Most times when balls are all spread out like you stated, there are several methods to take to achieve the same run. Making sure that you achieve your goal can be better determined by working backwards. JMHO
Click to expand...

I agree, working backwards is a very useful technique in determining the order in which you want to run the balls. I would add that after you've worked backwards from the 8 to determine your run order, run through it forwards in your mind as a sanity check, to make sure it still seems like a good pattern to attempt.

-Andrew
 
hang-the-9 said:
I let myself relax when I saw the game is pretty much over, and screwed the pooch by losing focus.
Click to expand...

If I had a nickel for every time I've committed that particular sin of 8-ball, well, I'd have an embarrassingly large number of nickels.

-Andrew
 
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