8-ball Help

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My game's been steadily improving recently, but my biggets problem is that after I plan a sequence to run out in 8 ball, at some point I lose position and have to pot balls to different pockets than intended and/or change the sequence of balls.

I'd like to improve my planning so that it takes account of the probability that things will change, and gives me enough flexibility to cope.

2 things I did think of doing were trying to take on the most difficult pots as early as possible (so if I miss I still have plenty of balls on the table), and keeping some easy pots (over pockets, or open in the middle of the table) so that if I lose position I can use that ball to get back on track.
But they still don't cure the problem.

Of course, I need to try to improve my positional play so that problems don't crop up so often, but nobody's perfect, and I'll inevitbaly make some mistakes.

So how can I be flexible enough to cope with having to change my path to a run-out ?
 
take into consideration that if you do get off the path you wanted to take you have the ability to play a safety shot. a good safty shot could give you ball in hand or a different angle then where you originally were.
 
Try to figure out the sequence starting from the 8-ball and then backwards towards your current situation. Many times you can have different balls to shoot but you should keep your last balls as easy as possible and most important: try to keep the last balls so, that you will require as little cueball movement as possible or you will have a clear path to 8-ball. Try also to figure out the "if's": what happens if I play position on the wrong side of this ball, you should have a plan B if you fail to play perfect position. Running out an 8-ball rack very rarely has perfect positions through the balls...
 
try to keep the last balls so said:
Great advice
But try to do it with all the balls, not just the last
if you play it right (and don't get a bad roll) you should only have one long postion shot per game
Click to expand...
 
All of the advice everyone gave here is good. The key is to make sure you can see the out from the beginning. If you don't, play safe right away. Make one ball if necessary to determine your group, and then don't make any until you can runout.

Don't worry about getting out of line and having to change your sequence. That happens to everyone. If it didn't, we would all be world champions and running out everytime. The thing to remember is that if you do get out of line, you need to evaluate the position at that time. If you still have an out, do it. If not, see if you can play safe and have a reasonable chance of winning. If so, do it. Typically what happens is you end up with two or three balls on the table when you get out of line. If your opponent has all 7 balls on the table and they are pretty much out in the open, you have very little chance of playing safe and winning. Even if you tie up some balls, the fact that he has 7 balls vs. your 3 gives him a huge advantage. If that is the case, sometimes you need to try to force the out. Get out at all costs. If I runout and get hooked on my last ball or the 8 ball, or if I leave myself a bad shot, I have to force it. Sometimes shoot a crazy bank or kick shot because the chances of making that shot are greater than winning if I play safe.

In 8-ball, there are many different sequences that you can use to get out. If you are consistently getting out of line during your sequence, you need to figure out why. If you are at a medium skill level, it could be that you need to work on your position play. If you are at a high skill level, chances are that you are not planning your sequence correctly.

One drill that I teach is to take some balls, 4 or 5 + the 8-ball and throw them out on the table. Take ball in hand and try to run out. If you get out, great. If not, try again. If you consistently are getting out of line on a certain ball, try to re-think your sequence. Try something else. Hopefully you will be able to eventually realize something that you did wrong in your planning. Without being with an instructor, it is hard to find that mistake, but try it anyway. Once you are running out well with 4 or 5 balls, increase the number. Once you master 7 balls + the 8-ball, try using some blocking balls (stripes) while running out (the solids). This will help you recognize patterns in your sequence, break out clustered balls properly while making sure you have another shot, and give you confidence for running out.

Good Luck

Andy
 
I forgot, I wanted to comment on BazookeJoe's post. He made a comment about trying to have the cue ball travel as little as possible. That is a good point. I want to add to that by saying that little movement is good, but the angle of that movement is what is most important.

For example, suppose the 8-ball is on the long rail and there are a few of your opponents balls around it so that you need to get the cue ball within 1/2 diamond from the rail in order to have a shot. The best ball to leave would be something close to the side pocket. That way, you can just make the ball and roll the cue ball up with as little movement as possible, just like BazookaJoe said. However, if there isn't a ball there, or maybe you get out of line in the middle of your run and need to shoot that ball early, the key is to see which ball will allow the cue ball to travel nearly parallel to that rail. Maybe it is a ball on the short rail that you pocket in the corner pocket and have the cue ball roll up the long rail towards the 8-ball. In that case, you have a very large margin for error. The thing you want to avoid is where the cue ball is travelling perpendicular to the position zone that you need. For example, if your last ball is along the opposite long rail. That is much harder because you need to make the ball into the corner and have the cue ball travel across the short width of the table and land within 1/2 diamond from the opposite long rail. You have very little margin for error in this case.

Andy
 
I find changing from my original plan can be difficult also what's important is trusting the new route (and not making that change while over the ball) everybody ends up with bad position once in awhile and are forced to take a different ball then originally planned. Try not to make your plan so definate think three balls ahead but know the state of all balls (done only when you're going to run out of course) double check after every pot make sure you have your angles/open pockets etc and adapt as need be, play your game and your table the added pressure of trying to play perfect will only add stress.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone.

I guess when it comes down to it, you just have to do your best not to go off the planned route, and when it does happen, make the best of the situation.

I suppose then that the best insurance is to look for a spread that gives you enough space to make any necessary alterations before you have a crack at the dish.
 
All good stuff, heres a few more tips
1) If you feel the run out is on, break out bad balls or clustered balls as soon as possible, you do not want to keep eliminating your options.
2) Pick a last ball that will most easily get you on the 8 and try your best to leave it till last.
3) try to work from one end of the table to the other to avoid cue ball travel.
4) Try not to move anything that does not need moving, if it goes try and get on it.
5) Sometimes very simple plays can be huge in the end game, for example if the 8 is say close to another ball and only goes in one pocket, if you have an easy chance to leave an agle to kick it into a better position without messing up your next shot, then this may pay off later if you don't get ideal position on your last ball.
6) Running out is not the only option, patience my son :)
7) There are six, SIX pockets on the table!
8) Use your imagination, sometimes when you think you have no shot if you look long enough you will find a solution.
9) Have fun.

Cheers
Slasher
Member of Woodies Wizzards
2003 BCA Open Champions
 
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An 8ball move that is rarely mentioned in the strategy/tactics of the game is the creating of problems for your opponents set of balls. These opportunities can present themselves at anytime during the game but if your not looking for them those opportunities will be passed bye. You can increase your overall win rate if during your runouts you are always considering ways of slightly moving balls of the other set without jeopardizing your own runout. It is kind of like buying insurance. You don't expect anything to go wrong but, hey, you buy it anyway...

As a general rule these chances to create problems are more numerious in the beginning game then they are in the middle or end game....JAT
 
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