8-Ball How Would You Run Out

[RFranklin]

Small Photo

Good idea! After all, this is all about exercising the mind to think through pattern options.

For mine, slow roll or stun through 15 to be almost straight on the 11, which appears to have enough room.

I'd draw back to get rid of the 13 next. If a little short I can play from the 13 onto the 6, getting on the 12 in the far corner. If I over draw I cut the 9 and try to bump the 12-13 apart.

If all is fine to the 13, I play for the Z shot off the 9 to the 10 ball. A little back up with the 14 here is handy but good shape on the 10 will make the out a lot easier.

I like it. :thumbup: My photo got so small I couldn't tell if the 11 went in the side or if the 12 passed the three in the bottom corner. Those two shots make this table much easier to run.

 

[ktrepal85]

Here ya go...

 

[Patrick Johnson]

For mine, slow roll or stun through 15 to be almost straight on the 11, which appears to have enough room.

Alternatively, I might draw back into the 12/13 for a gentle breakout, since there are outlet shots around.

I rarely try to plan the whole rack, because plans change so quickly and inevitably in pool. I just identify problems and ways to solve them as early as possible and trust that I'll be able to deal with the more open balls one way or another - I often choose a first shot based on the ability to solve a problem with it.

pj
chgo

 

[7forlife]

everyone seems to insist on playing the 8 in the side.

 

[Colin Colenso]

Just for grins I decided to get out with stripes. The only difficult leaves are getting on the last two before the 8.

Some advantages with your 9 to 13 shape. Might be a toughish 12 to make, but got various options for working the 10 and 14 balls next. The 11 as penultimate ball is also not bad.

I reckon the first shot could go a little wonky though if not judged perfectly. A little thick and could finish by the rail, thin into the pocket could bounce out 10 inches too far. Not a critique of talent, just that it's a longish shot and when just off straight and hard, these can vary significantly with small aiming errors as say 0.5mm off center hit will have 1/6th the sideways speed as hitting 3mm off center, but both will make the shot.

Colin

 

[alstl]

I don't play much 8 ball but I enjoy these discussions. A couple stripes appear to be tied up. If the 6 passes the 9 into the corner I'd take solids.

 

[Colin Colenso]

Alternatively, I might draw back into the 12/13 for a gentle breakout, since there are outlet shots around.

I rarely try to plan the whole rack, because plans change so quickly and inevitably in pool. I just identify problems and ways to solve them as early as possible and trust that I'll be able to deal with the more open balls one way or another - I often choose a first shot based on the ability to solve a problem with it.

pj
chgo

Yeah, the breakout appeals to me too, but hard to draw without over speculating.

And true about planning out a whole rack, but I think it's a good idea to run through a couple of scenarios if one's mind can process them quickly enough, so that we can spot whether a given pattern may lead to a dead end scenario and to spot some variations / back ups in advance for losing shape long/short/left/right etc.

I think we miss a lot of better pattern options often because we get set on our first plan, or just because we didn't spot a better option at some stage. Hence the benefit of being good at processing several moves ahead. In doing so, I often spot a pattern further up that I should have got along earlier.


Hope that makes sense.
Colin

 

[Colin Colenso]

everyone seems to insist on playing the 8 in the side.

I like the shot from 3 to 1, 2 to 5 and 7 to 8. Could always go to the 8 in the middle if you get too low on the 7. Nice pattern!

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I often spot a pattern further up that I should have got along earlier.


Hope that makes sense.
Colin

Unfortunately, it's all to familiar.

I often get so taken with one shot that I ignore other possibilities - then I hit it bad and end up where I should have planned to be in the first place. If you can manage to not act surprised you look brilliant to onlookers.

pj
chgo

 

[Colin Colenso]

Here ya go...

JMHO, but without risking hitting the point on the 4 in the middle, I reckon it's hard to get onto the 7 on that side. Perhaps a really slick table which will hold draw at a low speed would allow the nip hold shot.

Also, some eggs in one basket for that shape on the 3 as the penultimate ball.

Always interesting to see what arises in the mind when different patterns are considered.

Colin

 

[Colin Colenso]

Unfortunately, it's all to familiar.

I often get so taken with one shot that I ignore other possibilities - then I hit it bad and end up where I should have planned to be in the first place. If you can manage to not act surprised you look brilliant to onlookers.

pj
chgo

haha, I've done that and acted along many a time.

I think this aspect of finding patterns in 8-ball is underestimated by many. I heard some 9-ball pros at an IPT event talking about how all the options were doing their heads in and so sometimes they'd just look for a pattern in order of the ball numbers so they could focus their mind.

Back in the day when I played quite a lot, when I went from drills to just practicing breaking and trying to run out, my break and runs and just general finishing improved very significantly, even though my actual shooting was no better. I remember feeling like I could process and decide on a high percentage pattern within seconds. Now, I almost have to draw it so I can remember which balls I've already potted as I imagine my way through a layout.:embarrassed2:

I'm sure it's true for 14.1 too. In rotation, the options are of a magnitude less.

Colin

 

[Colin Colenso]

2 more patterns

This time taking the 6 first, opening up the 1 and 2 and leaving the 3 until later on. These look to flow a bit more smoothly.

 

[Island Drive]

6 in the corner, draw back to the seven, next is your key Shape, shooting the seven and leaving a natural rolling cue ball angle cut on the Four....to bump into 12/13 relocating them away, then all three of the last balls are wide open....no chance of getting hooked, and the shape area for the four ball cut into the two stripes is huge, all ya gotta do is land on or near the long rail....that's how I see it

 

[Colin Colenso]

6 in the corner, draw back to the seven, next is your key Shape, shooting the seven and leaving a natural rolling cue ball angle cut on the Four....to bump into 12/13 relocating them away, then all three of the last balls are wide open....no chance of getting hooked, and the shape area for the four ball cut into the two stripes is huge, all ya gotta do is land on or near the long rail....that's how I see it

Interesting approach but I'd be concerned about catching the 10 ball drawing to the 7 and clipping the 8 ball on the way to the 12-13 cluster off the 4 ball.

 

[Island Drive]

Interesting approach but I'd be concerned about catching the 10 ball drawing to the 7 and clipping the 8 ball on the way to the 12-13 cluster off the 4 ball.

The six in the corner is a natural cut with r/h spin...with cue ball hitting below the four ball and naturally spinning towards the seven....I just dislike having a small window to the three ball cut, especially on a bar table unless there's near zero cue ball movement playing shape on that ball.

 

[7forlife]

know what i love most about situation like these (talking about shots and how you'd play/would of played it)
Everyone shoots flawless pool, no one misses position, plays the perfect speed and lands on a dime.

 

[Colin Colenso]

The six in the corner is a natural cut with r/h spin...with cue ball hitting below the four ball and naturally spinning towards the seven....I just dislike having a small window to the three ball cut, especially on a bar table unless there's near zero cue ball movement playing shape on that ball.

Ok, I see the path you were going for now, certainly doable and getting rid of the 6 then 7 early opens up a lot of options, and you've got the 4 to play anyway in case you flub the position from 6 to 7.

Cheers,
Colin

 

[Colin Colenso]

know what i love most about situation like these (talking about shots and how you'd play/would of played it)
Everyone shoots flawless pool, no one misses position, plays the perfect speed and lands on a dime.

That's why the best patterns are either high percentage shots, have good margins for error or have back up plans on the less controllable shots.

It's easy to just find a route that is possible. The key is, finding a route that is higher percentage. Sometimes we are guessing a little, but the mere practice of spotting options and thinking through their percentages is useful brain training for an 8 ball player I think.

 

[Island Drive]

Ok, I see the path you were going for now, certainly doable and getting rid of the 6 then 7 early opens up a lot of options, and you've got the 4 to play anyway in case you flub the position from 6 to 7.

Cheers,
Colin

Bingo..............