8 ball pattern play problems

[Bob Jewett]

... my main problem is how to do a stop shot on a angle shot?? say two or three diamonds away from the object ball, with a angle, I try a easy slow stoke bottom English shot, and the cue ball floats away to where ever it wants to go, which kills my pattern. ...

It is more or less impossible to play a stop shot when the shot is not straight in. The best that can be done, barring a masse shot, is to slow the cue ball down as much as possible. I'm very surprised that you would have expected the cue ball to stop on such a shot.

 

[Ralph Kramden]

My main problem is how to do a stop shot on a angle shot?? say two or three diamonds away from the object ball, with a angle, I try a easy slow stoke bottom English shot, and the cue ball floats away to where ever it WANTS to go, which kills my pattern.

That IMO is what kills your pattern. To play 2-3 balls ahead, you need to position the CB, where it WANTS to go.
You can't stop the CB with a slow stroke on an angled shot. You need to play shape off the angle the CB follows.
You could hit the CB harder than you've been doing to let it travel. Natural angles are best judgements for shape.

Look at pj's diagram. The CB always starts down the tangent line (natural angle). You can deviate from that line.
Straight in shots usually aren't advantageous shots. You should strive for a angle on the correct side of your ball.


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[Mkindsv]

Start with 3 stripes and the 8. Then if you make it go to 4. Add a ball each time you make it. If you run out with 7 stripes, then go to 7 stripes and a solid. Then 2 solids. Etc. Each time you miss go back a level. Each time you run out go forward a level.

There is more to it in terms of building specific skills to increase your run out percentage, but as for testing yourself this progressive approach is a good one.

I do something similar, I rarely practice 8 ball, but often do 9 ball this way, start with 3 balls, get out, add a ball, once I get through the 8 ball, I then allow myself to rack em up and play the 9 ball Ghost. Usually takes about 30 minutes to get there.

I do this because the smaller patterns occur over and over again, and if you are solid on four balls, you only need to do that twice a rack to get on the nine consistently, I imagine 8 ball can be done the same way.

 

[dr_dave]

I really like to do 8 ball pattern play. 7 solids and the 8 ball, sometimes ball in hand, and try to run out. I do well in the beginning, but then as the balls dwindle, I make a small mistake or miss a shot to blow it.

FYI, lots of general pattern play advice and examples can be found here:

Pattern Play, Position Control and Cue Ball Control

And lots of game strategy advice (with lots of videos), specific to 8-ball, is available here:

8-ball game strategy and advice

Enjoy,
Dave

 

[PoolBum]

I really like to do 8 ball pattern play. 7 solids and the 8 ball, sometimes ball in hand, and try to run out. I do well in the beginning, but then as the balls dwindle, I make a small mistake or miss a shot to blow it.

should I be using 7 balls, or 4 balls to to this drill? with 4 balls I can see the pattern better, because of less traffic on the table. or should I only use 2 or 3 balls and the 8.

dont want to sound like a pussy, but its hard to line up for a straight shot on the 8 most times. I need help

You should be using 15 balls.

 

[Island Drive]

Play short rack 8 ball, with the 8 in the middle, racked just like 9 ball.