8 Ball Practice
Hi dgmwalsh,
Here is my take on practice and play:
Learn to play fourteen & one from an established player. Tom
Karabatsos and Dallas West are located somewhere near you in Chicagoland. You don't need to run 200, just get the fine points. Position and shot choice are paramount. Don't worry about the number of balls run, think instead about how you ran the rack. Did you have make a bankshot? A carom of another ball? A combination shot? How many shots went the full length of the table? If you do those things on a regular basis, its just a matter of time until you place yourself where you can't make a shot.
Learn to play one pocket from a good player. Ever wonder how the "pros" hide the cue ball on their opponent in nine ball on a regular basis? The safety game part of eight ball is no different, especially in BCA play. One pocket teaches cue ball spin, banking and above all, patience!
I like to practice 15 ball rotation. If you play bar box regularly, you know how congested a table can get. Use this to learn the correct routes from ball to ball. I throw the balls out on the table and use cue ball in hand on the one ball. I'm not Django.
Spend some time playing three cushion billiards. Its great for position practice. Ever need to kick at your next ball in eight ball or nine ball for that matter? I bet you get really mad giving your opponent cue ball in hand! Billiards is just one more weapon in your bag.
I'd spend some time each week practicing safety play. Try to hide the cue ball on each open shot. Inversely, try to practice kicking at balls. I don't spend hours on each but 1/2 hour a week will sure help.
Know the rules!!!!! BCA is NOT APA or Valley.
Practice, practice, practice. Always play a better player. You can't learn from a less knowledgeable player.