8-Ball Strategy!

[lewdo26]

This is the irony of 8-ball: become a better shooter and lose more games!...for a while, anyway. Then become a better safe player and start winning more games. But then some young hotshot smokes you and you realize that to become the best 8-baller, safeties are good but running out and leaving your opponent sitting is even better. But, man, this takes a lot of work to get past that saftey play level.

Jeff Livingston

This is precisely it... 8 ball is revolting to some people because they overestimate their runout capabilities and lose... But they may also lose because they have UNDERestimated the runout capabilities of their opponent!!! Either way you look bad.

 

[pete lafond]

I disagree about always having to have a ball close
to the 8 to shoot right before the 8. ...

Great point as I'm sure many agree. In my process of running one of the first things I look for is how open the 8 ball is. If not, is there a key ball that is fairly open and easy to get to that will allow the 8 a much easier shot. If this does not exists, my pattern will become one that enables one of the two things to happen. And this is done before my first shot.

Great point again Snapshot9.

 

[pete lafond]

Pete, it's not "lazy", it's the PERCENTAGES against a particular player! PERCENTAGES ARE NOT ABSOLUTES! Why in hell will I attempt to get out of a tough layout when I can cynch the win BEFORE I run out??? If the opponent is a weak kicker, or has no concept of strategy, or shotmaking, etc., why would you possibly even allow for the slightest chance of a failed runout??? That's the #1 sin in 8 ball --- and that's why many strong players don't like 8 ball, I guess. They don't want to STACK UP their percentages... if they have a 60% layout they'll go for it, despite the fact that they could have made it 95% or so against a weak player by manufacturing a break ball or keyball, etc. with a couple aggressive safeties.

Against a strong opponent, however, all bets are off because turning the table over is risky REGARDLESS of how well you think you got 'em locked up.

I follow you. Because 8 ball on a small table tends to have a greet deal more congestion, many times position play is gained by contact with another ball. (Using balls as stops but knowing were they are going) During my run, I will also seek out simple opportunities to develop ball clusters for my opponent. This helps improving a failed run out on my part.

 

[Roll-Off]

How about this strategy. Run out! But, if I'm playing a weaker player on a bar box, I might miss and let him make a few. I never make more that one ball if the run-out isn't there, especially on a bar table. Any bozo can run an open table on a barbox.

 

[lewdo26]

How about this strategy. Run out! But, if I'm playing a weaker player on a bar box, I might miss and let him make a few. I never make more that one ball if the run-out isn't there, especially on a bar table. Any bozo can run an open table on a barbox.

I just want to make clear that I'm not advocating what Roll-Off is saying here. I don't know about missing on purpose or playing some waiting game.

I'm saying play safeties with the intention of upping your percentages, and as tightly as I'm capable. Create an easier layout for you, and a tougher layout for your opponent WITH EVERY SHOT! And if you can get ball in hand on top of it, there you go, your percentages shoot up tremendously.

 

[lewdo26]

How about this strategy. Run out! But, if I'm playing a weaker player on a bar box, I might miss and let him make a few. I never make more that one ball if the run-out isn't there, especially on a bar table. Any bozo can run an open table on a barbox.

Of course, Roll-Off, you may be talking about bar pool where deliberate safeties are not allowed. THAT in fact creates a situation where the weaker player has a better chance. And that is always the disgusting fact about bar pool. So, these days, I either DRINK (and that *includes* drinking & smacking balls around at the bar) or I play pool.

Hopefully, the IPT will create more uniformity in 8 ball rules even among the lay public.

 

[lewdo26]

I follow you. Because 8 ball on a small table tends to have a greet deal more congestion, many times position play is gained by contact with another ball. (Using balls as stops but knowing were they are going) During my run, I will also seek out simple opportunities to develop ball clusters for my opponent. This helps improving a failed run out on my part.

Yes, it's always good to take out insurance against a failed runout if you have the ability to do it.