APA 9-ball go for the 9?

A

americanfighter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
My main weakness when playing on a 6ft table is cue ball control navigating through the congestion and often times end up in bad positions when I try for a big run. However I can pull off some impressive shots to make the 9 early using combos or caroms that at pretty complicated. Where I get conflicted though is when I have equal opportunity to run 2 or 3 balls or go for the 9 (2 points). Normally I go for the 9. The results are I win almost all the games but I may lose the match.

How do you play go for the 9 or the run?
 
Go for the points. It's not like real pool, the actual 9 ball has reasonably little to do with winning an APA 9 ball match
 
I agree 100% always go for as many points as possible. The only time you should go for the 9 is if you have a really crappy layout that would be difficult to run. Get the 2 for the 9 and break for a better table. Either that make the ones you can then play defense.

Hope this helps.

Black Cat :cool:
 
Be honest, when you got for those "impressive" shots that are "pretty complicated",
you're just showing off :)

If so it's all good, that's part of why we play.
But combos and caroms are almost never easier than running 2 balls on a barbox,
unless you're hooked on the first ball. The tendency is to remember when you make 'em
and forget all the times you missed.

You gotta always keep realistic idea of the difficulty of shots.
Every shot is different but in general, combos and caroms are harder than
most cuts (even pretty thin cuts). Your mindset should be cut is preferred whenever possible,
bank reluctantly if there's no choice, and combo and carom almost never unless
it's practically wired or a ball is hanging in the pocket.

I won't pass up a 9 if all the alternatives are harder shots, just saying that's rarely the case.
 
americanfighter said:
My main weakness when playing on a 6ft table is cue ball control navigating through the congestion and often times end up in bad positions when I try for a big run. However I can pull off some impressive shots to make the 9 early using combos or caroms that at pretty complicated. Where I get conflicted though is when I have equal opportunity to run 2 or 3 balls or go for the 9 (2 points). Normally I go for the 9. The results are I win almost all the games but I may lose the match.

How do you play go for the 9 or the run?
Click to expand...

I'm not a very good player, but even at my ability, I rarely take the 9 early, unless the table is pretty tough.

Even as poorly as I shoot, I can usually do better than the 2 points I get from the 9 early, and the uncertainty of what the table will look like after the next break.

Still, there is a time for it, just not very often. APA 9-ball is a different game, and you need to treat it that way.
 
Happened last night in APA
Our player chose to runout for the points rather then take an easy 3-9 combo.
Next game he rammed the 9 on the first shot.
You never know about 9-ball, but APA 9-ball is not real 9-ball.
 
If you do go for the 9, here are a few things to consider:

You can either use a combo or a billiard (CB hits the OB then CB hits the 9).

If shot with soft or medium speed, a combo tends to keep the OB and 9 close together. So if you miss your opponent might be left with the same combo. You can avoid that by hitting the combo hard, which will get separation.

If you use a billiard shot, the OB will tend to be driven away from the 9, so if you miss you are less likely to leave the same combo. There are a few common ways to aim a billiard shot. Byrnes's Standard Book reviews them and you can probably also find the info in dr daves site.

BTW, my guess is you are actually playing on a 7 foot table. Playing surface is 39" x 78".
 
This is my first season of APA 9-ball, and to me its appears to be almost like a straight pool race. Each ball made is 1 point, and the 9-ball is worth 2 plus the break. So, you need to make more balls than your opponent. I have an SL 8 on my team, and he has to make 65 points. So, I rarely see him go an early 9-ball combo. I've gone for the 9-ball combo, when I was close to making my numbers so I can get the break and try to close it out. in APA 9-ball, the wider the difference in score, the more points you win for your team.

The number of games 'won' are irrelevant, but number of innings will affect your handicap.
 
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I think it depends. How good is your break? If it is really good, taking the 9 gives you the break. If thr 9 is very near the pocket and a lower numbered ball only goes in that pocket, it may make sense to go after it early. Its like deciding to play offensive or going for a safe. Play the percentages for what will most likely yield the most points for you. Each situation, table layout, your skill and your opponent's skill are unique and must be considered.
 
there is a time, a place, and a reason to kiss out

I don't chance kissing out much during LTC or NTC, but I'll do it every chance I get during season play. Here's why :
When I kiss out, four things happen
1) I get two points for the nine ball
2)I get the break shot, and I very seldom break dry, so I get at least one more point, and probably several
3) my opponent doesn't get the chance to make any points off that rack
4)all remaining balls from that rack are marked dead.

Number 4) has an often overlooked benefit. The APA scoring system does not differentiate between balls which are dead because they remained after a kiss shot, and balls which are dead because you fouled the shot somehow.
Basically, if the Equalizer sees a bunch of dead balls, it thinks you SUCK.

Ethical question: making the kiss shot requires skill. Making the kiss shot WINS the rack.making the kiss shot also served to keep your skill level lower. . . . .

So is kissing out a form of sandbagging???

I feel it is not, and it is just a little something to keep in the repertoire.
 
You just have to determine which will give you the most points for a given rack and ideally without out giving up the table. If the tables a mess and you have an early nine take as much as you can, if you can, drop the nine and break a fresh rack.

Only you know what the best move is.
 
ridinda9 said:
I don't chance kissing out much during LTC or NTC, but I'll do it every chance I get during season play. Here's why :
When I kiss out, four things happen
1) I get two points for the nine ball
2)I get the break shot, and I very seldom break dry, so I get at least one more point, and probably several
3) my opponent doesn't get the chance to make any points off that rack
4)all remaining balls from that rack are marked dead.

Number 4) has an often overlooked benefit. The APA scoring system does not differentiate between balls which are dead because they remained after a kiss shot, and balls which are dead because you fouled the shot somehow.
Basically, if the Equalizer sees a bunch of dead balls, it thinks you SUCK.

Ethical question: making the kiss shot requires skill. Making the kiss shot WINS the rack.making the kiss shot also served to keep your skill level lower. . . . .

So is kissing out a form of sandbagging???

I feel it is not, and it is just a little something to keep in the repertoire.
Click to expand...

thats good except that dead balls dont figure into handicaps and are only recorded to balance the score sheet
 
If you're only going to get 2 or 3 anyways, taking an early 9 is fine. If you feel comfortable running more, take a few and find a defensive shot to end with. Eventually you'll want to be running out of course.
 
Celophanewrap said:
Go for the points. It's not like real pool, the actual 9 ball has reasonably little to do with winning an APA 9 ball match
Click to expand...

APA 9 ball is its own game. It is *not* standard Texas Express type 9 ball. It is no less real.

Making the 9 gets you the break. If you are ranked high and have a lot of balls to make, you're gonna need a productive break. It allows you to take control of the match. That being said I agree completely. Go for points.

KMRUNOUT
 
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