Thanks
Thanks to everyone that replied to this thread. I typed up a summary of all the advice and gave it to my team before our match last night. They were appreciative and learned a lot. For the benefit of future readers of this thread, here is that summary:
• Overall, never be complacent. There are plenty of times in normal 9-ball where a mistake will not cost you if you are playing weaker player, because all you care about is the 9. This is not the case when every ball counts.
• Don't scratch; it always hurts you in APA 9-ball while only sometimes hurts you in regular 9-ball
- When playing a weak opponent (e.g. SL1 or SL2) they do not need many points, so giving them BIH is a big error
- Control your break so you don't scratch
• Playing safe and getting out of safe
- Weaker players in APA tend to be bad at kicking, so you should play safe more often on them
- If it will be very difficult to get out of a safety, just tie up some balls into a cluster. Ideally tie up the lowest ball so your opponent can not make it, even with BIH
- When playing safe, instead of hitting the OB close to the 9 and hiding the CB, hit the OB close to a cluster or other problem ball. That way if you get BIH you have a better chance of running out.
- Practice kicking. Missing a kick usually guarantees your opponent points. Many breaks soon result in BIH because with no push-out the players are often required to kick after the break.
• Whether to attempt very difficult shots
- Missing early in a game of normal 9-ball often does not hurt you. But missing in APA 9-ball often guarantees your opponent points.
- When playing a weak opponent (e.g. SL2 or SL3) they do not need many points, so missing and giving them easy points is a big error
- Don't attempt difficult position routes to break open clusters. Instead take the easy points and then play safe.
- Consider playing safe if missing the hard shot would result in your opponent being able to run many easy balls.
• Whether to take an early combo on the 9
- If your break is very good you can go for an early combo on the 9 and then break and continue running. In that case the 9 is really worth 3 or more points to you (2 points for the 9 and then balls on the break).
- If your break is bad consider not taking the combo if you can run at least several more balls and play safe
- If your opponent is making a lot of balls on the break, take the early combo on the 9 so you get to break
• Only take a whack at the moving the 9 ball if you can prevent your opponent from having a shot if the 9 does not fall
• Practice breaking and controlling the CB and 1-ball so you get a shot
• Matching players
- If your team has to put up first, avoid playing your very high or very low players. If you put up a SL1-SL2, the other team can probably beat him with an SL4. If you put up a SL7-SL9, you will have a tough match against a decent SL2. Best is to start with putting up a SL4-SL5.
- If you are certain two players are going to match up, be the team to put up for that match. That way the other team loses one of their opportunities to strategically pick the match up.
- If your team wins the coin toss, consider putting up first. You will control the 2nd and 4th match and perhaps the 5th match. By the fifth match the other team will be constrained by the Rule-of-23 on who they can play, so you may be able to predict the 5th match up while you are making your choice for the 4th match up.
