yes, i've played 8-ball rotation style, good game, but not practical, for the free world, although i heard that's how they always play 8-ball in the phillipines. as far as drills are concerned, the break, is huge. not quite as big as 9-ball but almost as big. practice, hitting the head ball square in it's nose. note the cue ball reaction. if the cue ball is passing the side pockets comming back towards the breaker, your hitting too much below center. if the cue ball hesitates for a second, then takes off towards the foot corner pockets, your hitting too much above center. moral? stay in the center of the cue ball for the break. next drill, pattern play. take 6 object balls and randomly roll them out on the table. 3 stripes, 2 solids, and the 8-ball. take ball in hand on the stripes. plan each positional shot smartly, and cautiously, see how close you could come to obtaining your original acceptable positional landing zone. and lastly, the "end game" put out the 8-ball and one stripe, fairly near each other,for instance, put the 8-ball on the foot spot, and the stripe towards a corner pocket, but not too near the corner pocket and take ball in hand on the stripe, the goal? play straight in position on the 8ball. you will be suprised, how many times this type of seemingly simple shot, could go wrong, resulting in missed 8-ball shots. stay down, follow through, and think positive. keep those questions comming!
