Well, let's see. I suppose the major issue if you have to take what you make like in APA is that you may find yourself in the position of choosing the less desirable group of balls. If you are forced to pick solids, for example, and you have clusters and problems, I suppose the first order of business is to look at what your opponent is dealing with. Some good questions to ask yourself are:
1) Are my problems also problems for my opponent? You really need to look at each one. Decide who has the "advantage" in each problem area. For example, is your ball stuck to his ball forming a dead combo into a pocket? Whose ball goes in in that case? The advantage goes to the ball that goes in. See if there is a nearby ball that could be used to make the combo, if it is your ball that goes in. Look further...is it possible that you could play that combo and also hide from his balls? However, the point here is to determine what the risk level is for this rack. If every problem is a problem for both of you, then you can immediately start moving out your trouble balls. So if you each have 3 problem balls for example, make sure you are the guy that solves one FIRST. Remember...race to the runout. Give each turn maximum value.
2) If the opponent is pretty wide open, and you are not, then you really need to create a safety net for yourself. You should be looking ASAP to tie up an opponents ball. Take a look for which pocket is the likely target for the most of your opponent's balls. Can you block that pocket easily? Otherwise, does he have balls on the rail? Can you roll one of yours onto that rail and block that ball?
3) Finally, if you both have problems, who has solutions? If you both have one ball tied up, and your opponent has a nearby ball to easily break out his problem and you don't, well then you better get that ball out of there. Can you make a ball and play a billiard to move his ball? Can you tie something else up instead so you are again "even" in problems? Maybe you have to settle for playing your ball into his break ball. Get creative. Maybe you can create a break ball of your own while simultaneously moving his break ball.
4) Worst case scenario, you might just have to play safe after the break. Keep all these ideas in mind when doing so. More often than not in 8 ball a lot of balls will be around the rack end of the table. See if you can stick to the back of a ball in the kitchen, even if its his ball. Most times, if you look carefully there is a place you can get to that leaves him no good shot options. One little trick that is especially helpful in leagues (since often the players won't be thinking this way) is to leave him a shot on only a ball that is a break ball for him...but on the wrong side of it. A lot of players will blindly go for that shot to start out and ultimately paint themselves into a corner. Its sort of like bait lol. Maybe that is the only option you have.
Hope this helps. I'd love to record some videos of 8 ball, especially bar table 8 ball.
KMRUNOUT