Can only play 8 ball!

[PetToilet]

So I've got some mental block / problem where I can only play 8 ball well. Every other game I fail to make the shots, sets, and break outs that I easily make in 8 ball. I really like playing other games, I just suck at them, I don't know what is wrong. I've even made sure my preshot routine and execution including staying down and freezing after the follow through are all done right, but I guess in my mind I don't like up right.

Even very easy cuts, short distance, shots with easy sets I split the pocket in 8 ball with, I struggle in 9-ball and straight pool. I can't run more than 3 or 4 balls usually! even with a fully open and easy run out, or when an opponent messed up their break out shot and left a very easy run. I have broke and ran many 8 ball racks for reference. After winning small small sets easily in 8 ball, my opponent wants to switch to 9 ball and I lose badly!

Any recommendations to get over this mental slump are helpful.

 

[earlthe pearl]

practice,long shots,rotation 1 thru 15.

 

[John Biddle]

From your description of the problem it sounds more like some sort of mental block than anything else. You say that the things you're screwing up in 9 Ball are things you do successfully in 8 Ball routinely.

My suggestion: Go 1 whole month (or longer if you don't play very often) without 8 Ball. That's right, quit 8 Ball cold turkey. Force yourself to adjust to the other games, with no possibility of falling back to your comfort zone.

Once you begin to believe that you can do it, that there's nothing in the way of you playing good 9 Ball, then you'll begin to play it like you did 8 Ball.

Just in case your assessment hasn't been completely accurate though, make some notes of all your misses for a little while, and when you're not in a match, spend some time with those specific things.

If it turns out that you're missing things you didn't have to do very often in 8 Ball, like go up and down the table often, make tougher, longer shots, etc, that's OK too. It only means that your skills in ( Ball aren't up to you 8 Ball skills and you need to work on them. Playing lots of 9 Ball, and practicing the things you miss will help you a great deal.

 

[Cameron Smith]

So I've got some mental block / problem where I can only play 8 ball well. Every other game I fail to make the shots, sets, and break outs that I easily make in 8 ball. I really like playing other games, I just suck at them, I don't know what is wrong. I've even made sure my preshot routine and execution including staying down and freezing after the follow through are all done right, but I guess in my mind I don't like up right.

Even very easy cuts, short distance, shots with easy sets I split the pocket in 8 ball with, I struggle in 9-ball and straight pool. I can't run more than 3 or 4 balls usually! even with a fully open and easy run out, or when an opponent messed up their break out shot and left a very easy run. I have broke and ran many 8 ball racks for reference. After winning small small sets easily in 8 ball, my opponent wants to switch to 9 ball and I lose badly!

Any recommendations to get over this mental slump are helpful.

Is this slump in solo practice too, or only match play?

How much do you compete in 9 ball and 14.1?

For example I don't compete in 14.1 up to the same level that I can manage in practice, because I only get to play 2 or 3 straight pool matches a year. So I am usually uncomfortable when I do get to play. In practice, there is an added comfort that if I miss, I get to try again directly after that. In match play that safety netting is removed.

Snooker is very much the same for me, although that is improving.

I think you just need to play more matches and increase your comfortability with the game.

 

[Koopa]

I know how you feel. I can't play one pocket to save my life. I know the shots and the angles, but put me in a pressure situation with that game and I fall apart.

 

[predator]

No disrespect, but are your 8ball runouts executed precisely as planned? Group choice correct? Keyball choice smart? Not too many plans B, C or even D?
If you pretty much execute 8ball as planned, then you may be playing too much of it.
The thing is, 9ball requires longer shots and more cueball movement. 14.1 is a different animal altogether with complex patterns, cluster management, tight position zones, etc. 8ball won't help much with those two games I'm afraid.
Perhaps a change in game preference is in order?

 

[PetToilet]

From your description of the problem it sounds more like some sort of mental block than anything else. You say that the things you're screwing up in 9 Ball are things you do successfully in 8 Ball routinely.

My suggestion: Go 1 whole month (or longer if you don't play very often) without 8 Ball. That's right, quit 8 Ball cold turkey. Force yourself to adjust to the other games, with no possibility of falling back to your comfort zone.

Once you begin to believe that you can do it, that there's nothing in the way of you playing good 9 Ball, then you'll begin to play it like you did 8 Ball.

Just in case your assessment hasn't been completely accurate though, make some notes of all your misses for a little while, and when you're not in a match, spend some time with those specific things.

If it turns out that you're missing things you didn't have to do very often in 8 Ball, like go up and down the table often, make tougher, longer shots, etc, that's OK too. It only means that your skills in ( Ball aren't up to you 8 Ball skills and you need to work on them. Playing lots of 9 Ball, and practicing the things you miss will help you a great deal.

interesting idea, I don't think I could go a month without 8 ball though! Definitely need to compete more in 9 ball, but it's hard playing people that I see as much worse than me as even!

No disrespect, but are your 8ball runouts executed precisely as planned? Group choice correct? Keyball choice smart? Not too many plans B, C or even D?
If you pretty much execute 8ball as planned, then you may be playing too much of it.
The thing is, 9ball requires longer shots and more cueball movement. 14.1 is a different animal altogether with complex patterns, cluster management, tight position zones, etc. 8ball won't help much with those two games I'm afraid.
Perhaps a change in game preference is in order?

Yes, I get on the right side of the next ball, typically do 3 or more balls a head planning and 3 rail sets. Definitely do a lot of thinking for the run out before I take my first shot, break shots and general which balls I can use to set for the 8 ball. I am not as good at longer cueball movement, but even in very easy 9 ball layouts I simply cannot make a simple shot, irregardless of the set. Even in 14.1 (Have not played competitively and maybe that is the reason), I miss very layouts after a missed shot but too successful breakout by an opponent.

It just seems like I can't line up the shot correctly to just make a shot, with or without setting, in or outside a match setting (with respect to 9 ball at least) when I am trying to take every shot seriously. Many times I don't even make my first shot, after coming in from an opponent running a number of balls, even when I feel confident I am lined up right. Afterwards we can play 8 ball on the same table with the same person, and I can be successful at running and breaking out.

Maybe I should find a place to join the *shudder* APA for 9 ball.

 

[jay helfert]

So I've got some mental block / problem where I can only play 8 ball well. Every other game I fail to make the shots, sets, and break outs that I easily make in 8 ball. I really like playing other games, I just suck at them, I don't know what is wrong. I've even made sure my preshot routine and execution including staying down and freezing after the follow through are all done right, but I guess in my mind I don't like up right.

Even very easy cuts, short distance, shots with easy sets I split the pocket in 8 ball with, I struggle in 9-ball and straight pool. I can't run more than 3 or 4 balls usually! even with a fully open and easy run out, or when an opponent messed up their break out shot and left a very easy run. I have broke and ran many 8 ball racks for reference. After winning small small sets easily in 8 ball, my opponent wants to switch to 9 ball and I lose badly!

Any recommendations to get over this mental slump are helpful.

Okay here you go. Practice using only three balls. Yes you heard me right, just the seven, eight and nine ball. Throw them on the table and run out all three balls, over and over until you have it down. Start with Ball In Hand but not too close to the seven ball.

When you can run out five times in a row consistently, then add one ball (the six ball). Work on this group of four balls until you can run them five times in a row. Work your way up one ball at a time. I think you get the picture. Good luck!

 

[Black-Balled]

So I've got some mental block / problem where I can only play 8 ball well...

Ha! I can only play 9b! We better not play together.

But, I think 8b is way harder. How the hell can I figure out that I am F'in up before I dig a hole for meself?

 

[havoc]

Okay here you go. Practice using only three balls. Yes you heard me right, just the seven, eight and nine ball. Throw them on the table and run out all three balls, over and over until you have it down. Start with Ball In Hand but not too close to the seven ball.

When you can run out five times in a row consistently, then add one ball (the six ball). Work on this group of four balls until you can run them five times in a row. Work your way up one ball at a time. I think you get the picture. Good luck!

this is very good advice from jay,not that he needs my endorsement.
i'm in the same boat as you.the problem is both mental and difference in games.

the mental part,i'll give you an example.recent 9 ball tourney.the day before,i'm at the local pool hall.one of the better shooters in my town comes up and asks if i wanna play some 9 ball.i do and i'm staying with him all the way,even going up on him 2 games.i'm an 8 ball player and i'm trying to make the transition to 9 ball.

next day at the tourney at a bar on a barbox,i'm struggling.eventually i'm out,the guy from the day before is in the finals.

my confidence should have been through the roof but it wasn't.i still don't feel confident with this game.

now last night i'm asked to sub for an 8 ball league team.5 man team.you shoot 3 different ppl.i asked to shoot out because i have other commitments.i win all 3 games and i'm done in less than 20 min.

my 8 ball game has my confidence.i run out in 8 ball. but here is where 8 ball differs from rotation games and can hurt you in rotation games.if you blow shape you have a good chance of falling on another ball and this happens alot.safety play is a little more difficult because there are alot of options for your opponent.i find that when i miss shape in 9 ball i try to manufacture something instead of playing safe.

doing things the way jay talked about will bring your game up.my 9 ball game has gotten better and this is how i got better.if 3 balls bothers you try 7 ball,or map out a run out.take however many balls you want to use and place them in certain spots so you can map out your run.or take your favorite run out of a pro match,place the balls like the layout on tv and mimic the player who ran out.

 

[Richardson]

I dislike 9 ball aswell.

I get tired of watching people just try to line up for short racks and missing straight in balls and getting safe, stuff like that.

 

[chefjeff]

Since I recently started a thread comparing the speed of hit for 9-Ball vs. 8-Ball, I'm thinking that maybe this comes into play?

Do you hit more softly in 8-Ball perhaps and when you switch to 9-Ball you lose some of your stroke because you generally hit harder?

Just thinking outloud here,

Jeff Livingston

 

[Brozif]

No matter what your favorite game is. I think that proper patterns are the key to success. I prefer 9-ball to 8-ball. I believe I play them both well, but I just prefer 9-ball. I think you have to be more precise in 9-ball. With 8-ball, if you get out of line on one ball, you may have another one to bail you out, and then all you have to do is re-plan your out. You can't do that with 9-ball. If you get out of line on your object ball, you have no choice, you still have to shoot on that ball. That is also what frustrates a lot of people. When a player misses in 9-ball, the possibility of being left safe is greater, simply because you only have that one ball to shoot at.

Each game has their own characteristics that makes them fun. It still comes down to practice to make you good at any of them.

 

[Brozif]

Since I recently started a thread comparing the speed of hit for 9-Ball vs. 8-Ball, I'm thinking that maybe this comes into play?

Do you hit more softly in 8-Ball perhaps and when you switch to 9-Ball you lose some of your stroke because you generally hit harder?

Just thinking outloud here,

Jeff Livingston

There's only one shot that I shoot hard at, and that is the break. After that, I believe that you stroke a ball into position. Obviously depending on the length of the shot will determine how much you stroke the shot. But if you're playing the cue ball to the center of the table, and getting there, then most of your shots should be shot at the same speed. That is just my opinion. It doesn't mean much as I'm not a pro, but maybe you'll get lucky and one of them or an instructor will chime in.

 

[the420trooper]

NWith 8-ball, if you get out of line on one ball, you may have another one to bail you out, and then all you have to do is re-plan your out. You can't do that with 9-ball. If you get out of line on your object ball, you have no choice, you still have to shoot on that ball.

In 9 ball, when you fall out of line, there's usually a way to put he OB on one end rail and the CB on the other.

In 8 ball, situations arise routinely where you've made most of your balls, and have a slightly bad angle. You opponents balls are wide open, and you often have no choice but to shoot at a "Hail Mary" to have any chance at all. What about the times when your opponent breaks dry, balls are spread nicely, and you're corner-hooked?

I think 8 ball is the game where (practically) impossible situations arise more frequently than any other.

 

[Brozif]

In 9 ball, when you fall out of line, there's usually a way to put he OB on one end rail and the CB on the other.

In 8 ball, situations arise routinely where you've made most of your balls, and have a slightly bad angle. You opponents balls are wide open, and you often have no choice but to shoot at a "Hail Mary" to have any chance at all. What about the times when your opponent breaks dry, balls are spread nicely, and you're corner-hooked?

I think 8 ball is the game where (practically) impossible situations arise more frequently than any other.

Yes the option of rail to rail safety is there, but not guaranteed to work out. Takes superb control of both balls to accomplish this consistently.

When playing 8-ball, if I have balls tied up, I try to break them out early. If not successful then play a safety. If safety is not availabe, I try to tie up one of his balls with one of mine. Don't like running down to a couple of balls if I can't absolutely get out. The more of mine that I leave on there, the more he/she has to get around. I'm not a big fan of "Hail Mary" shots.

The break scenario you spoke of can happen in 8 or 9-ball. The only difference is that all balls are object balls on an open table in 8-ball. Where in 9-ball, all you have to shoot at on a dry break is still the one ball. Outside of APA league (except for the masters division), you always have the push out rule.

I have never paid attention on how many impossible situations arise in either game. Every time I play I end up in an impossible situation!! LOL

 

[Pushout]

Okay here you go. Practice using only three balls. Yes you heard me right, just the seven, eight and nine ball. Throw them on the table and run out all three balls, over and over until you have it down. Start with Ball In Hand but not too close to the seven ball.

When you can run out five times in a row consistently, then add one ball (the six ball). Work on this group of four balls until you can run them five times in a row. Work your way up one ball at a time. I think you get the picture. Good luck!

What Jay said! I'll get flack for saying this, I'm sure, but give up 8 ball. It does just about nothing for any other game you play and it's got you where you are now. I'd suggest concentrating on Straight pool, which, opinions to the contrary, will help any other game you take up. Ease into 9 ball, any game where you have to run the balls in numerical order is more difficult than 8 ball and may require a different mind set/concentration.
Good luck!

 

[havoc]

What Jay said! I'll get flack for saying this, I'm sure, but give up 8 ball. It does just about nothing for any other game you play and it's got you where you are now. I'd suggest concentrating on Straight pool, which, opinions to the contrary, will help any other game you take up. Ease into 9 ball, any game where you have to run the balls in numerical order is more difficult than 8 ball and may require a different mind set/concentration.
Good luck!

i agree.i've been focusing on 9 ball for awhile now and just this week straight pool.i've played very little 8 ball and my game was still there last night when i needed it.

 

[CreeDo]

Gonna be brutally honest here... 8 ball is an easier game and there's a good chance you've convinced yourself you're playing the two games completely differently when in reality your playing level is about the same.

You just get out less in 9 ball so that has you convinced you are playing worse. But your skill level hasn't changed.

What I think is happening in your 8 ball game: If you screw up position, you shoot a different ball. You might act like you meant to play that ball next and your opponent might buy it, and neither of you realize you're getting away with murder every time you mess up shape but get to keep shooting anyway. In 9 ball you can't do that.

As a result your average run in 8 ball is much higher, and you will occasionally run out of racks, but 9b stumps you because you are not allowed to mess up position and you will need the accuracy, planning and stroke required to shoot a ball at one end of the table and get to the other end. If you lack those, your run ends after a few balls. It's not because your shotmaking ability drops by 5 balls merely from switching to a different game.

If your shotmaking IS decreasing, it's because you can't sink balls in an effortless, automatic way anymore, now that you're forced to divert some attention to moving whitey along some long, unfamiliar routes (like zigzagging across the table or playing 3 rail shape after a rail cut).

Sorry in advance if I've got you all wrong! But I truly believe this is what's happening. Even high B players can look like low C's in 9 ball and will have lower average runs and fewer runouts.

 

[PetToilet]

I wish people would read, I'm missing shots with the same or easier sets in 8 ball with easy 9 layouts, not tough layouts where I have to move whitey in more difficult manors. Even straight pool when someone opened the balls wide open.

Often I just miss my first shot when it is my turn. As for 8 ball, often me and my friends play call 1 or 2 ahead, where you have to call the ball and pocket of the ball or 2 after the one you are shooting. I run out just as well with that, but more importantly, I actually make the shots regardless of the set, unlike 9 ball.

Maybe I will try playing rotation 8 ball, where you play your solids/stripes in order, to try to transition, but I'm sure that would be quite difficult.