some know more than others,
for 9,10 ball here is the deal,
Another thing is not what you know-its your ability to solve the layout of the balls like Nick Varner says "Work it out, dont rush into the rack" He said that a million times at the M-Cup where he was captian. Sometimes there are several ways to run a rack so you look for shots that are the highest % makeable for you, that pattern might be diffent for another player.
For example Johnny Morra uses inside english as good as anyone I have ever seen, so his pattens are way different than I would play, I try and avoid playing shots that are loaded up with inside, he loves them. Therefore our patterns are different. on a stop and go rack it dosent matter.
Max Eberly who plays MUCH better than I do plays his patterns 90% of the time the way I would, the 10% difference is personal preferance and probably 3% of the 10% is his experince and because he is better and he finds a better route but its rare. Needless to say we are a very strong scotch doubles team. We just think the same, I just dont have the talent or experience that Max does, he is a much better player, but I been playing so long that I see alot more than I can accomplish. I remember when I started out it was the oppsite. I could do what I knew-but I knew almost nothing. There are alot of no-playing rail birds that know the shots.
Knowing and doing are 2 different things,
So knowing the shots is one thing figureing them out is another, The guys who really know the shots are the one pocket and 3 cushion players, Those games take a ton more knowlege than 9,10 ball. And to a lesser extent 14.1. Rotation games require the least knowlege.
8 ball is a tough game to know all the patterns its not really possible you have to be creative and have a mind for it, it takes alot of creativity to play 14.1 at its highest level there are basic shots and stragity but again you have to be creative and play into your strengths,
this is the short answere and my opinions as of today,
3C is the toughest to know all the shots-why? because nobody does know all the shots-not one person ever. Making it the most difficult of all cue sports...and the most beatiful when you see the guys who can run 30, in real life its beyond beatiful to see them play, it sucks on youtube, you just dont have the feel and sound of live 3C. I cant run 3 but can appericate it as much if not more than any other game. Those top top players come with shots they think up during their run that are mind boggling. you have to see it to get it, I never did until recently, the guys who can run 10 are "book" smart 3C players, but you dont to 30 with any book, it takes 20+ years of dedication and a gift from god to play at theat level. If youi ever get a chance to see the top 3C guys just go-you wont get board.
