You asked about pattern play. For those that don't know the term, I'll try and explain it. Basically, it is shooting the balls the easiest way possible...thinking- if I had ball-in-hand on this shot, where would I shoot it to get natural position on the next ball?? Now, you can't always run a rack that way, but it gives you the idea of what I mean.
Now, for your rack that you showed-
1 to the 2- You didn't pay enough attention and ran into the 5 ball. You basically got lucky off it to get a shot on the 2.
2-3- You are on the wrong side of the three for easy shape to the 4. (due to bad on the 2 from hitting the 5. See how it compounds?) You didn't take any time to see where you really needed to be on the 3. You just shot the 2 to get a shot on the 3. That put you tough and long on the 3.
3-4-Out of three feasible options..follow, come back, come straight across, you chose the worst one to do. Coming straight across, you have by far the smallest target zone to get in. You now have 2 pockets for the 4. The side and the corner. Put only a few square inches to put the cueball. If you had followed you would still have two pockets, but a bigger area to get the cueball into. If you had come back with a little draw and some left, you would have one pocket for the four, but it would be an easier way to get position.
4-5- The way you had to shoot it, if the CB hadn't rolled off, you would have had to jack up over the 9 and wouldn't have had the bank possibility.
5-6- You ended up with another bank on the 6, but in fairness, from where you had to shoot the 5 from, your options were limited, and the table did seem to kill the cueball speed.
7-8- I would have gone for a steeper angle on the 8 so I could go one rail down for the 9. Even where you were, I still probably would have.
8-9- Go one rail down. A lot of players will go the way you did. Sometimes I do to. But, by doing that, you are crossing the line you want to be on twice. I say twice, because you have two pockets you can shoot the 9 into. You can go two rails and be fine, but bring the cueball down closer to the side before it hits the rail.
9- Why bank it? Just shoot it in the corner.
There's my quick take on the patterns. Maybe someone can take the time to put it up on the wei table and show how the patterns should have played out to make the rack as easy and natural as possible.
One more thing- I always thought that when shooting the circle drill, you weren't supposed to go out of the circle or use a rail with the cueball.??
. Slow it down and practice.. On another note, the table I just purchased plays very badly, this is why I may seem to be slamming in the balls. It wont hold english and it only holds running english off the rails. I think I am going to ask Santa for new felt and rails for Christmas! I will keep you guys updated on my progress. I would also like to know more about pattern play.
