Cameron Smith said:
with a smaller surface 7 footers will have more clusters. So my advice is to set up the balls in difficult scenarios (clusters and such) and try and run the rack. Don't break the balls just spread them across the table in difficult positions.
I don't know how you practice, but if it is just breaking and trying to run the racks, that is only productive for a while. If you are just waiting for good layouts than you only practice running open tables.
Take advantage of the fact that pool allows you to practice any scenario you can think of. The thing I really like about 8 ball is that it gives you the freedom to shoot positional trickshots. If you miss the position, who cares. As long as you had an insurance ball, its all good.
Hope this helps.
That is how I see it also, Anytime I have problem on the bar box, It's usually due to more conjestion on the table & smaller area to work with. Alot of times I'll force the run, get the breaks, then get hooked just enough to stop the run. This leaves even the weaker oponet an easy out. When you try to runout everytime, It's nice when you can string them together, and I have My share of those, but when It's just one of those nights when you clear your set for the most part, and that one ball gets you everytime, the table is left wide open with easy shots. I feel that the same thing can work against you when It comes to leaves, but aggree with the insurance ball on offense in 8 ,even so, I still actually have an easier time with 9 ball even though It's more of a positional game, because i don't have My oponets trash in my way. Sometimes If I'm having one of those nights, and know My oponets game, I'm guilty of playing the player, and putting Myself in position for the easy out, by letting him clear some trash. I'm not intentially sandbagging, just realizing My own limitations for that paticular night & hunkering down to stay alive. I play BCA now, so all that goes right out the window with the way the scoring works. It's actually benificial to try to make the run work everytime, so you don't get caught with all those points left on the table.
I think the point of practicing in public is a good one also, so as you are more comfortable with your surroundings when league night rolls around. There are always many distractions when playing out in public, especially the smaller places when they're packed out with people.
Also aggree that mindset is important, It does'nt matter what anyone else thinks, In your own mind you don't want to go in there thinking you might can win, You have to know it to be fact, and do what it takes, then as you start piling the wins up, Your confidense will grow as well, making you a stronger mental player when the pressure is on. I believe It's important to realize your limitations as well, because it can also help your confidense to know your game was off, and you still found a way to win. Basically find the positives, and try to focus mostly on them. I have this thing I do, that may seem kind of out there, but it helps Me, If I shoot a bad shot, and start feeling the hit from it mentally, I have a imaginary key that I put up to My head and turn, and I inturn shut that shot out of My memory bank. Sometimes It may not even be human error, and in fact be equipment related in some way, and can only hurt My game to keep It in My memory. I'm not saying not to learn from your mistakes, but rather that the shots that are more then likely not even your mistake you have to let go, because it serves no purpose not to, and the ones that baffle you as to what happened usually hurt My confidense & focus the most, because I become pre-occupied with figuring out what happened when i knew I did everything correctly. Sometimes it's as simple as a piece of chalk on the table or stuck to your tip, or possibly because you did'nt chalk before every shot, and miscued so slighty that It could not be heard or seen.
I think that overconfidense can hurt you also, so It's good to have someone rattle your nerves every once in while, It reminds you of how you got to the level of play you are at, and that your not always going to have that edge on everyone you play. Another thing also, once you start being a threat, you'll have people lay them out easy to you, but there will be others that will be instead gunning for you for the bragging rights, and play 2-3 times above their usual game. Thats one of the great things about it. I have been in and seen league games that would've looked like pro matches had you not known better. It's nice to have players to play that step up their level also, and force you to play better if not Your best. Some of My favorite games were against rivals that I went back and forth with. I'm talking about being respectfull of each other and their games, but rivals on the table, and matchups you actually look forward to.
