How many shots do you plan ahead when it is your shot, playing pool?

L

Lock N Load

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Meaning,
Do you plan to make 3 balls when it is your shot? One ball and then play safe? When I play 9 ball I plan 3 balls to make if at all possible! Same way with one pocket, If I can't make more than one ball I play a safe shot. Perhaps I am wrong, but it works for me. Now how about your shot thinking and ball making plans in your game?
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
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Lock N Load said:
Meaning,
Do plan to make 3 balls when it is your shot? One ball and then play safe? When I play 9 ball I plan 3 balls to make if at all possible! Same way with one pocket, If I can't make more than one ball I play a safe shot. Perhaps I am wrong, but it works for me. Now how about your shot and ball making plans in your game?
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
Click to expand...

It sounds to me like you have written this in jest!
 
ChrisBanks said:
It sounds to me like you have written this in jest!
Click to expand...

I don't think so. I think he means the he thinks 3 balls ahead...continuously...not that he just plans to make 3 balls and that's it.

In that context...I think as many balls ahead as possible...given the layout.

Top speed players can generally see the route to entire racks of 9 ball. Obviously, they don't always STAY on that route...but they can SEE it unless the layout is just too complicated...i.e. maybe I can get back downtable to the 3 ball in spite of the blockers and maybe not.

Tougher in 8 ball because of all the blockers. But get Jimmy Reid's dvd on 8 ball and you will see a LOT more routes than you used to!!!!


But I think that ALL top speed players and most A players think at least 3 balls ahead...continuously i.e. 1-2-3 then 2-3 4 etc.

Fair question.

My answer.

(-:

EagleMan
 
EagleMan said:
I don't think so. I think he means the he thinks 3 balls ahead...continuously...not that he just plans to make 3 balls and that's it.

In that context...I think as many balls ahead as possible...given the layout.

Top speed players can generally see the route to entire racks of 9 ball. Obviously, they don't always STAY on that route...but they can SEE it unless the layout is just too complicated...i.e. maybe I can get back downtable to the 3 ball in spite of the blockers and maybe not.

Tougher in 8 ball because of all the blockers. But get Jimmy Reid's dvd on 8 ball and you will see a LOT more routes than you used to!!!!


But I think that ALL top speed players and most A players think at least 3 balls ahead...continuously i.e. 1-2-3 then 2-3 4 etc.

Fair question.

My answer.

(-:

EagleMan
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I've never heard of playing 3 balls ahead in one pocket. If there is some sort of system of looking ahead in one pocket, please share. I would like to know it!

And if you only have one live ball, and it is in your best interest to pocket it now, you will refuse to shoot it because you can't develop more balls on that shot? Please share more.
 
9 ball i play 3 balls ahead generally. 8 ball I start at the 8 ball and work my way back
 
I can pick up the pattern of the table pretty quick and embed a mental picture of it on the brain and with help from the subconscious, I will try and run out the table. I will continue updating that picture all game long as i move around the table making balls and when i get myself out of position. It doesn't matter what game i am playing.
 
You can tell if the rack is runout-able...I made up a word! Within a few seconds.

If I think a run out is on after the break or after I get out from my seat I plan backwards. Starting from the 9 and where I want the CB to make the 9. Then to the 8 and the best pocket to make the 8 to make the CB go where I planned for the 9 and so on.

I raised a similar question in a thread a while back and people couldn't understand how I did it, without making a rack last 5+ minutes. It just seems normal to me and it came from an 8 ball drill I do, and have done for 10 years now.

In all honesty though there is no need, especially in 9 and 10 ball to plan more than 3 ahead.
 
I find the problem balls (if any) and see where I have to be on the ball before them and plan my run from that. I almost never think 3 balls ahead and if I do I do it unconsciously or by instinct.
 
Now in 14:1 you must plan balls ahead of your run will be very short. Usually I plan 5 or more balls ahead in 14:1.
 
I use a 4 quadrant system at times in 9 ball depending on the layout. Basically, I separate the table into 4 quarters. Starting from where you break, on the left side. That's A, to the right of that is B. The other half of the table is C and D.

So if the ball I'm shooting next is in area B/short rail/diamond closest to the pocket, I would play to get the CB in quadrant A.
 
I don't really consciously plan balls ahead. I probably do it on a subconscious level, but I don't actively think "ok, I need to be *here* to get on the 2 with the right angle to get on the 3" etc. I've played enough that I know how to do that instinctively. I try to get my brain out of the way and let my body and subconscious mind do what it already knows how to do and has done thousands of times.
 
RunoutJJ said:
Now in 14:1 you must plan balls ahead of your run will be very short. Usually I plan 5 or more balls ahead in 14:1.
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I try to, but with so many options I end up getting confused or picking a different ball.

I think my general strategy is to find balls that can be used to break up clusters. I also like to clear balls near pockets to make room for others. I do try to pick a break ball and key ball in the beginning, and just don't go near them if possible.

It's usually when there's about 6 or 7 balls left that I'll actually plan an out.

I'm not the greatest 14.1 player, so I doubt that's a good strategy. :wink:
 
ChrisBanks said:
I've never heard of playing 3 balls ahead in one pocket. If there is some sort of system of looking ahead in one pocket, please share. I would like to know it!

And if you only have one live ball, and it is in your best interest to pocket it now, you will refuse to shoot it because you can't develop more balls on that shot? Please share more.
Click to expand...

He's referring to running balls not playing safe. when he is running he tries to stay three balls ahead. It's a good standard.

In one pocket you typically play safe until you have a potential run, then if you have more than one ball, which can be somewhat infrequent but does happen, you try to stay three ahead... I've run 8 and out in one pocket more than once...

Sometimes, as you know if you play one pocket, you pass up on an obvious ball if its just trap. He was typing fast and didn't finish the 'one ball' thought...

For me in general, I play three balls ahead in all games --- when I'm on a run. planning for trouble balls and key balls is a part of the process but I stick pretty close to three balls ahead in almost all conditions.
 
Depends on the game. In 14.1 I rarely plan an entire rack. First off, I'm not that good (:embarrassed2:) but secondly I'm usually going to have to move some balls so the layout and therefore the plan is likely to change.

In 8 Ball I look at the table and try to see a pattern for a run out. If I think it is doable then of course I plan the entire rack.

In 9/10 Ball sort of the same thing. If the rack has no problems I'm looking at running the entire rack.

I do focus on "3 balls ahead" but that is only how I implement what I've envisioned for the entire rack. Sort of a "put one foot in front of the other" kind of thing while having the bigger picture in mind.
 
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Plan before you shoot

I run the rack in my mind before every shot.

I draw a line from every object ball to the pocket, this tells me which side whitey should be for the next ball.

14.1 requires that you break up all combinations, so look for them.

One Pocket is different¸ you have to play safe.
I learned from Efren to go For the runnout first then play safe.

Hal Mix told me to not only see where whitey hits the object ball but to see where the object ball falls in the pocket.

This is important as it tells you if your aim is wrong and what your tendencies are on any given day.

You have to learn from your mistakes and if you don't see the where the object ball is hit and whch side of the pocket it falls, then you can't fix it, Barney
 
In 9/10 ball I will read the table before starting the run. Observe all of the balls and notice any problem areas. Then I when I start my run I am usually looking 3 balls ahead, sometimes 4 though if I have determined that a certain shot will need to be very precise.
 
EagleMan said:
I don't think so. I think he means the he thinks 3 balls ahead...continuously...not that he just plans to make 3 balls and that's it.

In that context...I think as many balls ahead as possible...given the layout.

Top speed players can generally see the route to entire racks of 9 ball. Obviously, they don't always STAY on that route...but they can SEE it unless the layout is just too complicated...i.e. maybe I can get back downtable to the 3 ball in spite of the blockers and maybe not.

Tougher in 8 ball because of all the blockers. But get Jimmy Reid's dvd on 8 ball and you will see a LOT more routes than you used to!!!!


But I think that ALL top speed players and most A players think at least 3 balls ahead...continuously i.e. 1-2-3 then 2-3 4 etc.

Fair question.

My answer.

(-:

EagleMan
Click to expand...

Thank you, Eagleman. I appreciate your explaining it to Chris. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
ChrisBanks said:
I've never heard of playing 3 balls ahead in one pocket. If there is some sort of system of looking ahead in one pocket, please share. I would like to know it!

And if you only have one live ball, and it is in your best interest to pocket it now, you will refuse to shoot it because you can't develop more balls on that shot? Please share more.
Click to expand...

Hey Chris,
How often do you give up 13/2 to a good one pocket player? You have to have a good system to win! I watched a lot of one pocket tonight, $50.00 a game. One player giving the other player 10/7. When I left it was even in games for each player. I had to leave to come and check out this thread. And I have to go to work in the morning. now, now Chris you don't want me to give up all of my secrets do you.
I watched Scott Frost give up 17/4 for big bucks. And he won.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
You really have to see the end of the rack no matter which game you play.
Every shot you take should be in the context of winning....
...it's the only way to know what to do.

regards
double hemlock
 
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