Just a APA 4 here in recent months my shot accuracy has gone up some but i still have trouble recognizing which best way to approach the table. Ive recognized just getting better at making shots still leaves me short @ the game. I simply just dont know much about shot selection. Even when given ball in hand team captain or the senior players almost always call a time out because they recognize my pattern selection is almost non-existent. Thanks...
Is there a book or DVD on recognizing patterns?
- Thread starter offaxis
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This and Capelle's Play your best 8 ball are pretty much the only books you need to learn how to play patterns in 8 ball.
Nick and Buddy did an 8 ball and 9 ball DVD available on my site linked below. They cover shot selection, saftey play, and some neat specialty shots that you wouldn't think of, and are hard to discribe in written word.
I think they did a great job, but I'm bias.
Capelle's book is very good also. I haven't seen the 8 ball bible but I have heard it is good also.
Mark
I think they did a great job, but I'm bias.
Capelle's book is very good also. I haven't seen the 8 ball bible but I have heard it is good also.
Mark
pay for lessons with an experienced instructor
you have a shot
there a x number of ways to play it
as you discuss the options with a more experienced player/instructor\
you will
1) get a feel for certain patterns and and shot selections
2) AND WHY certain choices are better than others
jmho
you have a shot
there a x number of ways to play it
as you discuss the options with a more experienced player/instructor\
you will
1) get a feel for certain patterns and and shot selections
2) AND WHY certain choices are better than others
jmho
I don't follow patterns or layouts people tell me why didn't you go this way and start with that ball? I say I don't think it matters cause I still ended up running out the rack.
Now sometimes I'll go a certain way so I can break clusters but still I don't really study patterns I just take the shot to get on my next shot I try to keep it real simple.
Now sometimes I'll go a certain way so I can break clusters but still I don't really study patterns I just take the shot to get on my next shot I try to keep it real simple.
Good read
The book is called: How would you play this, by George Fels. This is one of the best books on patterns, as it keeps it simple and to the point.
If you dont follow patterns, then you will have fewer run outs and the run outs that you do get will be tuffer.
Get as many Accu-stats videos as you can, used vcr-tapes are cheap and listen closely to the commentators
The book is called: How would you play this, by George Fels. This is one of the best books on patterns, as it keeps it simple and to the point.
If you dont follow patterns, then you will have fewer run outs and the run outs that you do get will be tuffer.
Get as many Accu-stats videos as you can, used vcr-tapes are cheap and listen closely to the commentators
To me the best way to recognize patterns is to practice and put one ball on the table. Shoot that ball in every pocket from every angle. Do so at all speeds. You will see the table better cause you will know where your cue ball will go from every shot. Then you see will patterns. Every game is different. Like said before keep it simple.
Basically playing 8ball you will want to build your pattern to utilize as many stop shots as possible.... You may have to move whitey some getting into or finishing the pattern but the balls that you can move between shooting stop shots should be shot that way in the pattern unless you have a small window needed for a trouble ball or you have a tear out to deal with.....
The other tip for 8ball patterns is if in doubt put whitey in the center of the table as much as possible.. Blockers sometimes make you abandon this tip but it's almost as good as the stop shots if your paths are open.....
The other tip for 8ball patterns is if in doubt put whitey in the center of the table as much as possible.. Blockers sometimes make you abandon this tip but it's almost as good as the stop shots if your paths are open.....
I'll second the recommendations above: get one of the classic instruction books on the game, buy a DVD and watch it over and over (and try the shots yourself), find an instructor/mentor, and practice, practice, practice. Shoot positional drills. Set reasonable goals for improvement.
Any of several books would be helpful. To find a good used copy of a book, check out addall.com (a site I'm ever thankful to Bob Jewett for mentioning in some other post). Although I post Amazon.com links below, if a book interests you then check addall.com to see if you can find the book at a cheaper price or better condition.
http://www.addall.com/
If you like to read, there's no shortage of books to buy, and if you search AzB you'll find a lot of recommendations. You can learn quite a bit from just one book. You could pick just one book that suits your learning style and work with the book for a long time.
The 8-Ball Bible by Robin Givens, already mentioned above, is a great book. It includes a number of examples of table layouts with runout patterns. The book includes information about diamond systems and kicks. This book is a good candidate for all-in-one instruction.
Also check out Byrne's New Standard Book or Pool and Billiards. It includes a series of 10 drills that help immensely. The book Byrne's Complete Book of Pool Shots: 350 Moves Every Player Should Know cover a variety of situations (some rare, but good to know) that can help you out of a bind.
http://www.amazon.com/Byrnes-Standard-Book-Pool-Billiards/dp/0156005549
http://www.amazon.com/Byrnes-Complete-Book-Pool-Shots/dp/0156027216/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c
Another classic is The 99 Critical Shots in Pool by Ray Martin. For compactness it's hard to beat. It's a slim book, but could keep you busy for several weeks.
http://www.amazon.com/99-Critical-Shots-Pool-Everything/dp/0812922417
Phil Capelle's Play Your Best ___ books walk the reader through a variety of scenarios. The Capelle books that I have are packed with diagrams, and his explanations and copious examples help train you to think through patterns again and again.
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Your-Best-Straight-Pool/dp/0964920425
AzB's own David "Blackjack" Sapolis has a book that discusses patterns in 9-ball. His approach in discussing each and every shot in a layout is easy to follow. Reading the book feels very much like listening to him talk. Feeling comfortable with a style of instruction can be a big help.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/lessons-in-9-ball/2041046
Blackjack also has a set of videos available on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BlackjackDSapolis/featured
You might start with the Blackjack's video "Toss-Up End Patterns":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmaqaHy1h2U&feature=BFa&list=UU93yNi2Y9D_TOO_tatwlM7A&lf=plcp
Dr. Dave has instructional material that could keep you busy for quite a while: books, articles, and DVDs. His instructions are simple and straightforward. Your pattern play and precision will improve quickly by studying the various tricks and rule-of-thumb calculations Dr. Dave explains, such how the cue ball's angle of approach to an end rail determines where the cue pall passes relative to the center of the table.
http://dr-dave-billiards.com/
Dr. Dave offers gobs of free material. Free is a good price.
http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/index.html
Bob Jewett's articles for Billiards Digest and other publications include lots of handy tricks, drills, and advice. If you search around AzB for technical explanations of various phenomena, you'll find that Bob is often the one to provide a clear, succinct, and accurate answer.
http://www.onthebreaknews.com/JewettIndex.htm
Joe Tucker has excellent instructional material at good prices. The Guaranteed Improvement DVD + practice book is a great combo. The practice book can lay flat on a rail or nearby table as you work your way through drills and track your improvement. Some drills require specific setups that you must work through--a great way to learn patterns. Watching Joe's practice DVD is engrossing: you can see how much effort and thought he puts into each segment.
http://www.joetucker.net/
Pleasures of Small Motions by Bob Fancher is the best little book about the mental game, and also provides great advice about effective practice. Joe Tucker also has good advice on how to practice.
George Fels, another AzBer and Billiards Digest columnist, is another fine source for information about patterns. His advice that "you're probably hitting the ball too hard" should seep into every pour of your being. A lot of players grew up with his books and swear by them.
If you have a question about a specific position, you could post a photo or (better yet) post a diagram with the layout. Lots of AzBers would be glad to chime in with advice if you post a specific layout. There can be many subtleties even for a "simple" layout.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=64559
In some cases you have several choices in moving from one ball to another. If you're on an unfamiliar table, or (maybe) shooting with an unfamiliar cue, what are you most comfortable executing? One exercise I like to try--though not too often--is switching cues while working through a drill. If I tend to make a shot with inside English only when using my own cue, for example, I wonder whether it's such a great idea to use inside on that shot.
To summarize I'd recommend the following:
1. Buy a good used copy of one of the all-in-one instructional books by Givens, Byrne, Fels, or Capelle.
2. Buy Joe Tucker's Guaranteed Improvement.
3. Get lessons. Do whatever the instructor tells you.
4. Consume all the free info you can, including videos and articles by Dr. Dave, Bob Jewett, Blackjack, and others.
5. Play some straight pool, one pocket, banks, cowboy, and other games. These games help emphasize skills that are handy in more common games such as 8-ball and 9-ball.
Any of several books would be helpful. To find a good used copy of a book, check out addall.com (a site I'm ever thankful to Bob Jewett for mentioning in some other post). Although I post Amazon.com links below, if a book interests you then check addall.com to see if you can find the book at a cheaper price or better condition.
http://www.addall.com/
If you like to read, there's no shortage of books to buy, and if you search AzB you'll find a lot of recommendations. You can learn quite a bit from just one book. You could pick just one book that suits your learning style and work with the book for a long time.
The 8-Ball Bible by Robin Givens, already mentioned above, is a great book. It includes a number of examples of table layouts with runout patterns. The book includes information about diamond systems and kicks. This book is a good candidate for all-in-one instruction.
Also check out Byrne's New Standard Book or Pool and Billiards. It includes a series of 10 drills that help immensely. The book Byrne's Complete Book of Pool Shots: 350 Moves Every Player Should Know cover a variety of situations (some rare, but good to know) that can help you out of a bind.
http://www.amazon.com/Byrnes-Standard-Book-Pool-Billiards/dp/0156005549
http://www.amazon.com/Byrnes-Complete-Book-Pool-Shots/dp/0156027216/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c
Another classic is The 99 Critical Shots in Pool by Ray Martin. For compactness it's hard to beat. It's a slim book, but could keep you busy for several weeks.
http://www.amazon.com/99-Critical-Shots-Pool-Everything/dp/0812922417
Phil Capelle's Play Your Best ___ books walk the reader through a variety of scenarios. The Capelle books that I have are packed with diagrams, and his explanations and copious examples help train you to think through patterns again and again.
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Your-Best-Straight-Pool/dp/0964920425
AzB's own David "Blackjack" Sapolis has a book that discusses patterns in 9-ball. His approach in discussing each and every shot in a layout is easy to follow. Reading the book feels very much like listening to him talk. Feeling comfortable with a style of instruction can be a big help.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/lessons-in-9-ball/2041046
Blackjack also has a set of videos available on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BlackjackDSapolis/featured
You might start with the Blackjack's video "Toss-Up End Patterns":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmaqaHy1h2U&feature=BFa&list=UU93yNi2Y9D_TOO_tatwlM7A&lf=plcp
Dr. Dave has instructional material that could keep you busy for quite a while: books, articles, and DVDs. His instructions are simple and straightforward. Your pattern play and precision will improve quickly by studying the various tricks and rule-of-thumb calculations Dr. Dave explains, such how the cue ball's angle of approach to an end rail determines where the cue pall passes relative to the center of the table.
http://dr-dave-billiards.com/
Dr. Dave offers gobs of free material. Free is a good price.
http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/index.html
Bob Jewett's articles for Billiards Digest and other publications include lots of handy tricks, drills, and advice. If you search around AzB for technical explanations of various phenomena, you'll find that Bob is often the one to provide a clear, succinct, and accurate answer.
http://www.onthebreaknews.com/JewettIndex.htm
Joe Tucker has excellent instructional material at good prices. The Guaranteed Improvement DVD + practice book is a great combo. The practice book can lay flat on a rail or nearby table as you work your way through drills and track your improvement. Some drills require specific setups that you must work through--a great way to learn patterns. Watching Joe's practice DVD is engrossing: you can see how much effort and thought he puts into each segment.
http://www.joetucker.net/
Pleasures of Small Motions by Bob Fancher is the best little book about the mental game, and also provides great advice about effective practice. Joe Tucker also has good advice on how to practice.
George Fels, another AzBer and Billiards Digest columnist, is another fine source for information about patterns. His advice that "you're probably hitting the ball too hard" should seep into every pour of your being. A lot of players grew up with his books and swear by them.
If you have a question about a specific position, you could post a photo or (better yet) post a diagram with the layout. Lots of AzBers would be glad to chime in with advice if you post a specific layout. There can be many subtleties even for a "simple" layout.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=64559
In some cases you have several choices in moving from one ball to another. If you're on an unfamiliar table, or (maybe) shooting with an unfamiliar cue, what are you most comfortable executing? One exercise I like to try--though not too often--is switching cues while working through a drill. If I tend to make a shot with inside English only when using my own cue, for example, I wonder whether it's such a great idea to use inside on that shot.
To summarize I'd recommend the following:
1. Buy a good used copy of one of the all-in-one instructional books by Givens, Byrne, Fels, or Capelle.
2. Buy Joe Tucker's Guaranteed Improvement.
3. Get lessons. Do whatever the instructor tells you.
4. Consume all the free info you can, including videos and articles by Dr. Dave, Bob Jewett, Blackjack, and others.
5. Play some straight pool, one pocket, banks, cowboy, and other games. These games help emphasize skills that are handy in more common games such as 8-ball and 9-ball.
Great suggestions. Just as an aside, I've been taking some of my books like the 99 critical shots a few others to Staples to have them GBC or ring bound. Costs around 5-6 bucks. Having the books open flat on your table makes things alot easier when setting up shots.