Rules of thumb.

[CaptainJR]

You know, little sayings or guides.

One that pops to mind is - If the safe is equally as difficult as the shot, take the shot.

Another - Never pass your pocket. Which I'm not so sure about being true. If I pay any attention to this one at all I have to add 'Never pass your pocket without a good reason'.

What are some others?

 

[Hal]

Another - Never pass your pocket. Which I'm not so sure about being true. If I pay any attention to this one at all I have to add 'Never pass your pocket without a good reason'.

Please elaborate

 

[bud green]

One Pocket: never shoot a shot that you can lose with, but not win with.

Grady says this on a lot of Accu-Stat tapes. He means if you're going to take a difficult shot that could give your opponent a chance to win if you miss, make sure you will be rewarded with a chance to win if you make it.

 

[CaptainJR]

Please elaborate

Usually referring to when you have a cut shot into the side pocket. I you see someone take the longer shot into the corner. The argument being that even thought the cut in the side may look more difficult, because of the distance involved there is probably more margin for error in the shot to the side making the shot to the side easier than the corner shot.

As I mentioned, I'm not convinced this is a good one. I think this is maybe more of a beginner rule of thumb where the only concern is making the ball. There are so many things that can effect this. Corner pockets the size of basket ball nets, where your cue ball needs to go, etc.

 

[Perk]

The argument being that even thought the cut in the side may look more difficult, because of the distance involved there is probably more margin for error in the shot to the side making the shot to the side easier than the corner shot.

Seems like I have read somewhere that to never shoot the shot in the side if you can shoot it in the corner. If I am thinking of the similiar angle you are talking about. Pocket size is greater in the corner rather than the side?

My father's biggest thing he told me playing 8ball: Shoot the harder shots first! Leave the easy ones for later.

 

[Fred Agnir]

My father's biggest thing he told me playing 8ball: Shoot the harder shots first! Leave the easy ones for later.

Personally, I think you're father is wrong on this. I think you need to shoot all the easy shots, and make the harder shots easier.

Fred

 

[Perk]

When your starting out, harder shots are available...too many times you take the easy ones, and then you wont have any shot on the hard balls...that was his premise as a beginner.

Obviously now I can think about breaking balls out and playing position. It was a general rule, but with all rules, there are exceptions.

 

[Fred Agnir]

You know, little sayings or guides.

I got so many, my teammates are absolutely sick of me. These are all guidelines and not necessarily hardened. And many of these are specific to 8-ball bar pool league play.

"Don't draw with ball-in-hand."

-Your body doesn't remember draw speed as well as follow speed.



"The hanging ball is the toughest to use for position. The balls in the center are the toughest to play position for."

- Get rid of both sooner rather than later. Many a runout is stymied by the hanging ball, or the ball in the center of the table.



"Chalk has little to do with it."

- this is usually a response to the "chalk is cheap" crap when someone miscues. You can go for several shots with no chalk. A poor stroke is what causes miscues.


"Walk the table."

- too often my players assume they can see the angle from one side of the table, when they really need to walk to the other side to see the position.

"Find the center of the table"

- taken fron Kinnister, if a cueball comes off the side cushion, and passes through the exact center of the table, it cannot scratch in the opposite corner. Choose a path when possible to go through the center of the table.


"The best defense is a strong offense"

- in bar pool, runouts define the player. The last man standing at any bar tournament is the one who gets out the most.

"If your banks are always coming up short, aim long."

- Seems like a no brainer, but that's what I always have to tell people.


"Don't feed the dog"

- This is a Fred-ism that is tough to define. Many people play safeties with the idea that they're forcing the opponent into making a tough shot. And on a bar table especially, the shots aren't as tough. So, giving them a piece of a shot, or a long kick is, IMO feeding the dog. They're forced to take the shot, and are given no other option. Bottom line, give a little more thought to the safety before you feed the dog.


I think there's more, but I'm tired.

Fred

 

[Colin Colenso]

Personally, I think you're father is wrong on this. I think you need to shoot all the easy shots, and make the harder shots easier.

Fred

I assume his father meant, don't pot all the easy balls and leave the hard ones at the end.

You should avoid playing hard shots if you have a choice.

 

[The Hamster]

I got so many, my teammates are absolutely sick of me. These are all guidelines and not necessarily hardened. And many of these are specific to 8-ball bar pool league play.

Hey, good post, Fred. I can recall 'feeding the dog' while playing against you at the Charlotte Room in Toronto (the first time I ever heard that expression).

 

[T411]

Usually referring to when you have a cut shot into the side pocket. I you see someone take the longer shot into the corner. The argument being that even thought the cut in the side may look more difficult, because of the distance involved there is probably more margin for error in the shot to the side making the shot to the side easier than the corner shot.

As I mentioned, I'm not convinced this is a good one. I think this is maybe more of a beginner rule of thumb where the only concern is making the ball. There are so many things that can effect this. Corner pockets the size of basket ball nets, where your cue ball needs to go, etc.

I personally do not think that this is a beginning rule of thumb but definitely more of a rule of thumb when playing on a bar table as apposed to a big table (IMO). I agree that there are many things that can affect this.

 

[CaptainJR]

Seems like I have read somewhere that to never shoot the shot in the side if you can shoot it in the corner. If I am thinking of the similiar angle you are talking about. Pocket size is greater in the corner rather than the side?

My father's biggest thing he told me playing 8ball: Shoot the harder shots first! Leave the easy ones for later.

An example of the shot I'm talking about is here.

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)END

I'm sure that there are angles that this wouldn't apply to.

 

[mjantti]

I think rules of thumb are rules for the dumb. In every situation you need to improvise and I don't see a rule which applies all the time. Fred's list is quite impressive though

 

[Hooked]

I think rules of thumb are rules for the dumb. In every situation you need to improvise and I don't see a rule which applies all the time.

I don't believe that one bit, mjantt1.

How about this:

3 rail kick - corner to diamond 2 goes to diamond 3 on the third rail and the opposite cornor for the forth.

This is a rule of thumb that needs to be tested on each table to determine if the table plays long or short.

mjantti, I am assuming you know that shot and have to ask you if you don't consider that set of lines a rule of thumb? I bet you do... So, does that make you dumb

If you are unclear as to the meaning, have a look at this.

 

[BRKNRUN]

An example of the shot I'm talking about is here.

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)END

I'm sure that there are angles that this wouldn't apply to.

I think that a player should be proficient in pocketing the balls in both pockets... The determining factor of which pocket I am going to choose on that shot is the next ball that I have to play shape for...

This is not a saying but more of an "image" rule of thumb for attempting to pocket a ball in the side pocket.... If the OB is anywhere inside the diamond it's a green light shot to the side pocket....out side the diamond it's a yellow light or red light shot... (stolen from the Nick Boleteri School of Tennis Red / Yellow / Green light shots.....

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%YZ3D3%ZC4O5%[Z2Z7%\C5P3%]\6D4%^r9O6
)END

The other "rule of thumb" that I keep in mind is ...

"The horizontal axis of the CB is equal to the angle of your cue"

 

[JLW]

One I used to hear a lot from the old timers was "Never bank a straight in", meaning never bank a shot that you have a reasonable chance of cutting in. Not sure if I agree with that totally, but I think the point is that banks are usually lower percentage shots.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

Two of my very favorites;

Always do your thinking standing UP. Never get down until you know what you want to do.

and

Never Chalk before a mis-cue.

 

[mikepage]

[...]
"The hanging ball is the toughest to use for position. The balls in the center are the toughest to play position for."

- Get rid of both sooner rather than later. Many a runout is stymied by the hanging ball, or the ball in the center of the table.

An important corrolary is

"Play position close to hanging balls."

They are, as you say, hard to play position off of. But they are much easier to play position of off when the cueball is within a couple diamonds. Many people leave themselves long shots on hanging balls with the correct but incomplete reasoning that they can make them from anywhere.

"Chalk has little to do with it."

- this is usually a response to the "chalk is cheap" crap when someone miscues. You can go for several shots with no chalk. A poor stroke is what causes miscues.

I disagree with this one. Sure, a poor stroke causes miscues, but there are many many fine strokes that lead to miscues because the player hasn't chalked properly.

"Chalk is cheap ;-)"

mike page
fargo

 

[LastTwo]

Seems like I have read somewhere that to never shoot the shot in the side if you can shoot it in the corner. If I am thinking of the similiar angle you are talking about. Pocket size is greater in the corner rather than the side?

My father's biggest thing he told me playing 8ball: Shoot the harder shots first! Leave the easy ones for later.

Neither of these are good to live by. You shoot for whichever pocket gives you position on the next shot, so long as you don't take a low percentage shot over an easier one. In 8-ball there is alot of strategy involved in shot selection, but shooting the tough shots first well...thats horrible advice. If there is a possible run out, shoot the shots to keep that runout intact. Going for tough shots when you have easy ones, if you miss you sell out the game...

 

[sjm]

Rule of thumb for bathroom breaks: "It's usually best to answer nature's call on the first ring."