Seeing the patterns, 9- and 10-ball

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bdorman

Dead money
Silver Member
As a newbie, I'm trying to learn more about "playing the patterns" in 9-ball and 10-ball. I hear commentators refer to it all the time and I think I know what it means in general, but I'd like to learn more specifics.

Any thoughts or references you can offer are much appreciated.
 
To me, pattern play in rotation games (shoot the balls in order) like 9 and 10 ball is not really about the decision making, but achieving optimal position to get from one ball to the next without too much effort. When commentators refer to being "in line" and shooting the right patterns, this is what they mean.

A good drill that I do to warm up is to throw three balls onto the table (1, 2, 3) and shoot them in order. You should try to achieve optimal position from each shot to the next. With three balls, you're thinking two shots ahead.

Once you can do three balls consistently, try four balls.

You'll hear commentators refer to being on the "right side" of balls often which means that the angle off of the object ball goes toward the next ball. This is why being straight in isn't always a good thing.
 
bdorman said:
As a newbie, I'm trying to learn more about "playing the patterns" in 9-ball and 10-ball. I hear commentators refer to it all the time and I think I know what it means in general, but I'd like to learn more specifics.

Any thoughts or references you can offer are much appreciated.
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My advice, for a newbie is to focus on where OB and CB go 1st know exactly how to make OB not just to pocket the ball but which part of the pocket, big difference when trying to play position. Another thing is you have to master pocketing all 4000 shots possibilities; once graduated you are ready to move to position play. It will be very frustrating to play position when you do not make balls frequently and a good cause to quit pool.

Do not worry about patterns for now that will come by itself later, every break is different, you need to concentrate on angles for next shot, and try to always drive CB after contact of ob toward next ob, in line /parallel if possible, try to avoid position that depends on speed a loan, such as when you go cross the line for position.
In general position play requires thinking for new or pro player, so take your time and think 3 balls ahead ignore your opponent if he rushes you.
 
weakfingers said:
You'll hear commentators refer to being on the "right side" of balls often which means that the angle off of the object ball goes toward the next ball.
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The right side isn't always the side that sends you toward the next ball; it's the side that sends you in a direction that makes it easier to get the position you need. Sometimes that's away from the ball.

OP, the "3 balls ahead" method is a good way to train yourself how to think about patterns. If all the balls are on the table, before you shoot the 1, look at the 3. Looking at roughly where you need to be for the 3, ask yourself which side is the right side of the 2 and about how much angle you need to help you get there. Now that you've determined that, you know how to play position on the 2, and you're ready to shoot the 1 and play that position. Once you've made the 1, now you need to look at the 4 in order to know how to shoot the 2 and play position on the 3. Rinse and repeat.

Of course, when you're a beginner and you ask yourself which side is the right side of the ball and about how much angle you need, you'll be wrong a lot of the time. You'll decide to play shots in ways that better players know just don't work as well. This part comes with experience. You'll learn from your mistakes and eventually you'll be very good at sizing up different potential positional routes and figuring out which angle leads to the easiest positional shot. Watching pool helps with this as well as playing.

-Andrew
 
It really all depends on your level of play. How much of a beginner are you? Can you make balls consistently and is your stroke relatively straight?
 
Build up your skills

Your skills in table analysis (including pattern calculations) is going to be dependent on your ability to move the CB with intention.

Recognize what you can do, not what you fantasize. Play within your limitations.

If you don't have the skill to get to the next ball, then play a safety. The same if you get out of line.

As for playing 3 balls at random on the table, start with placing the 3 balls within the 1/4 table (foot string to rail) or 1 D on each side of the side pocket.
When you get that done, work with 1/2 table and then a ball at each end and one in the middle (full table).

When that gets easy, work with four balls.

The key of these sequences is to plan which is the next ball AND which pocket that ball will go into. If you get out of line, start over.
 
Thanks for the ideas guys. I know I need to work a lot with simple 3-ball runouts, then graduate to 4-ball and so on. It's just so tempting to rack up 10 and play them all.

I don't have much trouble with cut shots. Actually I'm worse on the "almost straight in" shots for some reason. From watching Dr Dave and others I've got a good idea of where the CB is going and how to get it where I want it (except for speed; that goofs me up every time!). I don't use much english unless the shot has a big enough margin of error to accommodate my aimless deflection; never use it on shots over 4 feet.

Once this vertigo is gone I'll get back to the table and work on 3-ball runouts.
 
Watch Tor's free video on Advanced Pool Secrets at Zero X billiards. There's quite a bit of coverage on pattern play for 8 and 9 ball. He spends a lot of time talking about getting on the right side of the line.
 
Quote "Check out the pro book dvd series" Unquote.... I agree get the books too. Also get a Ray Martin's Critical Shots. Take these Cue Ball Paths & make it 3 or 4 paths instead of 1 long path.

When someone says they are playing the patterns, I believe they are saying "the player knows the path & is going repeat it, to obtain shape or position on the next ball.

Tis better to come into the shot line of the next ball, rather than to cross it.
 
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Something that has helped me alot is doing position drills. Once you feel confident with position off your shot that will help you know your limitations as far as how many balls you can look ahead to to pattern your run.
 
bdorman said:
Thanks for the ideas guys. I know I need to work a lot with simple 3-ball runouts, then graduate to 4-ball and so on. It's just so tempting to rack up 10 and play them all.

I don't have much trouble with cut shots. Actually I'm worse on the "almost straight in" shots for some reason. From watching Dr Dave and others I've got a good idea of where the CB is going and how to get it where I want it (except for speed; that goofs me up every time!). I don't use much english unless the shot has a big enough margin of error to accommodate my aimless deflection; never use it on shots over 4 feet.

Once this vertigo is gone I'll get back to the table and work on 3-ball runouts.
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If you have trouble with straight or near straight shots, is because you are not following through and CB is at stun or near stun mode when it hit OB 99% of times, for large angle cut english has limited throw that is why you make the big angles cuts.
 
bdorman said:
As a newbie, I'm trying to learn more about "playing the patterns" in 9-ball and 10-ball. I hear commentators refer to it all the time and I think I know what it means in general, but I'd like to learn more specifics.

Any thoughts or references you can offer are much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Video demonstrations and instructional resources for many of the important principles can be found here:

And more can be found here:

Enjoy,
Dave
 
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