strategy tactics

[darth2001]

Im looking to further my game and I need some assistance on how to improve my strategy. I don't have any problems with my PSR (Pre Shot Routine) so I have pretty solid mechanics.

Im getting to the point to where I can almost run a rack but always run into problems with my Key Ball to runout the rack. I run the first 6 balls like a machine gun at the table but then when I run into the last two I fall short somewhere in my game either it be 8 or 9 ball.

Im to the point in my game where I can run them out in my head before even approaching the table. Or Im being a constant student and learning from other players that want to improve there game over all as well. So I mean the mental game isn't where my problem is.

I think possibly I may led up or start to run out of options when I get down to the last couple on the table or I just simply led up because I feel the pressure getting to me I don't know what it is and Im just looking for some tips that may help me in my game. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. darth2001

 

[pooltchr]

You said you don't think your mental game is the problem, and then in your last paragraph, you suggest that it is indeed your mental game that is the problem.

If you can see the run-out from the beginning, you know strategy. You are failing to execute your strategy. That suggests either a problem with mechanics, or a problem with your mental game. You said you think your mechanics are fine. (are you absolutely sure?)

One of the most difficult things to do is an honest self-evaluation. There seem to be only a few possibilities here

Maybe you aren't at the level of a run out player yet. Just because we can run out sometimes, doesn't make us a consistent run-out player.
Maybe you aren't actually seeing a realistic pattern from the beginning. Could you be planning more than you are capable of executing?
Or, maybe, as you suggested, you are approaching the shots later in your game differently from how you start your game.

Until you can identify the specific problem, it's going to be hard to suggest a course of action to address it.

Steve

 

[darth2001]

Yeah I kind of contradicted myself didn't I. I would say im at the level of a run out player but in need of some fine tunning. Then I would say in my PSR the most problem Im having is cross over in my stroke at times because I croud the table at times.

why would you say im not at the level of a run out player? Possibly my mental game is a battlefield and needs some work over all. I would also say a lot of this is whats making my game fail in consistency.

I seem to fail at executing the approach later on and end where I didn't want to be in the first place. It could be a CB control thing. It could be many aspects of my game possibly table management, health, physically etc... So your self evaluation is a good thing to start with.

then where do I go from there? pin point all of my weak spots and start working on them or go right into fundamentals. Theres so much to learn so little time to do it in. darth2001

 

[pooltchr]

I didn't say you weren't at that level, just raising the possibility. Many pool players fall into the mistake of evaluating their game based more on their best performance, rather than their average performance. As I said, self evaluation is not easy.

Without seeing you play, I can't make a judgement on your fundamentals. But I do know that IF there is a problem in mechanics, it will show up in your game, especially when you are under the pressure of competition. Whenever I am struggling, I ALWAYS look at my fundamentals first. If they aren't right, nothing else can be right.

Next, I would look at your pre shot routine....is it consistent on EVERY shot? Sometimes, we take shortcuts on the shots we consider to be the easy ones. And while we might make the shot, we might come up short on position. Ever notice that once you get out of shape, it seems to just get worse and worse on every shot?

Once you have eliminated (or corrected) any problems with fundamentals or routines, then we start to look at your thought process. There are so many factors that go into the mental game, including, attitude, motivation, your goals, when you are making your decisions. Again, to have a consistent game, you have to be consistent in everything you do at the table.

It might be worth your while to find a good qualified instructor to work with you. They might be able to help you pinpoint the problem in a matter of hours, and help you develop a plan to get things under control.

If you don't know one, send me a pm with your location, and I will see if I can recommend someone for you.

Good Luck

Steve

 

[randyg]

Something is wrong. Have you been evaluated by a Certified Instructor? You mention a pre-shot routine, how about 3 pre-shot routines.

What City do you live in?

We can help....SPF=randyg

 

[PaulieB]

A lot of times I see the entire run out in my head, then get a little bit out of line on the 3rd shot, which puts me a little bit MORE out of line for my 4th shot, then by the time I am on my last ball or 2 my original strategy is out the window.

For me, I've started drills that practice pin point position instead of using the more "general section of the table" position you can usually get away with in 9 ball.

 

[darth2001]

Well it looks like I got a lot of work ahead of me. I live in northwestern wisconsin closer to the twin citys. I have never been evaluated by a certified instructor. I've played in last pocket bar league and a straight BCA league up in Duluth mn for a while and on occasion ill play in tournies around the area but am looking to expand and bump up my game.

I've learned a lot of my mechanics and fundamentals through, books I've borrowed from the library too Youtube.com or just watching the pros on ESPN. I've also watched a couple of paul byrnes DVDs on power workouts and fundamentals.

The closest pool hall is miles away and I don't happen to have one in my basement so practice is kind of scarse right now. Typically Ill shoot about 3hrs every monday with some friends but other then that thats about it for right now.

 

[JoeW]

You probably know there is a funnel for the position behind your next shot. It is best to play position to enter the largest part of the funnel. It is “best” because you have the largest margin of error for position when you play to have the cue ball come into rather than across the funnel.

While I had learned to use this approach for positional play I had not used it for the key ball in an 8-Ball game. Then it occurred to me that I should start my run out strategy by not only selecting the key ball but to have a key ball that allowed me to enter the top of the funnel.

When I started to plan my strategy to use the funnel from key ball to 8-Ball my run out percentage went up.

You can not always get the position you want but when I have five or six balls that precede the key ball I can often plan as needed. Using this strategy the key ball may not be as obvious as it may initially appear to be.

 

[darth2001]

Yeah I've heard of the funnel system but have had a hard time grasping it, because they talk about being on the good side of the of the OB and then the bad side of the OB which gives you different options on your leaves. I also try to play the rail approach for leaves into my funnel positionsing. I understand what your talking about.

I don't know how to explain I can run with the best of them but I fail in being consisten maybe I really do need to take a step back and look at my fundamentals and go from there maybe it is in my mechanics or my strategy. All I have to say is "give it time". I seriously think Im good enough to go pro but I need to do the fine tunning first before I can get anywhere with any of that. I try to analyze my game and the first thing I work on is my PSR right away and then go from there. Self evaluation I do alot of and try to work my way through my head and try to just stay in rythm.

 

[randyg]

Well it looks like I got a lot of work ahead of me. I live in northwestern wisconsin closer to the twin citys. I have never been evaluated by a certified instructor. I've played in last pocket bar league and a straight BCA league up in Duluth mn for a while and on occasion ill play in tournies around the area but am looking to expand and bump up my game.

I've learned a lot of my mechanics and fundamentals through, books I've borrowed from the library too Youtube.com or just watching the pros on ESPN. I've also watched a couple of paul byrnes DVDs on power workouts and fundamentals.

The closest pool hall is miles away and I don't happen to have one in my basement so practice is kind of scarse right now. Typically Ill shoot about 3hrs every monday with some friends but other then that thats about it for right now.

There is a great BCA (SPF) Instructor in Duluth. His name is Mark Lachecki. Get in contact with him....SPF=randyg

 

[Mr. Wiggles]

Finishing

When you go on a vacation you want to get there don't you. But your playing pool and I promise you sometimes you just don't want to arrive at your destination. Now if your bound and determined to always run out then I just can't wait to play you some. You have to see that the run just ain't going to happen and duck out with some defense. Let your opponent make those rediculous hard break outs. He probably won't get shape if he does break them out, unless your playing some 9 or 10 speed. Did you ever notice the easiest runs come after your opp. tries to run out and doesn't. Talk about a duck shoot. Even 4 speeds get out when you clean the table up for them.

 

[okinawa77]

Im getting to the point to where I can almost run a rack but always run into problems with my Key Ball to runout the rack. I run the first 6 balls like a machine gun at the table but then when I run into the last two I fall short somewhere in my game either it be 8 or 9 ball.

You said, you see your run out pattern. Well, do you assess your run out probability for that pattern?

If you have a run out pattern that you think you can execute successfully more than 75%, then you should execute your "run out" stategy. If the probability is less than 75%, then you need to develop a "game winning" strategy.

In 8 ball, soft shots are more successful than hard shots.
In 9 ball, hard shots are more successul than soft shots.
You don't want to leave the 9 ball....or any ball hanging in the pocket for an easy win for your opponent.
In 8 ball, you want your balls hanging in the pocket...if you miss the shot. Even for the 8 ball, because if your opponent does not have a high percentage run out, then they either have to run out or play safe. Even with a high percentage run out, a lot of players will choke due to the fact that, if they do not run out, if they miss a shot, then the are most likely going to lose...because your 8 ball is a hanger.

When I play 8 ball, even if I have a high percentage run out, I make sure my opponent has 2 problem balls. That way, if I do fail to run out, then my opponent will have to break out, in order to win.....which is a low percentage run out.
If my opponent does not have 2 problem balls, then I will find a way to incorporate a kiss/carom shot to create a cluster for my opponent while still trying to run out.
Usually, when I run out, you can look at the table and see that even had I rattled/hung the 8 ball...then my opponent would have to play an ESPN safety or ESPN-like shot or 2 to run out.

During my first BCAPL session play off, I broke and ran up to the 8 ball. I had to bank the eight, and I ended up hitting the point, but my 8 ball was near the pocket and my CB was down table....not leaving my opponent a good shot/run out. I could have just stop-shot the 8 ball bank shot, but I would have left the CB near the center of the table, allowing my opponent an easy run out. So, I shot a draw shot bank for the 8, in order to get the cue up to the head of the table.
My opponent opted to play a safety.....which was the correct decision, but he did not execute a good enough safety. He left me a kick shot for the 8 ball. Jokingly, I said to him, "you call that a safety? where I come from that ain't no safety". Surely, most players would not go for a kick shot that has a possibility of scratching and losing the game...but I knew that by playing a 2 rail kick shot, I would eliminate the high probability of scratching. I kicked the 8 ball in to give him his only loss for the entire day.

The bottom line is...everything starts and finishes with the cue ball. Improve your CB control and you will win more games.
My goal is to get perfect CB position for each and every shot, but I know that it is unrealistic to expect that. That is why you need to know the shape zones (as someone mentioned the funnel concept), and be able to choose the correct shape zone. Even if your CB control is not perfect....which most times it will not be....you will still be within your shape zone. Choosing the correct shape zone will increase your run out probability.

In my honest opinion, I don't think 3 hours a week is enough. It should take you 30 minutes just to run a quick health check on your fundamentals. And I try to incorporate that every time I go play pool.

If you are serious about improving your game, then I would listen to RandyG's recommendation.
I waited 4 years before getting my first lesson. I was hesitant on spending the money, and my game was already strong.
My lesson was with Scott Lee (RandyG is part of the same association), and although I already knew a lot of the information....he was able to give all that information a structure and process for putting it all together. The drills and self assessments are key to being a solid player. My lesson was worth every penny.