Stripes or Solids

H

HomerJay20

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just wondering what most folks use to make a decision between stripes and solids in 8 ball.

I've gone from:
easiest opening shot TO
most open balls TO
least "difficult" balls TO
least balls without an open pocket.

Now I'm hearing the most important thing is the best key ball to get on the 8. Two questions: 1 - What would you tell a C player like me the most important thing is when deciding? 2 - How do others on the board make the decision? For the first question, I'm hoping someone can help me be more decisive when I step up to an open table rather than being a deer in the headlights. For the second question, I just want to know how A and B players make the decision. Thanks
 
:p


Always look for the problem balls and see it there is a way to break them out.

One set of balls will usually have more problem balls. And if it doesn't matter

I always shoot stripes.


:D
 
I always pay special attention to the suit of any balls made on the break. Less balls to run. But what is most important to me are which suit has balls that I can see a clear pocket for. I am always amazed at the amount of players that favor stripes. High balls or low balls makes no difference to me.
 
Pick the group you can run out. When you're playing strong players, they will likely run out if you run 4 balls and miss.
 
HomerJay20 said:
Just wondering what most folks use to make a decision between stripes and solids in 8 ball.

I've gone from:
easiest opening shot TO
most open balls TO
least "difficult" balls TO
least balls without an open pocket.

Now I'm hearing the most important thing is the best key ball to get on the 8. Two questions: 1 - What would you tell a C player like me the most important thing is when deciding? 2 - How do others on the board make the decision? For the first question, I'm hoping someone can help me be more decisive when I step up to an open table rather than being a deer in the headlights. For the second question, I just want to know how A and B players make the decision. Thanks
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Easiest problems to solve.
 
I choose the option that leaves the biggest margin for error.

Least amount of balls tied up, least amount of balls without pockets, least amount of hard shots.

Pretty much... which option allows me to screw up the most, and still have a chance to get out
 
nineballsafety8 said:
I choose the option that leaves the biggest margin for error.

Least amount of balls tied up, least amount of balls without pockets, least amount of hard shots.

Pretty much... which option allows me to screw up the most, and still have a chance to get out
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Well said.
 
I have seen A players purposely miss the first shot and blocking a pocket or tying up a couple of balls and then allow the other player B to try and run out which would be very difficult. when he can't run out, then the A player has a pretty much clear table now and runs out...just a different strategy....
 
oldplayer said:
I have seen A players purposely miss the first shot and blocking a pocket or tying up a couple of balls and then allow the other player B to try and run out which would be very difficult. when he can't run out, then the A player has a pretty much clear table now and runs out...just a different strategy....
Click to expand...

It's called a safety. A players always play smart. If you think you might not make the ball, play safe. If you can make the ball and there is no way to get shape on your next ball, play safe.
 
- What would you tell a C player like me the most important thing is when deciding?

Have confidence in yourself and your stroke, first off. Know yourself and how you play the game. All of the things you posted need to be looked at before choosing. I use a plus and minus system, similar to counting cards, would be the best way I know how to put it.

Got a blocked pocket for x, minus one. Open shot and easy key ball, plus two...Ect.Ect. You will become very fast at analyzing the table in time. I like to walk around the table looking at every angle. Then just trust your intuition and shoot your best with confidence in every shot.

Every rack may be different, but every shot can be the same from a confident point of view. The more confident you are in yourself, the easier the analazation and runout will become. Just takes time and practice.

Good luck.

Aloha
 
For the shot following the break in 8-ball, you should be looking for the easiest run out or the best opportunity to claim a suit and immediately play safe. Occasionally, you may be forced to attempt a defense without making a ball first, in which case you pretty much need to pin your opponent against a ball with no shot available in the other direction.

To identify the easiest run out I consider tied up balls, balls without an open pocket, how much room for error I have in playing position on balls in tight spaces, the overall pattern, key balls to get position on other balls (especially the 8), early break out opportunities, and which balls are easy to get shape on to recover from a mistake.

Oftentimes, it's very obvious when one suit has a much harder out than the other. If there are balls close to the rail with both pockets blocked or balls on the rail next to the side pockets, it's usually a good idea to avoid those.

If you determine that defense is your best option, it's a nice bonus if you can play defense and solve one of your problems at the same time by nudging a cluster of your balls and hiding behind them. Also, don't be shy about playing defense more than once until you have a good out. Some players feel compelled to make a ball when they get ball in hand, but that's not always the best play.
 
philly said:
I always pay special attention to the suit of any balls made on the break.
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I never ever look at how many, or what suit of balls that have been made on the break. I only look at the table layout and which balls give me the best chance to win the game. If it is easier to run 7 balls than it is 4, I will pick the suit with 7 every time.
 
Worminator said:
I never ever look at how many, or what suit of balls that have been made on the break. I only look at the table layout and which balls give me the best chance to win the game. If it is easier to run 7 balls than it is 4, I will pick the suit with 7 every time.
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In a way I agree with you Worminator. If the layout tells you pocketing more balls is the easier run out you go with it. But I think you'll agree the 4 ball ghost is an easier out than the 7 ball ghost. And by the way, it's 8 balls. The game is called 8 ball.
 
The first thing I look at is the 8, does it have a pocket and what if anything might limit it's options. If there are pockets that are blocking it by one particular suit, then there is a pretty good chance that I will take that suit as that might buy me some leverage should I have to give up the table later. Then I work backwards from the 8, looking for any problem areas and determine how big of a deal they are. You're always first looking for the run out, but you have to factor in the possibility that a run out might not be an option. For any problem areas, see how they rate in terms of difficulty of break out and or if they would provide an easy 2 way to a shot. After that you should pretty much have your choice made for you. Now forget it all, and focus on that first shot. :-)
 
Obviously you're looking for the set that you make a ball and run out with. But there are exceptions in going for that set.
To me the most important thing is to select a ball that is very high in probability for me to pocket, even if the run out is not there. Passing up a ball like this to shoot one that has more difficulty could be a fatal error.

Turning the table over to your opponent after missing your initial shot will leave them with fourteen balls to choose from. I will select a set, then if I'm going to turn the table over to you it will me by my design and with only seven balls for you to choose from.

Sometimes a set is very difficult while the other is very easy I will just play safe on the easy set and don't mind giving up a shot on the difficult set. As a matter of fact I would invite them to take that difficult set.
 
philly said:
In a way I agree with you Worminator. If the layout tells you pocketing more balls is the easier run out you go with it. But I think you'll agree the 4 ball ghost is an easier out than the 7 ball ghost. And by the way, it's 8 balls. The game is called 8 ball.
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I would have to disagree... if 4 balls are tied up vs 7 open balls, I'll play the 7 ball ghost every time. That's my point. The number of balls left on the table of one suit or another after the break rarely ever plays into my decision on which group to play.

And BTW... my analogy (which you obviously failed to pick up on) was assuming 1 ball was pocketed of one suit and 4 balls were pocketed of another suit on the break. So no, it's not always 8 balls...
 
RRfireblade said:
The first thing I look at is the 8, does it have a pocket and what if anything might limit it's options. If there are pockets that are blocking it by one particular suit, then there is a pretty good chance that I will take that suit as that might buy me some leverage should I have to give up the table later. Then I work backwards from the 8, looking for any problem areas and determine how big of a deal they are. You're always first looking for the run out, but you have to factor in the possibility that a run out might not be an option. For any problem areas, see how they rate in terms of difficulty of break out and or if they would provide an easy 2 way to a shot. After that you should pretty much have your choice made for you. Now forget it all, and focus on that first shot. :-)
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That is pretty much how I decide. As far as the ball leading to the 8 I do not really worry about it, by the time you remove your 7 balls on the table you should be able to get QB in a position for a shot on the 8, especially on a BB. One thing that will usually steer me away from one group is a ball on the rail within 1 ball of the side pocket, I consider that probably worse than tied up balls.
 
philly said:
In a way I agree with you Worminator. If the layout tells you pocketing more balls is the easier run out you go with it. But I think you'll agree the 4 ball ghost is an easier out than the 7 ball ghost. And by the way, it's 8 balls. The game is called 8 ball.
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Not necessarily. Having balls out of the way, creating less congestion, may make it easier to run out the higher quantity of balls.

I try to work my way backwards through the rack. Whichever one allows the run out is generally the logical choice.
 
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