"Think three balls ahead" is horrible advice.

I think that the "3 balls ahead" adage means different things depending on the skill of the player. For an absolute beginner, it's something to get them from blindly firing away at whatever shot they have without considering position play at all. For a player that has learned basic position play, it gets them to start thinking in patterns, albeit short ones. For advanced players, it's a reminder to play position on the right side of the ball to get to the one after it as you are running balls.

In any case, I think that it still has to be paired with other advice about playing to break out clusters or defensive play; playing shape "3 balls ahead" just makes sure you can get from ball to ball when they are sitting out in the open.
 
CJ Wiley said:
What's funny is I can beat anyone in the world if they have to call "3 shots ahead".....even the best players can't do this effectively.
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That is the best news I have ever heard. I play mostly 8 ball right now but very, very rarely do I end up playing the rack how I originally intended to, I like to say my game is very "flexible":grin-square:
I have not played much 14.1 but I would say you start out playing 15 balls ahead because right off the bat most people are looking for the break ball, right?
I have played in a number weekly 8 ball tournaments where the guy I am playing doesn't even start thinking about ball #2 till the cue stops rolling after pocketing ball #1:confused:
 
i think 3 balls ahead a lot of the time, but sometimes there are other things i am thinking about before and after i begin making shots.

identifying trouble balls, balls that lay in difficult areas to get to, where can i break a cluster out if possible, or where i need to play safe.

if the table is open, then ill take mental note of all the balls on the table but focus on making 3 balls at a time. typically ill settle and play large sections of the table rather than fine position play.

if the table is more difficult, then im thinking 3 shots ahead, but really focusing on making sure im hitting those gimmes perfectly so i can stay in line for my run. im also playing finer position and identifying which side of the ball i need to be on.

i think a big problem i was having is not focusing on the easy shots enough, and getting my runs out of line. even if its just barely, it bugs me when the plan goes astray.

i think that good pool is a series of easy shots perfected. never getting too far out of line.

just my opinion, but im a far from perfect player.
 
Playing three balls ahead simply means getting a specific position on the 2nd ball in order to continue shooting with intention.

Shooting with intention can mean setting up for a safe shot, a break shot, or even in some cases, deciding to reanalyze the table at a particular point. But it's all done with intent and not randomness.

All pros use that method of shooting, regardless of whether they've figured out the whole layout or not.

It's all about where on the 2nd ball you need to be to continue at the table. Every shot you take becomes the 1st ball.

Yes, there are situations that come up where you can't get past the 1st or 2nd shot, and running into balls can get tricky, but as a general rule, running a rack is done with the 3 balls ahead method.
 
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Are you the guy who cheated?

ScottK said:
I thought about posting this to the "Pool Secrets" thread; it's not really a secret. Many people are aware of it, some do it, but most really don't.

I thought about commenting in JohnnyT's thread when he said "if you're not getting out start thinking three balls ahead" or something to that effect.


"Think three balls ahead" is terrible advice, at least for anyone but the absolute novice.
For anyone possessing any degree of pool playing ability there may not be anything worse you could drive into their head.
Honestly, I don't even think I'd give this advice to an absolute novice.

So, here it is... my "pool secret." I've never heard it put quite like this, in fact I don't recall having heard it taught. I'm sure it has, but perhaps not so simply.
I don't lay claim to the concept, but maybe I can lay claim to a phrase.

If you want to be more successful at pool, do not think three balls ahead. Think eight, nine, or ten balls ahead. Think fifteen balls ahead. Play three ball patterns.

That's my phrase. "Play three ball patterns." You have to think through the whole rack or your asking for trouble. Think through the entire rack, and play three ball patterns.
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FranCrimi said:
Playing three balls ahead simply means getting a specific position on the 2nd ball in order to continue shooting with intention.

Shooting with intention can mean setting up for a safe shot, a break shot, or even in some cases, deciding to reanalyze the table at a particular point. But it's all done with intent and not randomness.

All pros use that method of shooting, regardless of whether they've figured out the whole layout or not.

It's all about where on the 2nd ball you need to be to continue at the table. Every shot you take becomes the 1st ball.

Yes, there are situations that come up where you can't get past the 1st or 2nd shot, and running into balls can get tricky, but as a general rule, running a rack is done with the 3 balls ahead method.
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It would still be more accurately described as playing three ball patterns.

Thinking three balls ahead is, at most, thinking about a third of the game. OK, 43% of the game if you're playing seven ball. That's just not good advice, IMHO.
If you're playing three ball, fine... think three balls ahead.


u12armresl said:
Are you the guy who cheated?
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Yep.
 
It means thinking about the next 3 balls after THIS ball.

In other words, EVERY SHOT, not just the first shot of the rack, deserves the three balls ahead thought.

Shoot the first shot, THEN think 3 MORE SHOTS AHEAD, even if those turn out to be different than the first three shots you have already thought of.

THIS shot deserves this thought process.

Jeff Livingston
 
ScottK said:
I thought about posting this to the "Pool Secrets" thread; it's not really a secret. Many people are aware of it, some do it, but most really don't.

I thought about commenting in JohnnyT's thread when he said "if you're not getting out start thinking three balls ahead" or something to that effect.


"Think three balls ahead" is terrible advice, at least for anyone but the absolute novice.
For anyone possessing any degree of pool playing ability there may not be anything worse you could drive into their head.
Honestly, I don't even think I'd give this advice to an absolute novice.

So, here it is... my "pool secret." I've never heard it put quite like this, in fact I don't recall having heard it taught. I'm sure it has, but perhaps not so simply.
I don't lay claim to the concept, but maybe I can lay claim to a phrase.

If you want to be more successful at pool, do not think three balls ahead. Think eight, nine, or ten balls ahead. Think fifteen balls ahead. Play three ball patterns.

That's my phrase. "Play three ball patterns." You have to think through the whole rack or your asking for trouble. Think through the entire rack, and play three ball patterns.
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In what game?

14.1
one pocket
9/10 ball
8 ball


Different games, different strategy.
 
Ralph Kramden said:
You've never played shape to break open a cluster??
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Lol. When I was playing every day playing pushout, I always tried to break them out. I dont play much 9 ball now due to health reasons. I hate 1 foul, so I mostly play 1 pkt. My point was that not many players that I see at a local level try breakouts. They play safe.
 
It's more effective to concentrate on the shot (task) at hand

Most of the time you can just play 2 shots ahead and play even better. The chances of anyone actually playing 3 shots ahead in the pocket they anticipate is unlikely.

It's more effective to concentrate on the shot (task) at hand and not get too strung out on the future.....sure, there's going to be trouble balls, and chances are the situation will change before you ever get there.....so why worry about it? 'The Game is the Teacher'


sjm said:
Yes, three balls ahead, which doesn't mean that the entire layout shouldn't be studied prior to pattern formation, is excellent advice.
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I can see your point as a top ball pocketer from anywhere on the table, put for us lesser players, we need the right angle and have short shots. Johnnyt
 
ScottK said:
It would still be more accurately described as playing three ball patterns.

Thinking three balls ahead is, at most, thinking about a third of the game. OK, 43% of the game if you're playing seven ball. That's just not good advice, IMHO.
If you're playing three ball, fine... think three balls ahead.




Yep.
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Why can't it be described as getting the correct position on the 2nd ball? That's the cleanest and simplest way to describe it as far as I can tell. If you are getting specific position on the 2nd ball with the intent to continue, you are taking 3 balls into account in that one shot. It's a very simple concept, actually, not so simple to accomplish, though.
 
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CJ Wiley said:
Most of the time you can just play 2 shots ahead and play even better. The chances of anyone actually playing 3 shots ahead in the pocket they anticipate is unlikely.

It's more effective to concentrate on the shot (task) at hand and not get too strung out on the future.....sure, there's going to be trouble balls, and chances are the situation will change before you ever get there.....so why worry about it? 'The Game is the Teacher'
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CJ, I can't believe that you think it's ok to think two balls ahead --- the shot you're shooting and the next shot. Surely, you don't mean that.
 
Johnnyt said:
I can see your point as a top ball pocketer from anywhere on the table, put for us lesser players, we need the right angle and have short shots. Johnnyt
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Actually, the lesser a player you are the more you need to think about the entire table. Everyone needs the right angle an prefers shorter shots.
 
FranCrimi said:
Why can't it be described as getting the correct position on the 2nd ball? That's the cleanest and simplest way to describe it as far as I can tell. If you are getting specific position on the 2nd ball with the intent to continue, you are taking 3 balls into account in that one shot. It's a very simple concept, actually, not so simple to accomplish, though.
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It can be. That's what a three ball pattern is.
 
I'm gonna give my input.

When I approach the table - I look at each ball group (I mostly play APA 8-ball) and see where each ball goes.

Then I look at three ball patterns - usually I see a triangle. I look at the lay of the table then have a visual plan.

I never approach the table and say I'm gonna play the 6 to get on the 2 to get on the 3 to get on the 5 to get on the 4 to get on the 8.

I play three ball patterns in a triangle, then work my way from triangle to triangle.

Obviously this changes when you add balls without pockets/clusters/problem balls.

But for the most part - it's visualizing the triangles and playing position from there.

Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2
 
If the table is open( nothing locked up) in 5 seconds or less I know every pocket I am going to play each ball.

I look 3 to 5 balls ahead, but play and focus on 2 ahead.
If I lose my cue ball,,,land on the wrong side.. I take another 5 seconds to figure out plan B.....and carry on.

In rotation it's 9 or 10 balls....it's not that hard to see.

It's not like we are just discovering the laws of physics,, it's a few freakin balls. And the more you make the less you have to think.
Make 2 or 3 on the break and Helen Keller can figure the pattern.
 
Grady Mathews used to match up with top 9 Ball players and make them call the next---

Grady Mathews used to match up with top 9 Ball players and make them call the next pocket (that was Grady's handicap)....it would surprise you how difficult this really is. When I'm playing my best no one on earth can beat me like that......especially if we play the "real rules" of 9 Ball (Two Shot). 'The Game is the Teacher'



Johnnyt said:
I can see your point as a top ball pocketer from anywhere on the table, put for us lesser players, we need the right angle and have short shots. Johnnyt
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