Too many options

[DrGonzo]

Ok, so I've noticed that I am much better at games where I have few options for what I am shooting at. I play pretty good 9/10 ball, where all I'm doing is playing position for one ball to get to the next ball, and I play pretty decent one pocket, where I'm either running balls into the same pocket or ducking and moving away from an opponents pocket.

My problem is in games like 8 ball and 14.1 where that are far more options of what to shoot at, and recognizing what the correct shot is to play position for the next ball. I always end up shooting and playing position for the easy shots and then being out of line to finish the racks.

I do an alright job recognizing and solving problems within the racks, but I always seem to get into trouble somewhere that I shouldn't, because I chose the wrong shot back in the rack.

What are the best drills and methods to train yourself to see the correct patterns within these games?

 

[mohrt]

Regarding 14.1, reading books and watching videos are good resources, but above all play the game. Expose yourself to the decisions, you have no where to go but up. 8 ball will improve along with your straight pool practice.

 

[FranCrimi]

In 14.1, try to imagine the rack in three segments: The beginning, where balls are clustered together and need to be broken out, the middle--- Where the balls are basically spread out and you need to decide how to run them, and then end of the rack --- Which are the last 4 or 5 balls that will help you get to your break shot to continue your run.

Working backwards might not be a bad place to start:

Phil Capelle has a great book and accompanying DVD on the end rack portion of 14.1 that I highly recommend called "Break Shot Patterns." The book shows diagrams of the last 4 balls of over 100 end racks; and the accompanying DVD shows various pro players actually shooting those shots and setting up for the break shot. It's a great learning concept and a great help to players trying to learn end game pattern play.

 

[BilliardsAbout]

Start with breaking apart an 8-ball and three or four other balls. Before you shoot, figure the pocket for the eight and then the key ball for the eight, and then a key ball for that key ball and so on.

Important: Plan each stroke. Can you shoot them all with follow instead of strong draw, no english instead of english, no or few rails instead of many rails, and so on? Once you have the easiest strokes (highest percentage strokes for you) road mapped, play.

If you still feel like you have two many choices, use an 8-ball and just one or two other balls and build from there.