9 ball, 10 ball, 14.1, and even 1 Pocket have tricks and patterns to win the cheese;
What are the tricks/patterns to playing runout 8 ball? Bustamante said it on TAR, 8 ball is hard. It isn't any more difficult than the former, but it is still difficult.
I've been playing for roughly 7 years now, in all that time only two people have taught me the in's and out's of 9ball and 1 Pocket. I've put together a 3 pack in 9 ball 1 time and made a ball on the break and run 12 and out in 1P a few times. I'm a self-taught 14.1 player, with a not so impressive high run of 34. However, when I get to 8 ball, I can't get a 2 pack with perfect conditions and the pool gods shining on me.
I don't know of anyone locally that is willing to teach me the ways of 8 ball. Everyone I know of is either a 1P or 9ball player, that just so happens to shoot well enough in 8 ball.
Is there some secret to running 8 ball racks, that I don't know about?
I'm just going to copy and paste what I've said before :
Although the following was built from bar box 8-ball, it certainly applies to larger table 8-ball as well:
Aside from all of the other excellent advice, IMO nothing helps the bar box game better than watching the better amateur players and playing a lot of bar box 8-ball.
On the other hand:
Excerpts from Freddie's Idiot Guide to Runout Barbox 8-ball:
Leaving your balls in the center of the table as your last or nearly last balls isn't a good idea for two reasons:
1) It limits your pathways for your cueball
2) positionally speaking, it is more challenging to get the proper angle on a ball in the center of the table.
It's easy to see why number 2 is true when the table is full of balls; it's tougher to see why it's a challenge when you only have your balls left.
To further this point, the ball in the center of the table, but closer to one of the side rails always looks tempting to use as a last ball. Player's will lose just because of this temptation more often then they'll ever dream.
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Ways to screw up a ball-in-hand runout in 8-ball (barbox or otherwise):
- The number one way a ball-in-hand out in 8-ball is botched is by leaving the object balls in the center of the table as the last balls. The balls in the center of the table block path routes, and are deceptively challenging when the "proper angle" is needed to get to the 8-ball.
- The number two way to botch a ball-in-hand runout is to leave hanging balls until the last balls. IMO, there's little reason to take hangers out late.
- The number three way to botch a ball-in-hand runout is to leave two balls side-by-side in the same pocket, as opposed to just leaving one ball as the last ball before the 8-ball. If you just take one out earlier, the there is no "which one do you have to get on first" failure mode.
- The number four way to botch up a ball-in-hand runout is stick too tightly to the "clear all balls from one side of the table" misconception. I cant' recall where this idea is ever correct, yet so many people bring it up as if there's some sanity to it.
- The number five way to botch up a ball-in-hand runout is try too hard to set yourself into rules. These are just guidelines.
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The progression of 8-ball skill level seems to go like the following list, from beginner to advanced. Knowing where you are today gives an idea where your game can be tomorrow:
Shoot at anything regardless of runout possibilities.
Shoot at anything, except for balls hanging in the pockets.
Play safeties when you can't run out.
Play safeties, bunting balls around, even when you can run out.
Realize that leaving the hanging balls is the worst thing for your game.
Realize that knocking in the hanging ball and using it to gain position makes for more runouts.
Realize that other people are running out on you while you're bunting around.
Go for the runout nearly every time when it's available.
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Play tournaments.
Additionally, stay and watch the tournament after you get knocked out. Learning what and how the winner wins is virtually free learning (minus drinking). For 8-ball tournaments, check out where the winner is on the list above. Normally, it's the last one listed.
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If you find yourself complaining about handicaps, you're in leagues for the wrong reason.
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Sometimes, some days, you're just going to suck. That's life.
On a related note,
Be honest with yourself. Your best day at the table isn't the definition of your game. Neither is your worst game. The definition of your game is about 75% of your best game.
Freddie <~~~ experienced Idiot