What is the best 8 ball advice you've ever gotten?
- Thread starter SpinDoctor
- Start date
best 8 ball advice
Don't forget to put the stupid patch in front of the pocket.
Don't forget to put the stupid patch in front of the pocket.
My league starts up next Tuesday as well...
I've read through this thread and a lot of good advice is given. The best I've ever received is...
-- Play 14.1. It will help your 8-ball game. Like 14.1, 8-ball is a pattern game.
-- Off the break, study the table for balls that have pockets to be made in, are/aren't tied up, etc. and determine the best possible out. If you break in 2 stripes and no solids, don't necessarily jump to take the stripes. The solids may be an easier out. EDIT: Unfortunately in APA, you would HAVE to take the stripes in this situation. This tip applies to where you have choice.
-- Don't always try for the out. It may not always be there. TAKE WHAT THE BALLS GIVE YOU. As others have already mentioned, leave enough balls that you can play an effective safety.
-- Play effective safeties. The idea of a safety is to gain the advantage. Don't play a safety that allows your opponent to come back with an even better one. Alternatively you can play a safety that blocks a pocket or ties up one or more of your opponents balls.
-- Don't shoot balls that obstruct the path of an opponents ball (until you have to). That may come back to haunt you.
-- And last but not least, make sure you pocket a ball on the break. I've lost my share of games breaking the balls wide open and not pocketing anything - giving my opponent an easy out.
These tips have really improved my 8-ball game.
I've read through this thread and a lot of good advice is given. The best I've ever received is...
-- Play 14.1. It will help your 8-ball game. Like 14.1, 8-ball is a pattern game.
-- Off the break, study the table for balls that have pockets to be made in, are/aren't tied up, etc. and determine the best possible out. If you break in 2 stripes and no solids, don't necessarily jump to take the stripes. The solids may be an easier out. EDIT: Unfortunately in APA, you would HAVE to take the stripes in this situation. This tip applies to where you have choice.
-- Don't always try for the out. It may not always be there. TAKE WHAT THE BALLS GIVE YOU. As others have already mentioned, leave enough balls that you can play an effective safety.
-- Play effective safeties. The idea of a safety is to gain the advantage. Don't play a safety that allows your opponent to come back with an even better one. Alternatively you can play a safety that blocks a pocket or ties up one or more of your opponents balls.
-- Don't shoot balls that obstruct the path of an opponents ball (until you have to). That may come back to haunt you.
-- And last but not least, make sure you pocket a ball on the break. I've lost my share of games breaking the balls wide open and not pocketing anything - giving my opponent an easy out.
These tips have really improved my 8-ball game.
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this advice came later on from a good player, well after I could break and run a rack:
Look for opportunities during your runout to selectively make your opponents balls much more difficult if possible. The exact example shown to me was a shot into the side where i could stop for my next shot or roll softly into my opponents ball and tie it up with another of his balls on the rail. I have found this to be good advice once you have gotten a decent control over how to go into balls and know where things are going.
Look for opportunities during your runout to selectively make your opponents balls much more difficult if possible. The exact example shown to me was a shot into the side where i could stop for my next shot or roll softly into my opponents ball and tie it up with another of his balls on the rail. I have found this to be good advice once you have gotten a decent control over how to go into balls and know where things are going.
"if you can't run 8... DON'T run 7"
I heard this from someone one time (playing 8 ball) but it makes sense for all the games
I heard this from someone one time (playing 8 ball) but it makes sense for all the games
First thing I do is see where I will pocket the 8. Then I look for a ball that will give me a stop shot to be straight in on the 8. Then I find the easiest ball that will place me perfect for that stop shot.
If I have to break out a ball, I do it early. It is easier to make adjustments when there are more balls on the table.
One of the biggest mistakes is saving the breakout for last. You can never predict exactly where the last ball and the cueball will end up.
If you can't get out, look for a safety that breaks out your problem ball and/or hangs one of your balls in a pocket that blocks their run.
If the safety gives you ball in hand, even better.
If I have to break out a ball, I do it early. It is easier to make adjustments when there are more balls on the table.
One of the biggest mistakes is saving the breakout for last. You can never predict exactly where the last ball and the cueball will end up.
If you can't get out, look for a safety that breaks out your problem ball and/or hangs one of your balls in a pocket that blocks their run.
If the safety gives you ball in hand, even better.
have had lots of good advice over the years, but if I had to pick one thing that i remember the most:
If you a planning a runout, try to get to the end of the table away from the 8 ball early and work your way down the table to the key ball and 8 ball.
Not alway possible but if you can plan a pattern using this idea, it reduces cue ball movement, simplifies position play and reduces chances of unintended bumping of balls.
If you a planning a runout, try to get to the end of the table away from the 8 ball early and work your way down the table to the key ball and 8 ball.
Not alway possible but if you can plan a pattern using this idea, it reduces cue ball movement, simplifies position play and reduces chances of unintended bumping of balls.
