What should my average ball run be. US championship

A

americanfighter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey as I have said before I am competing in the US amateur championship prelims in ohio this year. I was wondering what should my average ball run be if I am to hold my own in the tournament?

I am not expecting to actually qualify this year but get experience for next year. I just want to be good enough to where I can win a few matches. I don't want to drive up there and get knocked out in 3 matches.

So on average how many balls should I be able to run in 9ball 8ball or even just strait out of a rack of 15?

Thanks

AF
 
Dunno what the 'measuring stick' is for that tournament or prelims. But, if you're just doing it for the experience... what's it matter what your average is vs. others? Sounds like you're going to matter what, so you might as well just go ahead and forget the numbers. If you can't run three balls, stay at home. Otherwise, go check it out and you'll know exactly where you need to be.
 
CreeDo said:
Dunno what the 'measuring stick' is for that tournament or prelims. But, if you're just doing it for the experience... what's it matter what your average is vs. others? Sounds like you're going to matter what, so you might as well just go ahead and forget the numbers. If you can't run three balls, stay at home. Otherwise, go check it out and you'll know exactly where you need to be.
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Well as i said I want a goal to shot for and would just like to get some Idea of where i am and where i need to be to be competitive while i am training for it.
 
If you expect to compete in a national level tournament, even one labeled "amateur", you should be able to run racks!
 
Run 2 balls in 9ball consistently, and 4 balls in straight pool in 6 out of 10 tries and you'll be competitive. You should win about 30% of your games.

Hope this helps.
 
LAlouie said:
Run 2 balls in 9ball consistently, and 4 balls in straight pool in 6 out of 10 tries and you'll be competitive. You should win about 30% of your games.

Hope this helps.
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thanks I can already do more than that so i should be good. I am capable of running them all out if i can just get my mind strait.
 
americanfighter said:
Hey as I have said before I am competing in the US amateur championship prelims in ohio this year. I was wondering what should my average ball run be if I am to hold my own in the tournament?

I am not expecting to actually qualify this year but get experience for next year. I just want to be good enough to where I can win a few matches. I don't want to drive up there and get knocked out in 3 matches.

So on average how many balls should I be able to run in 9ball 8ball or even just strait out of a rack of 15?

Thanks

AF
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Just go. Get a pair of balls and take them with you!

--Jeff
 
Honestly, there is a wide range of players in any given qualifier. To actually qualify for the national tournament though, you will need to be able to break and run at both 8ball and 9ball on a fairly consistent basis. Have a good safety game too.

Being able to run 2 balls in 9 ball won't get you far, a good chance is you won't win a match. Just my opinion from my experience.. Peace!
 
Most of the players are rated 6 or higher in 8 ball.

You should learn to jump as that is allowed.

You will be playing on 9 ft tables

Play safe and smart and you will have a chance. Don't take foolish chances.

If you win the lag choose 8 ball unless you are a B and R in 9 ball becasue a good 9 ball player can win the match easily by playing 9 ball first.


Be prepared to spend a lot of time hanging around between matches.


.
 
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americanfighter said:
Hey as I have said before I am competing in the US amateur championship prelims in ohio this year. I was wondering what should my average ball run be if I am to hold my own in the tournament?
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The average is not very representative of what you need to be able to do.
6 innings of safeties followed by one innning where you run all 8-balls averages out to 1.14 balls per inning. A more proper metric is to remove saftie plays where you do not loose control over the table.

What you need to be able to do is to wait for the table to develop, and
when the group is runable through the 8-ball, then you must run the balls through the 8-ball.

Thus, somewhere in the 6-7-8 balls in a row, upon command, anytime
the table give it to you. Once you get to this point, the trick is determining when the table is in position for you to "give it a go".

Waiting for the table to develop is also known of as safety play.

Now if you discount safety play from the above, the average shots you should be able to run is no lower than 6.
 
at nationals last year there were at least 10-15 guys there that I would guess play even with the 9ball ghost. There were a handful of guys that played above that, id say around the 10ball ghost. Im not talking about the ghost on some triple shimmed diamond, just ghost action on a regular 9ft, 4.5 inch pocketed table.
 
americanfighter said:
Hey as I have said before I am competing in the US amateur championship prelims in ohio this year. I was wondering what should my average ball run be if I am to hold my own in the tournament?

I am not expecting to actually qualify this year but get experience for next year. I just want to be good enough to where I can win a few matches. I don't want to drive up there and get knocked out in 3 matches.

So on average how many balls should I be able to run in 9ball 8ball or even just strait out of a rack of 15?

Thanks

AF
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You are over thinking this. Go there and play to win each match, each, game and each MF shot!!! Otherwise you are wasting your time. Think of this as tough love if you will, but you really need to get out of your own head and approach this like going to work. Do your best and reflect on your play AFTER it is over.
 
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