"Routes" is a great term for rotation games. "Patterns" is much more accurate for deciding which ball to hit next to get through the rack. 8-Ball is the most basic of pattern games, leading to 14.1 of course.
As for pattern practice, there was a thread just the other day about a drill, commonly referred to as "The Brainwashing Drill". Samm Diep loves that drill and has a youtube video about it; it's also prescribed by many other coaches and drill instructors. The nut-shell version is that you toss out the balls around the center of the table, then run them out WITHOUT the cue-ball hitting a cushion. at all.
As for pattern practice, there was a thread just the other day about a drill, commonly referred to as "The Brainwashing Drill". Samm Diep loves that drill and has a youtube video about it; it's also prescribed by many other coaches and drill instructors. The nut-shell version is that you toss out the balls around the center of the table, then run them out WITHOUT the cue-ball hitting a cushion. at all.