maybe try 9 ball instead :thumbup:
Running a rack of 9 ball is lot easier then 8 ball.
In fact running a rack of 14.1 is easier then 8 ball.
I have a high run of :
5 racks 9 ball
101 balls 14.1
3 racks 8 ball.
and I've been at this for 57 years!
maybe try 9 ball instead :thumbup:
Running a rack of 9 ball is lot easier then 8 ball.
In fact running a rack of 14.1 is easier then 8 ball.
I have a high run of :
5 racks 9 ball
101 balls 14.1
3 racks 8 ball.
and I've been at this for 57 years!
Running a rack of 9 ball is lot easier then 8 ball.
In fact running a rack of 14.1 is easier then 8 ball.
I have a high run of :
5 racks 9 ball
101 balls 14.1
3 racks 8 ball.
and I've been at this for 57 years!
different skillsets I guess haha
When I play you in 9 ball, I'm saying I can out shoot you, 8 ball, I can out think you.
maybe for you, but I run out 8-ball racks much much much more often than 9b
different skillsets I guess haha
Wondered how long before you'd get a response on that. :grin-square:
Can't remember where I heard it maybe here on azb, but I think it rings true..When I play you in 9 ball, I'm saying I can out shoot you, 8 ball, I can out think you.
I have no idea what this means. Playing a really good player, say Fargorate around 650 to 700 or better, there are not many innings. They just get out. The idea is not to miss. You just won't get back to the table unless the miss is a played safe, which by the way is not a miss.
On another note. This is one of the best theads in the forum that I have seen in a while.
FYI, 8-ball strategy is covered in detail in the summaries, videos, and articles on the 8-ball strategy resource page. And if you wan't more, with lots of good examples, check out the Video Encyclopedia of Eight Ball (VEEB).Go for problem balls within the first three shots of the game. If you can't do that, fail to break them up or you get out of position, stop potting balls and don't try to get in line again. Play safe as long there are more balls to hide for you. If you keep potting balls and break down on the last two shots, your opponent has pretty much an open table or at least better safety options.
One thing I didnt see anyone mention is that even though my goal is to not hit any balls unnecessarily you may have opportunities to knock your opponents ball into a difficult spot while pocketing one of your balls. Kind of a reverse cluster break out, if you can tie up one of your opponents balls its good insurance. I dont put much effort into trying to block pockets that my opponent might need because its too easy for them to replace your ball with theirs and it could bite you in the arse. Also, if your opponent leaves his ball in the jaws of a pocket you can usually pocket your ball right behind theirs so its really not a good strategy.
I have not read every post in this thread but a few did mention about not trying to run out if you cant and I completely agree. I used to always try to run out every rack until a good player finally got me to see the light. He said ...if you cant run out play safe.
A few have said it depends on your opponent. Well I can see where the skill level of your opponent would have some bearing on your shot selection but I have to defer to what another very good player told me.....dont play your opponent...play the table.
What I mean by that is I once mentioned to him when he threw me against an 8 that I couldn't beat him. He said dont play him play the table. I won lol.
As for clusters. If the cluster is all my balls I will break it out early. If my opponent has a ball or 2 in that cluster I avoid it. I look at it as I am not only helping myself but him as well if I break it open. One time a 7 played a safe and after looking over the table I just picked up the cue ball and handed it to him. No WA was I breaking up a cluster. When I sat down a team mate asked what the heck did I do that for ? I told him that guy ai t running out and I went on to win the rack. Bit of course it all depends on the layout.
I dont base my strategy on my opponents level .sure some of them can run out from anywhere and are pretty good at breaking out clusters but I have seen low.level players do just as much on accident as higher levels do on purpose....especially on hooking their opponent lol.
Strange thing is when i used to try to run out every rack I became a 6. I changed my strategy because occasionally I would get caught in one ball hell once I quit trying to run out I was lowerd to a 5 and have a higher win percentage now lol.
I'm playing in a mid level league in my area and yesterday my team played our first match of the season.
I won my 8-ball match quite clear with 5:1, but as it happend the team leader of our best team was at the club too and was watching us.
After my game he came over and we talked a bit about my playing style.
My approach:
Move through a game area by area, clearing problem balls "on the way". If I lose position, or fail to break them up, as long as I have an open shot I make a new game plan and try to go for the problems later in the game.
His advice:
Go for problem balls within the first three shots of the game. If you can't do that, fail to break them up or you get out of position, stop potting balls and don't try to get in line again. Play safe as long there are more balls to hide for you. If you keep potting balls and break down on the last two shots, your opponent has pretty much an open table or at least better safety options.
Now I want to hear your thoughts on it!
How do you approach a game of 8-ball?
Does it depent on your opponent?
Do you play loose or do you try to play it tight?
I'm playing in a mid level league in my area and yesterday my team played our first match of the season.
I won my 8-ball match quite clear with 5:1, but as it happend the team leader of our best team was at the club too and was watching us.
After my game he came over and we talked a bit about my playing style.
My approach:
Move through a game area by area, clearing problem balls "on the way". If I lose position, or fail to break them up, as long as I have an open shot I make a new game plan and try to go for the problems later in the game.
His advice:
Go for problem balls within the first three shots of the game. If you can't do that, fail to break them up or you get out of position, stop potting balls and don't try to get in line again. Play safe as long there are more balls to hide for you. If you keep potting balls and break down on the last two shots, your opponent has pretty much an open table or at least better safety options.
Now I want to hear your thoughts on it!
How do you approach a game of 8-ball?
Does it depent on your opponent?
Do you play loose or do you try to play it tight?