Pieces Of Eight - Tip Of The Week

 

Number: 59 Jim Tellier July 2012

 

TOPIC: There Are Six (6!) Pockets

 

CATEGORY: Intermediate/Advanced

 

INTRODUCTION:

[ This is a re-print from a few months back, but I keep coming back to these ideas because they are so key to improvement. When I realize that most of us (especially myself!) cant maintain a huge mental checklist of things to be concerned about during a match, what occurs to me is that: we need to simplify the way we approach the game. This can be done by focusing on general principles rather than individual tactical points. Try to think about all of the tips in that light, and things may start to become a little easier! ]

 

This almost sounds obvious: like, yes, water IS wet!. But often, when you are in the middle of your run-out, you start to play tight position. By that, I mean you stick with your initial plan, shot after shot, instead of re-evaluating it often enough. What often happens then, is that you end up with tougher shots than what you originally envisioned, and run the risk of missing one of them along the way.

Here, I hope to shed some light on how to recognize that situation, and how to work around it.

It helps tremendously to keep in mind that winning a pool game/match/tournament is often less about who can make the best (toughest) shots?, but who can make the fewest mistakes?. Anything that helps to put you into that mode of thinking will be valuable.

 

TECHNIQUE:

This may be a little challenging to get this across without diagrams, but Ill try.

Imagine a table where your opponent has run out all the stripes, then missed the 8-ball.

Youve got 3 solids left before the 8. Great spot to be in! So you plan the run-out, and start shooting. The details of what the table looks like arent really so important --- try to visualize the fact that, what is important is that there are 4 possibilities on every step along the way:

         You make the shot and set yourself up for the next one

         You make the shot, but leave yourself a difficult next shot

         You miss the shot, but leave your opponent tough on the 8-ball

         You miss the shot, and sell out by leaving an easy shot on the 8.

 

So, the Goal here is to maximize your chances of achieving the first result. When you see the path that the cue ball will take after hitting the object ball, ask yourself these questions:

         Is it naturally going to put me where I want to be for the next shot?

         If not, can I modify the path of the cue ball to do what I need to do?

o   If YES. Do it!

o   If NO. play a safety!!!

Rinse and Repeat!

 

Without making this long-winded, the reason I titled this There are Six (6!) Pockets is this: In the step described above, where you decide that you cant do what you expected to do with the cue ball, after youve played that great safety, file that away in your memory and try to imagine what might have been a different sequence for running those balls. That is, using a different pocket as target for one or more of those shots.

Thinking about the alternatives is a very strong, helpful tool that anyone can use to strengthen their game. There are always many ways to accomplish a run-out for any given set of balls on the table. Which one you choose depends on two things:

         Your strengths (i.e. do you prefer follow or draw shots? Center ball or rely on English? Etc)

         The amount of risk youre willing to take on each shot. Will you leave your opponent an easy win if you miss?

 

Bottom line: Dont lock yourself in to a particular plan during your time at the table! Re-evaluate your situation after every shot, and be patient victory will be the reward!

May your next shot be on the 8-ball!

 

ARRRR!!!! J