Pieces Of Eight - Tip Of The Week

Tip Of The Week

Number: 69 Jim Tellier December 2012

TOPIC: Avoid Going Up and Down

CATEGORY: Beginner to Intermediate

INTRODUCTION:

[ This is a reprint of a tip that I posted over a year ago. But I see this happen a lot, and thought it made sense to repeat it. Learning involves repetition, so. J ]

Because its more difficult to control the position of the cue ball when it has to travel a long distance, it makes sense to try and minimize the distance the cue ball has to travel to get shape on your next shot. In 8-ball, this is generally easier to accomplish, because you have multiple choices of target ball(s). So, take advantage of that in your game!

TECHNIQUE:

When you break, and have choices to make for your next shot (whether its open or youre forced to pick solids or stripes), look at the way the balls are distributed on one end of the table vs the other. The best thing you can do (especially with ball in hand) is to try and clean up everything on one end of the table first, before proceeding down to the other end to complete the run-out and win! In 9-ball, its not so easy, since the layout of the balls could have you going from one end of the table to the other for each and every shot! But 8-ball can be a little more forgiving, so take advantage of that keep your shots short and simple whenever possible.

Now, theres an additional aspect of this advice that will actually make it easier to accomplish that goal. Picture yourself at one end of the table, with 3 or 4 stripes to be put away. Try to find a pattern to run those balls that will deal with the ones closest to the center of the table first, saving those on the side rail(s) as next (or maybe equally important), and then those on the end rail for last. The idea is that you can use the cut shot on the end rail as an easy way to send the cue ball down towards the other end of the table, to continue the run on the stuff thats left down at that end. Often, if you attempt the shot on the end rail sooner, you will have to plan/hope for the cue ball to go down the table and back up for your next shot increasing the difficulty.

Its a general suggestion, and one that wont apply in all cases. But if you add it to the list of things that you think about when you get up to the table, you will learn to see the situations where it makes sense. And, like anything else, there will be cases where it makes the most sense to do the exact opposite of the above advice, and start with those balls on the end rail, working your way down through the middle of the table, and on. But, in general, its harder to work a table from end towards middle the reason being that you are depriving yourself of the two corner pockets that are behind you, or that youre having to play nearly perfect position to be able to go against the current.

Shoot well, and keep your opponent in his chair!

Capn Carom

ARRRR!!!! J