Pieces Of Eight - Tip Of The Week

Number: 75 Jim Tellier February 2013

TOPIC: Breaking up, and creating (!) clusters

CATEGORY: Intermediate/Advanced

INTRODUCTION:

You see that there are 2 or more balls clustered together. Maybe one of these is even the 8-ball. Should you try to break up the cluster? What happens if you dont?

Or, worse yet, there are NO clusters, but you dont see an easy way to run all the balls.

TECHNIQUE:

First question to ask is: can I leave this problem for my opponent to deal with? (this is easier in 9-ball than 8-ball, but the same principles still apply). If youre leaving something for him/her to do (other than being able to pocket a ball) then the answer could probably be yes! Clusters present an opportunity to gain the initiative, causing the advantage to swing back in your favor, if you make strategic use of them. Use them as hiding places, especially if you think you can get ball in hand! When you do get ball in hand, see if setting up a breakout for that cluster might be the right thing to do at that time. Most importantly, dont try a heroic sort of attempt to break up a cluster if missing it means that you sell out the rest of the game. Even a safety that doesnt necessarily hide the cue ball (maybe just leaving a long, tough shot) is better than leaving things to chance.

Now, what about that second scenario, where you dont see a run-out, and/or you dont see a good safety opportunity when you do get to the table? Try creating a cluster, hopefully only including your opponents balls, to help tip the advantage to your side make the other guy do more work to be in a position to win. The best approach to creating a new cluster trouble spot is to use one of your balls (or if in 9-ball, use the lowest numbered ball) in a combination with an opponents ball, driving his ball into a position creating a cluster. As a next best approach (and consider this one carefully!), it is sometimes a good idea to simply hit one of his balls directly to form that cluster, giving him ball-in-hand. The thing you want to do in that case is to make sure its as difficult as possible for him to simply use that ball-in-hand opportunity to break up the cluster you just created. There are usually better choices than giving ball-in-hand intentionally, but it does come up now and then.

PRACTICE:

This ones tough to actually prescribe any sort of drill for. But its more of an attitude than anything else. Dont just look at clusters as trouble spots think of them as tools that you can use to change the momentum of the game, and youll open a lot of options to winning more games!

Shoot well, and keep your opponent in his chair!

Capn Carom

ARRRR!!!! J