With 9-Ball becoming more popular on TV and billiard halls, many are starting to overlook the game of 8-Ball. Unless of course you play in bars. Strategy and intelligent play are just as important in 8-Ball as it is in 9-Ball. Even if your opponent is a little better than you, you can still have a good chance of beating him if you play smart 8-Ball.
These first 4 tips can apply to any pool game, but they are especially important in 8-Ball.
Concentrate! The number 1 sell-out in pool is missing a ball you didn't plan on missing. Concentrate on each and every ball before shooting. If you're faced with a low percentage shot, you may want to play safe. If you feel you can make the shot, even though it's low percentage, make sure to leave your opponant with very little in case you miss.
Slow Down! You've probably seen many players lose games they never should havebecause they rushed it and missed a ball, or they rushed their shot without seeing that a better option was available. In 8-Ball, the odds are good that there will be more than one option for each shot, and you want to make sure you choose the smartest option.
Stay Down! The shot's not going anywhere! A good tip for making any shot, difficult or easy, is to stay down over the table and watch your object ball go into the pocket. Don't get up until the ball has been pocketed, or stops moving.
High Percentage Shots! Often, this is one of the most difficult decisions to make. It varies from person to person, what the table looks like, and which ball you're shooting at. The general rule of thumb here is to take the higher percentage shot. If nothing on the table looks promising, think safe, think safe, think safe!!!!!
These next tips will help you with the strategy behind 8-Ball...Patience! If you can't run out (your balls are too locked up, with no possible break-outs, or your opponents ball are blocking your balls) don't pocket your balls. Instead, you have many options that will increase your chances of winning - it just takes patience! Try to lock up your opponents balls instead. Or use one of your balls to try to block the pocket that most of your opponents bal should go into. Or play a safety to get ball-in-hand.(I've seen one individual play four safeties, and get ball-in-hand four times consecutively without ever pocketing a ball. He just moved his balls to where he could run them out, and on his fifth shot, did. Pretty smart!)
No Heroes Allowed! Say you're on the 8-Ball, and you're opponent still has a good number of balls left on the table. However, the shot on the 8-Ball is a real tough one - difficult enough that had it been any other ball, you would have played safe. If you you wouldn't risk the shot with another one of your balls, don't risk it with the eight. By trying to be "the hero" you may end up losing the game, especially if you miss the eight and leave your opponent an easy out, or you may scratch, or worse, you may make the eight and scratch(loss of game), or make the eight ball into the wrong pocket (also loss of game). Think safe! A good safety will likely give you another shot at that eight! When I'm faced with a low percentage shoton the 8-ball, I play the safe, and at the same time, move the eight as close to the pocket as possible so that I'll hopefully have an easy shot my next time at the table.
Think The Shot Through! And speaking of making the 8-ball into the wrong pocket, (which you've all seen players do many times I'm sure), remember to think about
where the 8-ball may go just in case you miss, before you shoot. I know that nobody intends to miss the 8-ball, but is it necessary to hit the eight so hard that there's a chance it will two- or three-rail into another pocket, costing you the game? Additionally, don't forget about where the cue ball is going! Making the eight and scratching is a loss of game, and missing the eight and scratching is still a probable loss of game, as you're opponent will get ball-in-hand. Oh, and before you shoot that eight, or any ball, think the shot through before getting down on it! Indecision is one of the major miss factors in pool. Again, know what you're going to do before you shoot.Play it safe! Many players think that the only time they should play it safe is if they can't make any of their balls into a pocket. The smarter player knows better. Sometimes, you may be faced with an easy shot on one ball, but no way to get position on the next ball(s). You can either 1) pocket the easy ball, calling a safety so the ball stays down while your opponent has to deal with what you've left them (which is hopefully nothing), or 2) don't pocket the ball and play safe, trying to get ball-in-hand.
Smart fouls! If you can't avoid a foul, and your opponent is most likely going to get ball-in-hand, make it a smart foul. Instead of trying to get an impossible, or near impossible, hit, use the foul to your advantage. Shot at your opponents balls, and try to intentionally lock them up. Or pocket one of your opponents balls that may be blocking many of your balls from a pocket. Or use one of your opponents balls to break out balls of yours that are locked up. Or even try combining all of thes ideas into one shot. If the odds are good that you're going to commit a foul anyway, make it so that your opponent can't run out, even with ball-in-hand. Make 'em work for that win.
One final consideration is to NEVER underestimate your opponent! Never leave them a shot, thinking, "they're not going to run out anyway." It's important to play the table, and not the opponent. Keep in mind that, if you leave your opponent a decent shot, you may never get back to the table. Play it smart.
Caution, confidence, patients and playing smart are all keys to winning in 8-Ball. By keeping these things in mind you'll find that even the better shooters will have a tough time beating you.
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