AboutDan Werner Expertise All aspects of the game, strategy, runs, etc. Main focus is 8ball, 9ball, and straight pool.
Pattern Play, 2-way shots, kicks, banks, throws, trick shots, shot selection, caroms, league play, safety play, and more.
Experience 20 years playing pool
Organizations BCA, APC, and past amateur leagues/tours
Education/Credentials Bachelors in Business Administration/Marketing
Expert: Dan Werner Date: 7/5/2008 Subject: defensive play
Question I am returning to the sport of pool after an absent of about 40 yrs. I've been at it for about 8 months now, and I have joined an 8 ball summer league ( not yet rated). I consider my shot making to be pretty good at my age (78) but I feel weak in ball control and defensive strategy. My position play on a scale of 1-10 is about 5. It needs to get better. Any advice will be more than welcome.
Answer Jim,
Great question and great to be back in a sport at that age!
OK...shot making is one thing, but cue ball control, pattern play, defense, shot selection, etc. is what makes you a 7 in APA or someone that is able to run the table. It is hard to go into all of the nuances without being there live, but here are some great tips for you that will improve your play immediately.
First, let's cover cue ball control:
1. You must know the basics in order to control the cue ball. This includes the tangent line (90 degree rule) and how to shoot a follow shot, stun shot, draw shot, and english. We could do a whole book on this of course. Next, you need to know cue ball speed. Speed is everything! Tables are different, so when you warm up, pay close attention to how far the cue ball rolls on the table.
If you don't know the basic shots listed above, then we should start there. Basically, a stop shot is one where the cue ball slides into the object ball with no top spin or back spin. You execute this by hitting the cue ball in the center or slightly below center. The further away you are from the object ball, the lower you need to hit on the cue ball so it doesn't have forward roll when it gets to the object ball.
For a follow shot, you hit the cue ball on the top.
For a draw shot, you hit it on the bottom with a level stroke and follow-through.
A stun shot is basically a stop shot where you hit an object ball at an angle and it will then slide alog the tangent line.
The tangent line (90 degree rule) is the line that the cue ball will travel along after it makes a cut shot assuming the cue ball has not forward or backward spin on it.
the cue ball will bend forward of the tangent line with follow and bend backwards from the tangent line with draw.
We could go into this more, but that should help.
2. Work on the tangent line since that will tell you exactly where the cue ball will go after it hits an object ball. Work on a simple cut shot and watch the cue ball go down the tangent line and where it ends up. Now hit it harder and then harder to see the pattern develop of where the cue ball goes.
3. You have to practice cue ball control in order to know it. The way I warm up, is to set the 8 ball and 9 ball out on the table somewhere and get cue ball in hand. Now make the 8 while getting position on the 9. If you don't get it, set it up again and again and again. I don't know your level, but this could be as simple as an easy stop shot on the 8 in the side that then leaves you and easy straight in shot on the 9 in the corner. To make it tougher, set up the same shot, but this time you are required to follow the cue ball about 3 inches or 5 or whatever for the same straight in shot on the 9. Now try to set up the 8 ball in the other side pocket and draw the cueball back a few inches for the same straight in shot on the 9 in the corner. Too easy? Now put the 8 ball for a cut shot in the corner and get the cue ball down to the 9 ball at the other end of the table. You can make it even tougher by setting a few balls down by the 9 that require you to get pinpoint position on the 9 in order to even be able to hit it.
4. Set up the 8 ball near the side and the cue ball close to the spot. Cut the 8 in the side and have the cue ball go up the table and back down for position on the 9. Try this with a follow shot, high left, high right, etc to see what happens.
5. Think 3 balls ahead in order to play position. You want to make the 1 then the 2 ball and then the 3. Well, what good does shooting the 1 ball straight in followed by a stright in shot on the 2 ball that then requires you to back the 3 because you didn't think ahead? Set up the 1 ball close to the rail between the side pocket and corner...set up the 2 ball between the side and the other corner on the same side of the table. Now set up the 3 ball to be on the opposite side of the table by the rail. Now, to run all three, you have to think backwards. Where do I need to be to make the 3? And how do I get there from the 2 ball? Where do I need to be on the 2 ball to make that an easy shot? Then, how do I make the 1 ball that then leaves me in the right position for the 2 ball that gives me an easy angle to the 3? that is how you do it.
6. Angles is what allows you to move the cue ball around the table. Straight in shots leave you with little choice but to follow it a bit or draw it. With an angle, you can get to anywhere on the table.
7. If you can't make a shot, then play safe. Either control where the cue ball goes or just the object ball or both if you are advanced. Leaving the cue ball behind other balls is a good safe. Leaving the cue ball and the object ball at opposite ends is a good safe. etc. I really need to show you. Or call me 540-989-1821.
8. Practice straight pool where you can shoot at any ball, you then have the chance of running 5 balls or 10 or 15 instead of just 1 or 2 like in 8ball/9ball. Straight pool also requires good pattern play and shot selection in tight quarters.
9. Shot selection. Think about what happens if you shoot a shot. Will that leave you another one or leave you snookered? Maybe it would be better to shoot the tougher shot first and then have the easy shot on the 15 hanging in the pocket? There are a million instances where choosing the right shot leads to a runout and choosing the wrong shot leads to nothing.
10. How many balls can you run on average? If you are playing 8 ball, roll out the 5-8 on the table and get ball in hand. this is a 4-ball run. Can you do that every time? If so, then roll out more balls. Get good at that first. Then, roll out some stripes to be in the way.
I hope this helps. I have about 50 pages of a book written so far without counting the diagrams that focuses solely on APA 8 ball and 9 ball, how to practice, patterns, etc. It takes a lot of learning to cover your question.
