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Play Your Best Eight BallTable of Contents for 
Play Your Best Eight Ball


Part I Getting Started
Chapter 1 Learning Eight Ball 3
Chapter 2 Comparing Table Sizes 13
Chapter 3 The Rules 21
Part II Offense
Chapter 4 Shotmaking 43
Chapter 5 Break Shots 69
Chapter 6 Position Play 77
Chapter 7 Clusters 133
Chapter 8 Problem Balls 157
Chapter 9 Offensive Play 177
Chapter 10 Runout Eight Ball 217
Part III Strategy and Defense

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Chapter 11 Choosing a Group 251
Chapter 12 Defensive Play 267
Chapter 13 Strategy
319
Chapter 14 Ball-In-Hand 359
Chapter 15 Kick Shots 371
Chapter 16 Competition 387
Part IV Improving Your Game
Chapter 17 Practicing Eight Ball 415
Chapter 18 Drills for Eight Ball 423

Appendix 441

 
Table of Contents

Part I – Getting Started   
1 - Learning Eight Ball  
 
    
Your Path to Great Eight Ball      
It’s All About Change     
Programming Your Pool Computer           
The Value of Knowledge      
How Much Do You Need to Know?     
What You Need to Know When Playing     
Three Kinds of Knowledge                      
Becoming A Great Student     
The Language of Eight Ball
     
Learning and Remembering                               
Course of Study      
The Recommended Courses on Eight Ball     
New Player - Fast Start                 
C Player - Quantum Leap Time     
B Player - To the Next Level         
A Player - The Winning Edges         
Back to Top
2 - Comparing Table Sizes                 
The Three Main Sizes      
Buying a Table – Choosing the Right Size           
Three Table Comparison                             
The Congestion Factor  (see Sample Pages)         
Fully Appreciating the Problem  (see Sample Pages)    
Big Table vs. Bar Table Eight Ball  (see Sample Pages)         
Big Table’s Open Spaces vs.  Bar Table Congestion  (see Sample Pages) 
Playing on All Sizes      
Competitive Opportunities Abound           
Switching Back and Forth     
Strategic Comparison      
The Primary Skills                   
Long Shot Comparison     
Common Bar Table Problems
Roll Offs     
Other Problems     

3 - The Rules               
A Short Course on Ethics and Strategy     
WPA Rules of Eight Ball
  (see Sample Pages)         
Split Hits     
Judging Double Hits     
Cue Ball on the Break Shot     
Legal Shots     
Spotting Balls         
Calling Shots     
Racking the Balls                   
Legal Kick Shots     
Ball In Hand     
A Legal 8-Ball Combination      
Scratching on the 8-Ball     
The Real World of Eight Ball      
Playing By the Rules     
Avoiding Bad Hits     
Understand How the Balls Move     
The Worst “Rules” In Eight Ball     
Summary of Important Rules
      

Part II – Offense
4 – Shotmaking  
             
Fundamentals for Eight Ball     
Stance
     
Grip     
The Bridge     
The Stroke     
Warm Up Strokes     
12 Keys for Getting in Stroke     
Basic Shotmaking      
The Feel Method             
Corner Pocket Openings       
Your Money Shot      
A Game of Rail Bridge Shots     
Game Winning Shots                
Master the Soft Roll Shot       
Side Pocket Shotmaking      
Side Pocket Openings (I)      
Side Pocket Openings (II)     
Bar Table Side Pocket Openings      
Side Pocket Possibilities     
The Target    (see Sample Pages)         
Side Pocket Cut Angles    (see Sample Pages)         
Side Versus Corner?    (see Sample Pages)                 
Partially Blocked Pockets       
Partial Pocket Shots          
Checking for Clearance       
Making Partially Blocked Shots       
Visual Distractions       
Identical Shots – or Are They?       
Ball Are “Eye Magnets”       
Shotmaking in Congestion         
Specialty Shots       
Four Common Short Railers     
Banking Past Traffic                                                               
Two Common Long Railers       
Combos*       
Dead and Near Dead Combos     
Combos – Special Situations     
Caroms     
All Purpose Caroms       
Carom for Position     
Three Basic Billiards     
Two Common Uses of Billiards     
Combining Shots         
Rail First      
Three Uses for Rail First       
Squeeze-By Shot     
Half Masse Shots                  

5 - Break Shots           
Winning the Break   (see Sample Pages)                          
Who Breaks     (see Sample Pages)      
Lagging for the Break    (see Sample Pages)       
When the Break is not an Advantage  (see Sample Pages)         
Watch the Coin Flip     (see Sample Pages)      
Racking for the Break   (see Sample Pages)        
The Rack    (see Sample Pages)       
Where the Balls Go   (see Sample Pages)         
Accept Imperfection                                       
The Mechanics of the Break      
The Break Stance     
Front Arm     
Bridge Length     
Grip Cueing     
The Break Shot Stroke     
The Break Shots       
The Center Break for Control     
The Second Ball Break     
Soft Break Defense            
Reyes Breaks In the 8-Ball         
Adjusting to The Conditions      
The Racks Are Breaking Wide Open     
The Racks are Not Coming Apart Very Well         

6 - Position Play         
Position in a Nutshell         
The Where & How of the Cue Ball      
Improving Your Position       
The Cue Ball’s Four Phases              
The Magic Formula (I)       
The Magic Formula (II)       
Bar Table Eight Ball Position       
Light vs. Heavy Cue Ball       
Using the Side and Corner Pockets      
Using English Effectively       
Speed Control       
The Spectrum of Speeds               
Filling in the Gaps          
Perfecting Your Touch       
Position Routes You Must Know             
Stop Shot      
Stun Shot       
Soft Follow Shots       
Angled Follow Shots        
Draw       
Angled Draw Shots      
Short Range Draw Shots       
1-Rail Follow      
1-Rail Draw      
Pocket Hangers       
Advanced Position Play   (see Sample Pages)             
Draw Floater   (see Sample Pages)          
Finesse Draw Through Traffic   (see Sample Pages)            
No Rail Float Distances    (see Sample Pages)         
Precision Stun       
Draw/Stun       
Draw/Stun Wizardry     
Follow/Stun       
Follow/Stun Floater     
Finesse 2-Railer       
Pound Shots       
Pounding Cross Table       
Precision Pounding       
Side Pocket to the End Rail       
Approaching the Rail at an Angle                                   
Two Useful Routes        
Side Pocket Floater        
Opposite Routes (I)        
Opposite Routes (II)       
Down the Long Rail        
Creativity and Execution = A Super Shot        
Using English for Position        
Spinning Your Ball          
Basic Spin Shots        
Weaving Through Traffic        
Spin Follow        
No Rail Position Play       
Hold Shots        
Spin to Increase Sideways Travel      
Masse Cut Shot Escapes the End Rail          
English Off the Rail       
Soft Outside English Draw Floater        
Kill Shots with Inside English          
Reyes Caught in the Act        
Position Zones         
Choosing a Route          
The Most Common and Desired Cut Angles               
Learn Traveling Distances        
In the Zone   (see Sample Pages)         
Identifying the Zone   (see Sample Pages)                 
Down the Line   (see Sample Pages)             
Entering the Wide Side   (see Sample Pages)           
Grades of Position        
The Pinpoint Approach        
The Position Play Paradox        
The Real Zone        
Working with off Angles         
The Big Ball Obstructer         
Pocketing for Position        
Precision “Cheating”        
Variety            
When You Need Speed       
Eliminate the Angle       
Either Side of Straight On       
Cheating the Side Pocket        
Fine Points of Position       
Precision Planning      
Tangent Line Connecting Points        
Testing Your Tangent Vision        
Precise Planning Using the Tangent Line      
Angle of Departure for Position        
Distance from Rail        
Position Route Predictability (I)       
Position Route Predictability (II)           
The Obstacle Course       
Negotiating the Obstacle Course        
Finesse Your Way By Obstacles        
Tolerances In Avoiding Obstructers          
Hitting Balls for Shape       
Using a Stopper        
Bumping with Accuracy       
Precision Ball Bumping        
Glancing off a Ball for Position        
Combo Shape       
Combo Nightmares        
Control on a Combo      
Controlling the Object Ball on a Combo       
Rail Targets       
Diamonds are Your Friends      
Cross-town Using the Road Signs              

7 – Clusters      
Cluster Busting – An Overview       
The Problem                        
Common Mistakes               
Three Cluster Busting Tools        
The Tangent Line            
Angle of Departure        
Breaking Off the Rail        
Making Precise Contact        
Gaps and Points         
Where to Hit the Target Ball         
The Right Speed         
Before and After   (see Sample Pages)           
Reading the Cluster   (see Sample Pages)          
Where Will They Go?   (see Sample Pages)          
A Master Cluster Break    (see Sample Pages)          
The Next Shot            
Take Out Some Insurance            
Classic Insurance Ball        
Long Distance Insurance Ball        
Different Types of Locations       
Distance to the Cluster       
Clusters in the Open         
Clusters on the Rail            
Timing the Cluster Break        
Timing the Cluster Break        
Opportunity Knocks       
Advanced Planning        
Cluster Busting Scenarios        
Don’t Break Up Balls Unnecessarily            
8-Ball on a Disaster                      
High Risk Cluster Breaking        
Two Double Cluster Breaks         
Drawback Cluster Breaks        
Masse Break Out                                          
Creative Cluster Busting Shape        
Playing for a Roll on a Breakout         
Breaking for Runouts        
Large Cluster Breaks         
Mass Cluster Busting       
When to Blast a Cluster       
Side Pocket Shots to Break Clusters       
Side Rail Mass Clusters        
Good Clusters        
The Perfect Cluster         
Good Clusters        

8 - Problem Balls          
Balls in Bad Locations        
Balls on the Rail Near the Side        
Balls on the End Rail       
Balls in the Middle (I       ) 
Balls in the Middle (II)       
Trouble Balls         
Difficult to Get Position On        
Access Balls                    
The Open Trouble Ball      
Shadow Balls                        
Avoiding the Shadow Ball       
Dealing with the Shadow Ball        
Partial Pockets   (see Sample Pages)          
Big Blocker Balls   (see Sample Pages)               
Position Lane Blockers    (see Sample Pages)          
Two Birds with One Cue Ball   (see Sample Pages)          
8-Ball Blocks Pocket        
The 1.5 Diamonds Rule                    
Eliminate Your Own Blocker          
Opponent’s Balls that Guard the 8-Ball        
Timing is Critical        
Strike While You Can         
Don’t Be Greedy        
Take Care of Trouble Now        
Solve the Bigger Problem Now      
Shooting Balls Away from the Mainstream        
Saving the Problem Ball Till Last        
Follow the Dominoes        
Patterns to the Trouble Ball          
A-1 Top Priority        
Precision Planning and Execution        
Double Trouble         
Clear an Area of a Big Problem       
Pocket Blockers                
Combo Carom Removes Blocker        
Carom a Blocker Out of the Way        
Two Problems – Two Solutions        
Stripping Pocket Blockers        
Two Game Winners        

9 - Offensive Play                  
Tools for the Planning Process     
Three Balls at a Time (I)                        
The Five Basic Possibilities          
Three Balls at a Time (II)        
Pay Attention to Details                                                            
Survey the Table Before Shooting              
Use Landmarks to Plan Position       
Use Your Imagination                                                                
A Creative Solution      
Creative Bank Shape        
Safety or Shot – Play Your Game        
Play the High Percentage Sequence                                          
Take the Hard Shot – Balancing Shots        
Pocket Choice        
Bar Table Position         
Consider All Six Pockets       
Check Available Pockets      
Far Pocket Shape         
Play to the Long Side         
The Short Side        
Winning Pattern Concepts   (see Sample Pages)         
Clearing Out an Area    (see Sample Pages)           
Clearing Two Sections   (see Sample Pages)         
Take the Low Balls First   (see Sample Pages)         
Up and Down the Table    (see Sample Pages)            
Two Balls to the Same Pocket                
Balls in the Middle      
Looks Easy But Its Not      
Operating from the Center      
Guaranteed Shape                                     
Cinching Long Range Shape        
Using an Easy Shot to Play Difficult Shape      
Shotmaking/Position Matrix              
Playing Position for a Tougher Shot on Purpose      
Taking Pot Luck                         
Playing for a Roll and Position         
Bank Position                                
Setting Up a Combo      
Getting Shape on a Combo      
Plan B            
Develop a Plan B Mentality                    
Playing Position on Two Balls at Once      
Two Ways the Hard Way      
Insurance Position Balls      
Plan B Choices           
Choose a New Route              
A New Pattern      
Recovering from an Error                       
Changed Sequence   (see Sample Pages)          
Plan B Breakouts   (see Sample Pages)          
Plan C   (see Sample Pages)         
Abandoning a Runout – Plan B       
Abandoning a Runout (I)             
Abandoning a Runout (II)      
Safety Time      
Risk Management        
Take Nothing for Granted        
Develop Your Early Warning System          
Margin for Error       
Right Side/Wrong Side (I)                                                               
Right Side/Wrong Side (II)                                                                
When to Play Area Shape                                                      
Avoid Tying up Balls        
Plan Your Route and Avoid Obstructions                                
Skirting Disaster      
What if You Might Run Into Them?        
Avoid Scratching        
Direct to Pocket Scratches      
Two More Possible Scratches        
The Cue Ball’s Initial Path After Contact      
Three Ways to Avoid a Scratch      
“On” or “Off”        
Angle of Departure to Avoid a Scratch      
Scratch Zones – Side Pockets       
Scratch Zones – Corner Pockets      

10   – Runout Eight Ball          
When to Play Offense         
The Big Questions                               
What Makes a Pattern Difficult?      
Rating a Layout –The 1-5 Scale       
Odds for Each Level of Player      
What is Your Level of Play?      
A Method for Deciding If You Should Attempt a Runout      
General Rules for Timing a Runout Attempt      
The B Players Lament      
The Biggest Blunder in Pool        
The Failed Runout      
Your and Your Opponent’s Failed Runouts           
Hot to Spot a Failed Runout            
The Big Net Indicator                                              
Avoiding the Failed Runout                                    
The Eight Ball Player’s Promise      
Key Balls  (see Sample Pages)           
The All Important Key Ball   (see Sample Pages)           
Characteristics of the Best Key Balls  (see Sample Pages)           
Excellent Second Choice Key Balls   (see Sample Pages)                
Congestion Increases the Need for a Key Ball                            
Unusual Key Balls or “9-Ball Position” on the 8-Ball       
When to Shoot a Key Ball Prematurely         
When to Improve a Key Ball        
KB2KB       
KB2KB (I)        
KB2KB (II)        
KB2KB to the Hidden Key Ball       
Process of Elimination Planning        
Introduction to PEP      
It Starts with a Runnable Rack      
Running Out in Sections Using PEP              
Process of Elimination Planning in Action (I)       
Process of Elimination Planning in Action (II)       
The Last 3-5 Balls           
Become a Closer                         
An End Game Runout Disaster        
Open Table Runouts       
Open Table Errors        
End Game Pro Precision – Closing the Deal       
Negotiating End Game Traffic        
A Precise End Game Pattern            
Precision End Game Run Out        
Play Them as They Lie      
Run Killers        
Phil Capelle’s Player Review         
Imagining the Future      
Balls in the Middle      
Nearly Impossible       
Accept the Layout         
Don’t Let the 8-Ball Distract You        
Runouts from Master Play        
Precision Runout in Traffic       
Includes a Bank            
One Tough Runout       
Connecting the Dots in Style       

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