Table
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 | Click Here for the rest of the Table of Contents for Play your Best Eight Ball |
|
| 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
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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