The camera angle sometimes makes it difficult to see which shots "go" and which don't. Other than an overhead camera, there probably isn't much you can do to solve that, though. It's always interesting to see different run-out strategies than the one that may first seem obvious. Having other choices is a good thing. Thanks, Dr. Dave.
An overhead camera would be nice, but my ceiling is not very high. I should have at least shown one or more different views after the break. I'll be sure to do this next time.
I was going to comment this exact thing about an overhead camera but I knew a low ceiling would make that hard. A wide angle lens would give it a warped look which isn't necessarily much better. Either way, still a good thought provoking video.
It would be enough to tell us which balls go if the answer is critical. I don't think it would reveal too much about which parts of the rack deserve attention.
04:14 in rack 2, I would pick stripes and leave ball 11 as the key ball to the 8. Take 14, 12, 15, 9, 10, 13 then 11. 8 could go either side pockets depending on which side of the 11 the cue ball lands on. Just my 2 cents perspective! Love your vids!
This video has a ton of gems in it: calming yourself after a great shot (see jump shot, flubbed 8), don't try to manufacture shape when decent shape is available...and I'm only half way thru! Cheers 👍
I'm glad you liked it. FYI, I have a lot more like this in my "Run-Out Examples With Commentary and Instruction" playlist: ru-vid.com/group/PLH9d4KFY28XvSPUa4VAKp47822aPYFYgx Check them out.
But I realize you are doing a great service putting these videos out and you mainly do this from your table. So thank you for all you do for pool. But I would really enjoy seeing how you approach bar box 8 ball
13.00 The Casio Keyboard Auto Mode (KCAM scientific term) was Too D*mn Loud (TDL) for the remaining runouts so I had to disengage playback and bail (DPAB).
Your videos are some of the best detailed instructionals on RU-vid, Ty! I was wondering if you would take a request on making an instructional video for improving a 10 ball break?
I'm glad you like my stuff. FYI, I cover the 10-ball break in detail here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/break/10-ball/ Most of the advice is the same as with the 8-ball power break from close to the center, covered in detail in the videos here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/break/8-ball/ Enjoy!
I love your videos. I agree that your quizzes are hard sometimes because I can't see if the ball will go clean. I would looooove it if you could put a graphic of what english you are using on a video like this. I would watch countless run outs to see how the ball moves.
Watch the video again. I include a spin diagram (with the tip position on the ball) in the upper right corner for every shot. FYI, I have many more videos like this in my "Run-Out Examples With Commentary and Instruction" playlist: ru-vid.com/group/PLH9d4KFY28XvSPUa4VAKp47822aPYFYgx Check them out.
@@DrDaveBilliards It would be great if you could put it on the fast moving rumoits like at the end. Where we could just watch countless run-outs while studying ball movement in relation to English usage. Thanks for the reply. Like I said I love your videos. You've done a lot for the sport.
@@xjcrossx IMO, a better way to learn and master CB control is to watch videos and work on drills specifically dealing with this topic. Here is a good place to find such resources: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/cue-ball-control/
Yes. No. These weren't 20 consecutive run-outs. I had some failed run-outs in between that I did not include. Also, the pockets on my table are a little bigger than typical pro tournament conditions.
I've been watching your videos for years and you put out the best informational billiard content I've found on the internet. One thing that I've noticed over the years of watching you play is that you seem to prefer to shoot draw shots when you can. I've always been told that follow/stun shots are easier to control speed on and therefore positioning since you're not changing the natural direction of the cue ball. An example of this is at 3:18 where you elected to draw off the four when it looked like you could've just stunned, or added a touch of right, and come off the short rail and back up towards the middle of the table for the next ball. I know there was a wide margin of error on that draw shot it was just the simplest example I could find on the video. Others I saw involved changing the overall ball pattern and would've been more difficult to describe.
Good points. That 3:18 shot was a little straight, and my pockets are big, so I didn't want to risk rolling forward. I do like draw shots, though, especially when they let me keep the CB on a tighter "leash."
The pockets might be "huge" but some of those don't like to let the balls in. That top left pocket was my nemesis! 15:15 - That's one heck of an opening shot! On the rail with a long cut shot passing the side pocket and into my nemesis pocket too lol 19:13 - Another tough shot to make shooting over a ball with firm speed. Beautiful runout. 20:05 - Loved the whistle!!! LOL
Thanks for watching and for the comments Adam. Agreed, my huge pockets do spit out certain types of shots easily. I hope we get to teach and play together again soon.
#1 solds, #2 Stripes, #3 50/50 (not able to see all angles on solids but looks ok) go with Solids, #4 Stripes, #5 Stripes. As for the others, the pause between last ball still rolling and you getting into position for the first shot was too short so in all fairness, I just enjoyed. Thanks for a great video.
Thanks for this, it's really helpful hearing you share your reasoning for why you make the choices you do in the first 5 racks. I wish you would give 5 seconds after the break shot for racks 6-20 to allow us the chance to pause the video, look at the layout, and think about how we'd try to solve the problem of running 8 balls straight each time, and then we could compare what we would've tried with what you then do. Thanks for all your wonderful pool instructional videos!
You're welcome, and thank you. The pockets are big (5" mouth), but they play much tighter than you might think, especially at fast speed. See: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XYau6pv6zaU.html However the large size does help most of the time, especially with slow-speed shots.
Hi Dr. Dave! I've been watching your content for a few months now, and I really appreciate everything that you do! It has given me so much insight to the game and these videos have drastically improved my pool game! I have recently misplaced my favorite playing cue, and it was a gift to me. I feel pretty bad about it and I was hoping you could give me some encouraging words. I'll let you know if I do find it eventually. Cheers!
I’m sorry to hear about your cue. I hope you find it. If you don’t, just remember that the player is much more important than the cue. A good player can play well with any cue (as long as the top holds chalk).
@@DrDaveBilliards I agree about player- and cue quality, plus I think the good tip (shape, texture, alignment) can overcome a bad cue. W.C. Fields did the billiards community a disservice when he started rolling cues on the table to see if they were (inconsequentially) warped. Might've been funny, though!
Love these types of videos! One proposal for you, Dave. Have you toyed with the idea of doing this same kind of video, but making an attempt at running out each option? I.e., running out solids, setting the table back up to what it was, then making an attempt at running stripes? For us APA players, sometimes we're stuck having to run out the more difficult balls. Regardless, thanks for the great video!
I'm convinced that your problem with the eight after the jump is one of the things several pros really need to concentrate on and keep in mind. I can't tell you how often I see a pro convert a difficult shot to be in nice line for a next either simple or REALLY simple shot, exactly the kind they love to set up when the cue is on a string, and then miss that shot. One player playing now that is very good about not doing this is SVB. He seems to give EVERY shot respect like it's absolutely as important as the difficult spectacular solutions. Because of this I think I could find just about every other pro, including pinnacle pros like Pagulayan encountering this problem more than guys like Shane or Efren. Could be more subjective than objective, but that is the feeling I've gotten. Heck, I've seen pros do it once on the match money ball, for THREE shots in a row, meaning two missed shots for one, one missed shot for the other, all simple stupid perfectly distanced and inline shots, and in one of them the object ball was a foot or less from the pocket, IIRC. Even with top pros, on very rare occasions, you see them look like rank amateurs like that. Usually for a very short time, but it happens. Then you get the Efren or Pag smile, and no smiles at all from some of the others. I doubt any of them are smiling inside right at that point. I've related this before but one day I was watching Tommy Kennedy practicing, and he went to hit a short shot and screwed it up 100%. The shot was about as easy as it gets, he took it, looked up at me with a strange look on his face and said "I missed the whole ball". I laughed and told him as a rank amateur it did my heart good to see that. He just smiled and went back to shooting. Seems like a really nice guy. And watching him practice was severely humbling. It wasn't even a miscue, BTW. Weird crap happens. Mind somewhere else, I expect, kind of the whole point here. Nice runs BTW, except I wouldn't have gone the way you did on the second one with the two rail out of the corner cue ball that ended up snookered. When you showed the shot and cue path you picked my statement to my wife was "no way". You had much simpler and less dangerous patterns available there. Again, good to see people who know what the hell they are doing do dumb stuff. We all do, welcome to the human race. Cheers, thx for the vid! These patterning vids are extremely useful. For people that want to see more of that beyond what you have provided ZeroX is another VERY good channel to utilize for that, and FX Billiards has a few, as well. There are a fair amount of junk pool channels, but there are a few other very good ones, as well. VEEB is obviously a another best choice. I don't think you can get too much instruction on this aspect. Another obvious really good resource is watch the PROS run out tables.
I do what happened in rack 3 way to often. I need to learn to take a moment, take a breath and let my adrenaline subside after making a good shot because I tend to miss or not give the next shot enough respect.
Great vids. SOOOO helpful. Really enjoy the pause after the break to decide what I think I would do...then watch your approach. Also love seeing the cue impact position on the cue ball for the shots, super helpful for understanding what the cue ball will do for position.
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. If you want to see more like this, check out the videos in my "Run-Out Examples With Commentary and Instruction" playlist: ru-vid.com/group/PLH9d4KFY28XvSPUa4VAKp47822aPYFYgx Enjoy!
Excelente video y excelente jugador, quisiera jugar como usted Dr Dave, jugador muy técnico e inteligente, nuevo suscritor, espero aprender mucho de su canal ya que tengo mucho que aprender, acabo de empezar en el Pool con 21 años 💪🎱
During pause; I figured top left English to break out the 9 as my first shot dealing with it first and hoping for an angle on it. I indicated Rack 3 in the comments the moment I saw you shot a Solid to point out your path is much better! I am a novice player so it was very cool to see. I even thought of draw as the first shot to 14 to shoot the Stripes "clock wise video pov" or if 14 left me a draw combo on the side pocket as a 2nd shot.
4:23 you decide to clear the stripes at the bottom of the table first. I was thinking to go 11 or 14, and then down table to clear 13 and 10 (which ever order is best), and then the 9, and then use the 15 or 12 as key ball for 8 into the left side pocket.
I never use the second ball break anymore. A lot of tournaments and cash games I play don't count the 8 anymore. More so in cash games that's all I usually play. I like the classic just off center diamond break straight line to one ball about a quarter tip right quarter tip high from right side of table and vice versa. Just over 80 percent strength unlike they all say. The cue stays around mid table almost every time and once perfected you can make balls. I use same the type of break every game almost. Switching sides or slightly more or less angle in practice to find the tables sweet spot for me. Could be different for everyone. I use it in every game I break 8 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball, etc. Unless it's snooker type or one pocket those type of games I play a legal defensive break. If the guys a jerk I'll play a defensive break in every type game. Nine ball and 7 ball I break around 60%/ 70% strength though
I think a quick on-screen flash of either an overlay identifying the balls or even just a quick ChalkySticks diagram would be a good touch. Those shiny balls may look nice but it's difficult to spot the 8 from the other dark balls on screen.
Agreed. This would be nice (although, the diagrams would take a lot of time and effort). I should have at least provided one of more additional camera angles after the break. I'll try to do that in the future.
@@DrDaveBilliards You have helped my game more than enough that I would happily make ChalkySticks diagrams for you. You could send me a photo of the layout and I could put it ito a link to their pad and you could edit it if something is off. I have been spending time trying to make ChalkySticks diagrams for the book "how would you play this?" by George Fels in an effort to better understand the point and I'm getting pretty quick at it.
@@DrDaveBilliards we've chatted on Facebook before, I will let you know who I am on there, I don't normally check RU-vid notificications. You'll see it and go "yeah, that guy bugs me all the time, I'm putting him to work" lol.
In the beginning of the video, you prefaced that using the 2nd ball break isn't good on a 9' foot table. But that's exactly what you did in Rack 1. Why did you choose to break it this way?
I like two things here Dr... the fact that you show that even at your level you are still learning and you also show the miss shot on the 8 and most importantly.... you show how to run a rack even when you didn't break and pocket a ball.... Commenting from a different device Dr.... this is apex predator billiards club
PROs are still learning ALL their lives. In fact I've heard a few of them say they've picked up shots a few times from lower level amateurs. Sometimes something they see that happens that might even be unintentional that looks useful, so they work it out in practice and perfect it.
That's a good idea ... showing when and how to play winning safeties when it is appropriate to do so. Although, I already do have lots of videos and info dealing with safety play under the sub topics here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/safety/ Enjoy!
I want to say well done alternating sides on your break. However, i dont like the consistency on the 2nd ball break as cue ball it seems to be closer to the bottom rail giving less options and.. more clusters at that end of the table. Just my thoughts and what i noticed too. As always big fan!
On a 9' table that racks tightly, I definitely prefer the more-traditional head-ball 8-ball break presented in my "8-Ball RUN-OUTS and BREAK ADVICE" video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eGAEfE71WPc.html But on a bar-box with old balls and worn cloth that doesn't rack well, I have had much better success with the 2nd-ball break, as demonstrated in my "8-BALL 2nd-Ball Break Strategy" video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jR1C4VY4uKg.html
Never opt for a combo if you don't need to. Let alone to start. The 4 went straight in bottom rt corner after 6 before 8. You're making it harder with the combo and increasing the odds of either a miss or a tie up.
@@RabahRayanNabilEl16 Nice. That's a good thing to do, especially before you are about to play. I always seem to play better after watching world-class pro matches.
@@DrDaveBilliards yeah Man! I like to watch Efren and Earl, the color of money match before I go to play in a tournament or something so for me watching pool like this helps
I already cover the "spot on the wall" system in detail in the video and article here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/bank-kick/spot-on-wall/ Check them out.
Thanks for all,your videos Dr. Dave. One observation that I’d like to mention regarding the second ball break. If you (Dr. Dave) were playing an opponent as skilled as yourself, you might lose every game because you don’t appear to make any balls on the break with the second ball break. How would you counteract that situation in real games?
Listen to the beginning of the video again. The 2nd-ball break is not a good choice on a 9' table. I was using it on purpose to create more interesting ball layouts. FYI, breaking advice for 9' vs. bar boxes can be found here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/break/8-ball/
Rack 4, I'd have played completely different. Looks like you could've drawn on your first shot at the 6. But by hitting the 1 later into the corner pocket, your cue ball would've separated the 2 and 8. Then run em out. Looked more challenging for stripes.
@@DrDaveBilliards I can't say the runout for sure but it looks like maybe a little top on 6 will also push 9 to rail leaving the 3 for side. Stop for the 1 in the corner for the breakout on 2 and 8. If 2 is soft, it can be made into corner pocket 4 with top for the leave on 4 or 5. Whichever fits the leave. Stun shot on 4 into corner for leave on 5 in side or visa versa. Either of which are good key balls for the 8. But note: although I am a decent shot, admittedly, I do try to force balls in direction but it is much harder to control speed and power together. It is a fault but that's the run I seen right off the bat. The way you did works, and was great! But it just doesn't fit how I shoot most of the time. Not sure if it's a good thing or not lol you're obviously better than me, but I think different perspectives are a huge factor in making professionals perfect. Just my opinion. Thank you for replying :)
The 6 is pretty straight, and the 9 is a little too high. Getting a good shot on the 3 after the 6 is not very likely (especially with a "little top").
If you watch the video on a big screen it is much easier to see the ball colors (and numbers at times). But multiple views after the break would have been helpful (especially with seeing clearances and angles). I'll try to do that next time.
Hey Dave, great videos. I've been watching them for a few days now as I participate in a local pool tournament for our town. What's your take on extensions vs bridges on long reach shots?
Reading the rule book is inconclusive regarding the legality of tapping any balls in the triangle. In my experience, there is no possibility of consistency, and therefore exploitation, of the break, without tapping the balls to prevent even a minute gap between any balls. It is surprising how even minute gaps anywhere in the initial rack of the balls, will create invariances in the complex carom physics of the break. I have seen your previous video regarding new-fangled system to drop at least one ball. Do I remember correctly that at least one system relies on a well-placed gap in the setup? I eschew such manipulations, but I understand the value of having such a technique in the repertoire of a competition player. Anything more to say?
Tapping balls is not illegal; although, some pool halls might not like it. The same applies to fully training a table: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/break/racking/tight/ It is not legal to purposefully gap a rack, it can be helpful to know how to read a rack. For more info, see my "8-BALL BREAK "CHEAT CODES" and How to Read a Rack" video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kkAlntQrFo8.html And for more info, see the videos and info here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/break/pattern/
Thanks. These were not 20 straight racks. I only included the good racks from the many I recorded. Some of the misses and bad position plays in the racks not included were downright embarrassing. Even the pros don't run out every time.
@@DrDaveBilliards This triggered a tangential thought that I couldn't find on your site: I watched a RU-vid video yesterday that said snooker burns 3% more calories than walking. Can't guess that pool would be much different, but please tell us if you think that sounds about right, especially when you take the time to run 20 racks, etc.!
I definitely burn lots of calories when I am competing and trying to get lots of run-outs on video, because I get intense and focused, and it boosts my heart rate.
Well done all in all! @13:56 did you intend to play the 10 ball in the side from the 13 ball? @16:22 were you playing the 5 or the 10 ball? Both great shots 😀
At 13:56, I was trying to bump into the 4 (on the inside part) to hold for the 10 in the upper corner, but I knew I would probably have options if I missed the 4 At 16:22, I was playing the 5 (the only real problem ball for solids, which otherwise looked better).
Wouldn't mind seeing this on a 7 footer. I would be curious if you are forced to use english a lot more on the smaller table when there are more clusters to deal with.
FYI, I have links to some great pro 8-ball bar-box matches here: billiards.colostate.edu/videos/pool-matches/ Just search or scan for "8-ball" or "bar" on that page to find them.
You know, speed controls are crucial on 7, 8, and 9-foot tables, especially on Chinese 8 Ball tables (since this table uses the same cloth as the snooker table). Oh, aiming has to be very accurate since it has very tight pockets.
Another good video! I have a question: If you are "snookered" in 8-ball is it allowed to intentionally hit your opponent's ball so it ends up snug against one of his other balls?
Thanks. Concerning your question, yes. It would be a foul, giving you ball in hand, but it still might improve your chances to win. For more info, see: billiards.colostate.edu/resources/rules/
In rack 3, could you not have taken the purple (4?) ball instead of playing elevated on the 1? You could have either held the cue ball for the 1 in the side, or rolled past the eight for a midrange shot at it in the corner, getting easy position on the 3 either way. Then it would have just been a case of screwing back off the cushion past the 6, for a nice angle to get nearly anywhere on the 8. Maybe I'm misreading the angle you'd be able to get, but that looks a better option to me, I don't like playing elevated when there's a more controlled option on.
@@DrDaveBilliards You see it a lot in snooker where one risky shot that ends in slightly off position spirals into harder and harder shots, which usually catch up with you. If there's an easier shot on with better control, it's best to change plan and take it. Proactive thinking rather than reactive.
14:50 looks almost like a double hit to me. I know it's not descernable enough, but was it? Great job at making it look so easy. Either you scratch or you run out apparantly :P
FYI, I only included the good racks from the many I recorded. I didn't run out in many of the others, and some of them had bad misses and terrible position plays. Even the pros don't run out every time.
Listen to the beginning of the video. I explain that I am using a poor break on this table on purpose to create more interesting layouts and run-outs. Although, the 2nd ball break can be very effective on a bar box. See my recent "8-BALL 2nd-Ball Break Strategy" video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jR1C4VY4uKg.html
That was pretty good, can't argue with the outcome on any of the racks! Then again, no matter the content --- the nay-sayers will show and try to find something. (We) Knowing better, the proof is in the pudding! Be Safe
Thanks for the supportive comment. I don't claim I made all the right decisions or played every shot perfectly, so it doesn't bother me to read people's feedback. Best regards.
Y doesnt anybody do a 1st ball break head on or at a slight angle???? I seem to be the only one. Im not super good but my breaks r usually pretty good. They seem to be more effective than ALOT of players i seen that do a 2nd ball break. But i realise that is user error n theyre not doing it right. But do u kno anybody who does 1st ball break in 8 ball? If not can u tell me y??? Plz, thanks.
The 1st-ball break at a slight angle is definitely the most popular choice for the reasons in the videos and info here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/break/8-ball/
may i ask why you practise with so big pockets? you have so mutch room to "cheat" angles etc.. or is that more of standard size pockets where you live?
I got this table from Robert Byrne and I like it. The big pockets are not the best for practice, but they do speed up recording tie for my instructional videos, especially when demonstrating difficult shots.
I never have. You might be thinking of Bob Jewett (who I worked with on several DVD projects). I played with an 11.75 Z-2 for a long time. In recent years, I play with a 12.4 Revo.
I did notice you must have been feeling good and letting your stroke out in rack 9 and 10. Bumping balls you didn't need to move. Got away with it but you didn't have to be so lucky
The pockets are big (5" mouth), but they play much tighter than you might think, especially at fast speed. See: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XYau6pv6zaU.html Concerning table size, run-out strategy, pattern play, and CB control principles are still much the same. The main differences are longer shots on the big table and less space and greater chance for clusters on the small table.
If the rack is tight and the balls are not too beat up, the directions the balls head out of the stack should be the same. However, Diamond tables do have bouncier cushions and they bank short, per the info here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/bank-kick/Diamond
Agreed. These break shots were terrible. As I say in the beginning, that was one of the goals for this video. For a more effective 8-ball break on a 9' table, see the videos and info here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/break/8-ball/ Enjoy!
You hardly got anything on the break. Why did you stick with that break when it's so bad? Funny thing is you had a video dedicated to the 2nd ball side break and then in this video you're like 10% on making something on the break.
Accuracy is much more important than power on the break, but lots of advice for (and examples of) getting more power can be found here: billiards.colostate.edu/faq/break/advice/
