Strategies

| Play Strategies

3-Ball | 8-Ball | 9-Ball | Straight Pool

3-Ball Strategy

Beginner Players:

- If you can’t make the last ball play a safety.

Better Players:

- Break shot is important, practice making at least one ball.
- Run Out!

8-ball Strategy

Beginner Players:

- Go for the easy shots first.
- If you don’t have a good shot, then play a safety.
- Strike tight groups of balls hard, but avoid moving 8-ball.
- If your opponent has a ball in a pocket opening from which he can get easy position for the next shot and run the table, then you may want to forfeit your turn at the table by pocketing the ball leaving your opponent with a difficult shot.

Better Players:

- Don’t try to run the table unless your chances are very good. Pocketing your balls out of the way gives your opponent an easier shot at running the table.
- Move your balls around and try to the ball positions for you and make it harder for your opponent. When things improve and you think you can run the table, then do so.
- Pocket some balls and play safe with others.
- If you are face with a difficult shot then you may want to hide the cue ball behind an object ball.
- Another is to leave the cue ball as close to the rail as possible or knock your opponent’s ball away from the pocket opening.

9-ball Strategy

Beginner Players:

- Break hard to get the 9-ball moving.
- Don’t try to run the table unless your chances are good.
- Always play to score and play safe on difficult shots.
- Play a safety by shooting the ball close to a rail, which makes that ball harder to pocket for your opponent.

Better Players:

- Play to control the table control. Run the table or play safe. Don’t give your opponent good shots, he might run the table on you.

- Visualize how to how you can score your shots and make it difficult for your opponent to score his shots. Plan several shots ahead.
- In stead of trying to pocket a difficult shot, strike the object ball softly to lag the cue ball to the farthest or a nearby rail. Your opponent is left with the difficulty of striking the cue ball above center and with a raised butt and hopefully shoot with greater distance between the cue ball and object ball.
- Front runners should try the more difficult shots.
- Play more safeties to wear down a front runner.

Straight Pool Strategy

Beginner Players:

- Make easy shots first.
- Shot the short shots first.
- Play safe shots if you don’t have a good shot to make.

Better Players:

- Pocket balls at the rack end of the table first.
- Try to leave alternate balls to shoot in case you get out of line.
- Try to break up tight groups of balls. A hard shot is not required to break up tight groups.
- Don’t bump balls unless you must, it can cause tight groups.