Best Defensive Strategy for 8 Ball

4/10/2010 11:28:35 AM

Best Defensive Strategy for 8 Ball

I was wondering about what makes a good defensive strategy for eight ball. It seems to me that a mix of offense and defense is key to 8 ball.

Is it best to play defensive earlier on in the game mostly? It seems that once you have pocket several balls it would be much more difficult (and possibly less helpful) to play defensively.

Alternatively, is it possible to play a super defensive game and still have a good chance of winning? I notice playing my friend (who does not often make use of defensive plays) he tends to get very frustrated when I play defense.

I know pool is somewhat of a mental game, so I was thinking of applying a heavily defensive game to gain some advantage in that way.

Pool87

Best Defensive Strategy for 8 Ball

Replies & Comments

quickshot on 4/10/2010 2:33:34 PM
Don't go off on a tangent. Many a defensive shot bacfires on the shooter. But defense is the name of the game i almost any sport. You can play defense any time it suits you. If you are faced with a very low percentage shot it is a good time to play defense whether in the beginning or the end. There is a lot of common sense involved here.

Instead of leting your friend get upset at your defense teach defense to him so he will also have a weapon to play with.

quickshot on 4/10/2010 2:37:27 PM
Go here and take your friend. Then you will both have alevel playing field.

Defensive 8 Ball Strategy

Mitch Alsup on 4/10/2010 4:14:48 PM
Two rules govern safety play:

If you cannot complete a run, it is best to duck while you still have balls to duck behind.

If you are not playing to the level where you can mostly complete a run when the opportunity presents itself, concentrate more on offense and less on defense.

gibson on 4/10/2010 7:54:00 PM
Once my choice of balls have been determined, I like to size up the shape of the table. What are the impediments to my running out; which balls will key my eight ball shot, assuming the eight will remain in the general section of the table; which balls of the opponent will impede. I usually form a defensive strategy based on forcing my opponent to remove impeding balls by denying him to shoot at the simpler balls. If he has an easy table and I have clusters, I am playing defense all the way until it opens up for me. It is totally situational, but all other things being even, I like to maximize my odds of running out and deny my opponent those same odds.

Best Defensive Strategy for 8 Ball

Title: Best Defensive Strategy for 8 Ball
Author: Pool87 (Shane Parker)
Published: 4/10/2010 11:28:35 AM