CHAPTER 7
Nine Ball

Home Page - Play Your Best Pool
Shotmaking
Winning Nine Ball
Adjusting to the Competition

Nine Ball Strategies
Planning to Break a Cluster
Don't Break Balls That Don't Need to be Broken
When to Play a Tough Combo
Moving a Trouble Ball
Breaking Up a Cluster in Traffic
Playing for a Roll on a Breakout
When to Ride the Money Ball
When to Pass on a Combo
Playing Two at a Time
Knocking a Ball Closer to the Pocket
Trouble Balls in the Middle of the Table
Winning with the Three Foul Rule

Evaluating the Layout
Easy Runout
A Tough Rack that can be Run
Potential Run Stoppers
Potential Run Stopper (II)
Weighing the Options: Offense vs. Defense
No Possible Runout
Play the Table; Don't Force the Issue

Position Play and Patterns
Playing for Three Balls at a Time
Playing for the Correct Angle
The Importance of Speed Control
Pattern Play
Advanced Pattern Play
When to Play Straight-In Position
The "Out Shot" - Getting in Line

The Last Three Balls
The Importance of the Last Three Balls
Going the Extra Rail for Position
A Difficult Three Ball Run

Push Out Strategies
Push Outs
Push Out Principles
Push Out Strategies
Pushing Out to a Shot
Sucker Shot vs. Smart Safety
Beware of the Easy Hook
Get the 9-Ball out of the Pocket
Free Shots - Accepting Them
No Good Push Out - The Forced Kick
Push Out to a Tough Shot
Shoot In and Easy 1-Ball

The Break
Goals for the Break
The Break Stroke
Setting up the Shot for the Break
Where the Balls go on the Break

Safety Play
What is a Safety?
Required Skills
How Much Ball to Hit
Stopping Distance of the Object Ball
Thin Hit vs. Bank Shot
Leaving Tough Shots
Drag Draw from a Distance
Inside English Kill Shot
Soft Follow Hook Shot
A Situation to Avoid
Using a Holding Ball
No Shot Thin Hit Safety

Hook Zones
How to Determine the Side of Hook Zone
Frozen Hook Zones
Multiple Ball Hook Zones
Two Rails to a Hook Zone
Double Bank Hook Shot
Three Rail Hook Shot Freeze
Against the Object Ball
Pass on Tough Combo
Ball Near Rail Create Large Hook Zones
Three Rail Thin Hit Safety
Thin Hit Hook Behind a Ball
Cluster Racks offer Hook Shots

Thin Hit Safeties
Large Target Safety Plays
Thin Hit Double Cross Safety
Down the Side Rail Safety
Thin Hit with a Soft Touch
Thin Hit with a Ball in Hand

Setting up the Rack
Set up a Combination
Getting Easier Position on the Next Ball
Breaking up Clusters
Running Out to a Hook

Pass On Shot
Thin Hit Double Bank Safety
Pass on an Easy Shot that Leads Nowhere

1/2 Shot 1/2 Safety
Thin Cut Shot Safeties
Safety Cross Corner Bank Shots
Cross Side Bank Safeties
Long Rail Bank Safeties
Cross Table Bank/Hook Shot

How to Play Kick Shots
Notes and Strategies on the Kicking Game
Improve Your Skills with Kick Pool
Short Rail Kick Shot Target Size
Kick Shot Approach Angle
Trapping the Object Ball
Size of Kicking Channels
Kick Routes

Kick Shot Safeties
Soft Hit Safety Kick
One Rail Safety Kick
Sticking the Cue Ball with follow
Sticking the Cue Ball with Draw
Avoid the Open End of the Table
Kicking with Speed and Accuracy
Splitting the Cue Ball and The Object Ball

Kick to Hit
The Triangle Method
Using English to Avoid other Balls
Difficult to Aim Kick Shots
Curve Kick Shots

Kick to Pocket
Kicking Balls in Using the Triangle Method
Kick Shots Along the Rail
The Power Ride Kick Shot
The Forced Kick Shot
Short Rail Kick Shots
Adjusting Your Aim on Kick Shots
Playing Position on Kick Shots
Sucker Kick Shots