8-ball pool is one of the most common varieties of the game. If you play in a bar, billiards hall, at a friend’s home or on your own table, chances are this is a game you’ll play.
While 9-ball can be a lot of fun, being a good 8-ball player can really help you impress your friends and win some games. Keep reading to learn more about 8-ball tips and tricks that will result in a killer performance every time.
Pick the Right Cue
It might sound like a tip that isn’t really helpful, but picking the right cue for your game really can make a huge difference. To start, you need to inspect the cues you have access to for warping or unnatural curves.
Once you find a straight cue, inspect the tip and make sure it isn’t damaged. If you hear a cracking sound during your first shot, opt for a different cue altogether.
Perfect your Break
Without a perfect break, winning a game of 8-ball really could be out of the question, especially against a good opponent. If your break is particularly bad, you might even scratch, leaving the table open for a skilled player.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, practice your break regularly. You might find that breaking from an angle works better for you than trying to hit the ball straight on. Whatever you do, make it a routine part of your game and you’ll play better all the time.
Practice Difficult Shots
Many players practice pool simply by playing the game, even if they’re doing so alone. While that might be fun, and better than doing nothing at all, it won’t help you with the difficult shots you don’t make during games.
Set up bank shots, long runs and even tough angles to get better at making them when it really counts. Over time, you’ll find that situations tend to repeat themselves, and practicing what’s hard for you will make in-game competition a whole lot easier.
