I play in an 8 ball league. I've started to take pool more seriously in the last couple of years and play maybe 2 hours/week. I'm NOT that guy who just walks right up to his ball while semi paying attention/talking to someone else at the same time, and fires a ball clear on the other side of the green, directly into a pocket. I have to take my time, concentrate and even then I'm far from a guarantee to pocket a ball. So obv I have a TON of work I need to put in to this game to get better.

So I know it's a matter of repetition. But, in the meantime, what I do not is the tactical elements of the game. Can anyone give me some tips in this regard? Maybe I'm over thinking this...idk? Perhaps it's as simple as "if you can make a shot, take it, else play D." But I read some threads about "positional play" and, after double checking to make sure I was not in a poker forum lol, I realized I had no idea what that meant.

Based on what you have said and your skill level, I will offer this advice.

Until you can pocket most normal shots on the table with a high percentage, do not begin working on playing position. (At least not while using english) Practice on making shots using center cue ball and begin noticing where the cue ball goes based on the speed you use.

After you are comfortable in making shots, then use that speed control as a means of playing position. Look at the next shot on the table and figure out an area you need to be in to have a chance at making the next ball. Practice on getting within that area.

Once you can do this, introduce follow and draw to your game. At first you will probably see an increase on getting the cue ball where you want and a decrease in making your object ball. Dont worry, it gets to be as normal as shooting center ball. After follow and draw, is left and right english or any combination of left/right/follow/draw. These take much practice to become effective.

I dont know if thats what you were looking for, but thats the way I took it.

Thanks DZC. All sounds logical to me.

DZC hit some of it spot on. I noticed two major decreases in my game when I introduced more advanced elements but kept practicing them. Eventually I improved and can now judge speed and the spin I need to set myself up for my leave. When I first started playing though, three rules told to me by a teammate has helped me win matches over the years, even on nights where my shot is off. Whenever it's your turn to shoot you should look at what you want to do in this order, every time:

1. Your shot - First thing you want to do is figure out what ball is going into what pocket. This is the most important step and takes precedence over the next two.

2. Your leave - Where you want to leave the ball for your next shot. I actually consider this and the next step of near equal importance since they both rely on table layout, difficulty of the current shot and your opponent's skill level.

3. Your opponent's leave - If there a decent chance you could miss what shot would your opponent have on the leave? If it's a weaker opponent the leave you give them becomes less important as their chance of running out can drop (depending on table layout, even SL2s can run out on the easiest setups). A stronger opponent requires more planning so that their shot will also be more difficult.

Steps 2 & 3 really only start becoming more important when you learn how to control the cue ball after the object ball, so obviously work on that first. A good exercise to practice is to get a table to yourself once a week, one at a time put a ball on the table and try to hit it into a pocket but have the cue ball stop within a designated area every time. Work on more difficult leaves every time you practice including multiple rails after contact with the object ball and follows under 6 inches on length of table shots.

I haven't played league in over 2 years, but I was a 7 in APA 8 ball with a lifetime win % of about 82%. Before you want to even think about tactics, you want to make sure you have good fundamentals. The best way to do that outside of maybe watching other players and videos is to get an instructor. Do this because getting a good foundation on your overall game is important on building your skill as a player. An instructor will most likely video tape your stroke and then break it all down. Don't just hire any instructor...make sure the instructor has credentials and is well known throughout the pool community. Good luck.
Matt

A word about English, they should be used in only about 25% of your shots, according to Johnny Archer. I don't remember where the exact quote comes from but youtube search "10 ball Johnny Archer vs Carey Dunn" and one of the commentators claimed she trained under Archer before and he kept telling her to use less English. I'm guilty of forcing the cueball to go where it doesn't want to by applying buttload of spin or going for my jump/break cue but Archer's right in this. Learn the natural angles of the cueball and use them.

Thank you all for the advice. I can tell it's really good advice and I will follow it.

cheers

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=g...&v=Pm-VDuGzJS4