Tips for playing better English/UK/pub pool?

[Nugget]

Just wondering if anyone has any tips for playing better on the smaller tables, with the downsized cue ball, after being used to snooker or American pool where the balls are bigger and all the same size!

English pool is my least favourite game, but there are tables all over the place and if I'm going to play, I'd like to play a bit better than I do. The cue ball feels stupidly light to hit, it obviously doesn't react the same way after contacting the object ball, the pockets and cushions play differently...I'm horrible at the game, so any tips would be appreciated, particularly for someone more used to snooker or 9ft American pool tables.

I realise the best answer to this is probably to play more on those tables but I thought I'd look for easy answers first, just in case.

[hotpot]

Dont think there is a simple answe , when thing feel uncomfortable ant not right you usually struggle no matter what table yoy play on .

[Souwester]

I played snooker (not terribly well) for 25 years, and hardly ever played pool during that time. However, over the last 20 months that has reversed, and now I only play (World Rules) pool in league sides.

Whilst my potting was always quite good in pool, my intended positional play was quite good but not generally very well executed, because, as you say, the balls react differently off each other and off the cushions compared to snooker. However, with plenty of practice my game rapidly improved. I've also started to play quite a bit with Superleague/County players and my tactical game has improved no end.

[cantpotforshíte]

Firstly, you need to fit in with the eight-ball crowd, so it helps if you're extremely insecure and take it more seriously than your day job.
You also need a raft of about twenty excuses, so that you have one handy if you miss a ball that a well trained Border Collie could have potted.
Don't spend too much time practising your shots, just practise more whining about how the table "isn't as fast as the one at the Three Crowns' etc.
Obviously avoid potting balls at all costs. Better to cover all the pockets, and even then, only proceed when you have two shots.
You'll also find it easier to fit in with the 8-ball crowd if you do this: After one of your team mates has lost a league game, gang up with the rest of the team and start a kind of whispering campaign as to what he did wrong, then all confront him together about it when he's already feeling a bit shíte. Better still, start whispering when he's on the shot. Especially if he's trying to pot a ball before it's time (see above).
You don't necessarily need to practise eight ball to improve your skills. You can sharpen your hand-to-eye skills on other games of similar skill such as Tiddly Winks, Shove Ha'penny, Three card brag, and then bring these skills to the eight ball table next time you play.
DO try and make each frame last more than two hours.
Have a small accident in your pants whenever somebody gets an 'eightball'.

Hope this helps

[grimreaper]

cantpotfor****e thats some of the worst drivel i have read on here. you have probably never played the game you moron.

[Mellow Yellow]

Firstly, you need to fit in with the eight-ball crowd, so it helps if you're extremely insecure and take it more seriously than your day job.
You also need a raft of about twenty excuses, so that you have one handy if you miss a ball that a well trained Border Collie could have potted.
Don't spend too much time practising your shots, just practise more whining about how the table "isn't as fast as the one at the Three Crowns' etc.
Obviously avoid potting balls at all costs. Better to cover all the pockets, and even then, only proceed when you have two shots.
You'll also find it easier to fit in with the 8-ball crowd if you do this: After one of your team mates has lost a league game, gang up with the rest of the team and start a kind of whispering campaign as to what he did wrong, then all confront him together about it when he's already feeling a bit shíte. Better still, start whispering when he's on the shot. Especially if he's trying to pot a ball before it's time (see above).
You don't necessarily need to practise eight ball to improve your skills. You can sharpen your hand-to-eye skills on other games of similar skill such as Tiddly Winks, Shove Ha'penny, Three card brag, and then bring these skills to the eight ball table next time you play.
DO try and make each frame last more than two hours.
Have a small accident in your pants whenever somebody gets an 'eightball'.

Hope this helps

hahaha sound about right on all points!

[DeanH]

firstly, you need to fit in with the eight-ball crowd, so it helps if you're extremely insecure and take it more seriously than your day job.
You also need a raft of about twenty excuses, so that you have one handy if you miss a ball that a well trained border collie could have potted.
Don't spend too much time practising your shots, just practise more whining about how the table "isn't as fast as the one at the three crowns' etc.
Obviously avoid potting balls at all costs. Better to cover all the pockets, and even then, only proceed when you have two shots.
You'll also find it easier to fit in with the 8-ball crowd if you do this: After one of your team mates has lost a league game, gang up with the rest of the team and start a kind of whispering campaign as to what he did wrong, then all confront him together about it when he's already feeling a bit shíte. Better still, start whispering when he's on the shot. Especially if he's trying to pot a ball before it's time (see above).
You don't necessarily need to practise eight ball to improve your skills. You can sharpen your hand-to-eye skills on other games of similar skill such as tiddly winks, shove ha'penny, three card brag, and then bring these skills to the eight ball table next time you play.
Do try and make each frame last more than two hours.
Have a small accident in your pants whenever somebody gets an 'eightball'.

Hope this helps

rofl :d

[cantpotforshíte]

cantpotfor****e thats some of the worst drivel i have read on here. you have probably never played the game you moron.

No need to get personal now! ... No offence meant.

I did play pool some years ago in our local league, but only lasted about three years as I just couldn't understand how anybody could take a game like eight ball seriously (at least the way that they played it).
I've watched better players string 5 consecutive eight balls together in my local snooker club and I can appreciate it when it's played to that standard (and to world rules), but this business of covering all the pockets is completely lost on me.
And I could never come to terms with a white ball that is so much smaller and lighter than the object balls. It just makes the game seem less serious than I already consider it to be.

Hopefully it's played in a better spirit where you are ...

[Nugget]

No need to get personal now! ... No offence meant.

I did play pool some years ago in our local league, but only lasted about three years as I just couldn't understand how anybody could take a game like eight ball seriously (at least the way that they played it).
I've watched better players string 5 consecutive eight balls together in my local snooker club and I can appreciate it when it's played to that standard (and to world rules), but this business of covering all the pockets is completely lost on me.
And I could never come to terms with a white ball that is so much smaller and lighter than the object balls. It just makes the game seem less serious than I already consider it to be.

Hopefully it's played in a better spirit where you are ...

You played league pool for three years? Christ, you must have seen 3, maybe even 4 full games finished in that time?!

Your post pretty much sums up how I feel about the game. I can't stand rolling balls over pockets when there's a decent chance to clear, or a clear chance to develop balls for a clearance. Go for the win first, if that doesn't work out, then play safe! The ping-pong cue ball does my head in as well, but I'd still like to have a better hold on it whenever I end up on one of those tables.

Pretty sure it's just experience, but I thought maybe someone would have some pointers on how to play certain shots, and maybe some general rules to follow when switching from snooker...

[sootyvrs]

I was in the same boat where I played snooker for a long period of time and now switched exclusively to English 8 ball pool after a 20+ year break from cue sports.

I was one of the "English pool is for people who cant play snooker" crowd thinking that it was too easy but have now come to appreciate how different the two games are and one must appreciate that to improve.

One might think that potting balls on a smaller table is easier than on a 12ft snooker table but positioning the ball in a smaller area with many obstacle opponent balls calls for very precise cue ball control to succeed and that's before talking about tactics.

I have found that the lighter/smaller cue ball presents a new challenge for snooker players and one must adjust to the way it responds to spin whether on a vertical or horizontal plane. As the cue ball is smaller than object ball the throw off the object ball is also different and one needs to make adjustments for this.

Touch shots are a very important part of the game and one that needs to be mastered. I personally have found using a shorter and lighter cue has helped me to control the white better than when I used my snooker cue. Although there are many who play with standard weight cues although a majrity play with a smaller tip 8-9mm which helps to controlling cue ball.

Tactics do play a big part to success and common practice is to usually work on your problem balls early on before contemplating clearing up as most cases you will break down with your last ball/s and that usually makes it easy for your opponent to snooker you and then controlling the table.

My advice is to get the opportunity to watch the better players and how they play as shot selection is usually the key to success and failure.

Good luck

[ADR147]

Firstly, you need to fit in with the eight-ball crowd, so it helps if you're extremely insecure and take it more seriously than your day job.
You also need a raft of about twenty excuses, so that you have one handy if you miss a ball that a well trained Border Collie could have potted.
Don't spend too much time practising your shots, just practise more whining about how the table "isn't as fast as the one at the Three Crowns' etc.
Obviously avoid potting balls at all costs. Better to cover all the pockets, and even then, only proceed when you have two shots.
You'll also find it easier to fit in with the 8-ball crowd if you do this: After one of your team mates has lost a league game, gang up with the rest of the team and start a kind of whispering campaign as to what he did wrong, then all confront him together about it when he's already feeling a bit shíte. Better still, start whispering when he's on the shot. Especially if he's trying to pot a ball before it's time (see above).
You don't necessarily need to practise eight ball to improve your skills. You can sharpen your hand-to-eye skills on other games of similar skill such as Tiddly Winks, Shove Ha'penny, Three card brag, and then bring these skills to the eight ball table next time you play.
DO try and make each frame last more than two hours.
Have a small accident in your pants whenever somebody gets an 'eightball'.

Hope this helps

lol some of this is true!

[perpetualboredom]

cantpotfor****e thats some of the worst drivel i have read on here. you have probably never played the game you moron.

I think you've just proved his point. I played pool 16 years and I think he's got it spot on... snooker all the way from now on.

[tinytim139]

It is true, and the best thing about it is, that it's the better stamp of players that this applies to. Utter C**TS ! They moan like nothing else when "the table cost me that game" losing to a "weaker" player. They should be able to adapt more easily.

Rant over my team is full of them monday night I was out my face on painkillers (Tromadol), i was the only one who won 2 out of 2 and they still moaned about me playing the wrong shot (clearance from their dry break). So yes if your face don't fit and your not willing to have a brown tongue stay away from pool. On the other hand play with "weaker" players on another night and its the best night out I could wish for. So if your wanting to play keep it at pub level with a good bunch of friends.

[grimreaper]

Learn the rules inside out . Practice the break off it is important to get a good break. I know snooker players do not like the deliberate foul rule but you need to learn when to give 2 shots away. As for the small white you will get used to it with practice.

[eaoin11]

Hopefully it's played in a better spirit where you are ...

LOL, if it really is that bad over there are you sure it's restricted to pool? There have been plenty of posts on this forum moaning on about run of the balls, losing to weaker players and the like in snooker.