10/25/2026
๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐-๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
That might upset a few people, but hear me out.
Over my 35+ years playing 8-ball, Iโve come across plenty of players who can pot balls from just about anywhere on the table.
Fantastic potters. Great cue actions. Plenty of natural ability.
But put them into a competitive frame against a tactically strong opponent, and things arenโt always so straightforward.
Why?
Because ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐-๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ.
โฃ
Donโt get me wrong. Potting ability is incredibly important, and I spend plenty of time developing it with my coaching students.
But itโs only one part of the game.
To become a complete 8-ball player, I believe you need much more.
โก๏ธ ๐๐ฎ๐-๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ โ Itโs not just about making the current shot. Itโs about creating the right opportunity for the next one.
โก๏ธ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ โ Understanding which balls to take, in what order, and how to manage difficult areas of the table.
โก๏ธ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง-๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ โ Recognising when to attack, when to defend and when to avoid unnecessary risks.
โก๏ธ ๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ โ Knowing how to control a frame when a clearance isnโt the best option.
โก๏ธ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ โ Maintaining your standards when the pressure increases.
โฃ
One thing I regularly emphasise with my students is that ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐.
Sometimes the real mistake happened two or three shots earlier.
Thatโs why I believe training should develop the complete player, not just their potting ability.
๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐.
โฃ
๐ฌ Hereโs a question for you.
Would you rather face an exceptional potter whoโs tactically weak, or an average potter whoโs tactically excellent?
Let me know below! ๐
๐ฆ Want to develop your complete 8-ball game? DM me ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ to learn about my coaching.
