How Many Balls Can You Run after Ball In Hand?

2/12/2007 5:08:55 AM

How Many Balls Can You Run after Ball In Hand?

Lets say your opponent breaks, scratches, and doesn't drop any other balls. With ball in hand and a decent spread on the table (no balls tied up, ect.) how far can you typically run before making a mistake and handing the table back over.

If you say you can run out and nobody is here to vouch for you being able to run out like 80% of the time, I will call BS and give you no e-cookies.

Myself personally, I could probably run to about the 6 or 7 pretty consistently. On a good day I could have some run outs, but I don't break and run out too often. I guess good days are hard to come by.

Your turn, don't be a foolish liar.

A-Train

How Many Balls Can You Run after Ball In Hand?

Replies & Comments

djkx1 on 2/12/2007 6:59:12 AM
I play the ghost a fair bit and what you describe is similar. Without any clusters or problems I would expect to run out at least 75% of the time.

Playing the ghost in general, including tough racks, it usually goes back and forth and I average around 50-60%. These results are in practice, and I'm sure that in a match of importance my numbers would often be lower due to the pressure or nerves, even if the layout was the same.

I don't know anyone on here personally, so I guess I lack vouchers and you'll just have to take my word for it.

BHQ on 2/12/2007 11:46:59 AM
My best in 9 ball record is 3 break and runs in a row, and I have done that several times. I can't get over the hump to get 4 break and run outs in a row.

For straight pool my record is a 38 ball run (I needed 54 to win).

In one pocket, my break and run out record is 1 break and run.

I've got a certain knack for dogging the "easy shots". It shows a lack of concentration, I know. I'll usually pick stripes 90% of the time in 8 ball even if I've made a solid on the break shot. The reason is because I'm so stinking colorblind when it comes to the 6 ball. It blends in and just looks like part of the pool table cloth to me. Sometimes I get lucky and the number spot on the ball is my aiming point, but other than that, I can't see the green ball. I can't begin to count how many 9 ball games I've lost by dogging the 6 ball. If I make the 6 ball on the break, it feels like I have already won the game! I hate the green ball!

Slowhand on 2/12/2007 1:12:40 PM
During the 90's I was playing over 10 times as much pool per week as I've been in the past 5 years. And yes, my game has really suffered because of it.

Back then I would say that I had a better than 50% chance of running out with ball in hand. The games we played easily averaged under 2 innings. A typical game would be where one guy would break and if he didn't run out or leave a good safe then he wouldn't get back to the table.

Now today is another story, I would say that I have less than a 10% chance of running out. I shoot hot & cold, but mostly cold. I can't even get a 200 in "Bowlliards" anymore. Now I shoot between 150 and 180.

BVal on 2/12/2007 4:29:48 PM
I would say 50% of the time I will leave the 7, 8, and 9 ball or the 8 and 9 ball.

25% of the time I will leave more than the 7, 8, and 9 ball.

The other 25% of the time I run out. Although lately my run-out ratio has gone up quite a bit and more, and the 7, 8, and 9 balls have gone down quite a bit.

A-Train on 2/12/2007 9:08:24 PM
@BHQ - Wow, that's quite a natural disadvantage to be at. You may try and focus outside of the green color of the ball and look at it as almost transparent and see if that helps.

@Slowhand - That is about the speed my friends and I play at. Most of our games go 2-3 innings tops. Usually the person breaks and runs to like 6 or 7 or 8, and that's usually that.

BHQ on 2/12/2007 11:45:03 PM
On top of that, I'm blind in my right eye!

I'll still play anybody, whether I lose or not, I don't care.

I'm thinking of taking a 6 ball and painting it some bright color and switching it out when my opponent isn't looking. People have asked me how the hell I drive. I just remember that the green light is the one on the bottom. Unless you're in Indianapolis and the lights are lined up side to side! Been there done that once.

How Many Balls Can You Run after Ball In Hand?

Title: How Many Balls Can You Run after Ball In Hand?
Author: A-Train (Adam Stevermer)
Published: 2/12/2007 5:08:55 AM