Chances are you’ve played eight ball before. Your mates probably have too. You can class yourself as a good, bad, or average player. This might change after a few drinks if you are playing in a pub setting. Some get better, some worse. But chances are Rory Jowett is still better than you. The 16-year-old is set to represent Australia in the world championships in England this year. He takes Angus Dearlove through what it takes to master the game. Picture: Ben Gross
PRACTICE makes perfect in eight ball.
It’s a game people rarely practice specifically, most just pick up a cue and play.
For Rory Jowett it’s more than just a pastime.
This year he finished runner-up in the under 18 singles at the Australian Junior Championships, also being part of South Australia’s winning team, and will soon jet off to represent Australia internationally in England.
So maybe you don’t want to compete at that level, but how do you get that good?
“Practicing a lot, you’ve just got to be determined to practice and play,” Rory says.
“Professionals don’t have to practice as much, they have done all the hard work, but just play a lot.”
For want of a better cliche, Rory says playing at a more elite level is a whole new ball game.
“It’s really hard, people know how to play it, it’s a pub game, once you go to the elite level it changes,” he says.
“You can’t really make mistakes – playing in a pub it’s casual.
“Once you are up there it’s all controlled, everyone knows what they are doing – it’s not just potting, it’s about positioning and things like that.
“I started six years ago and I really only picked it up about three or four years ago … until then I was just potting but three or four years ago positioning and knowing what to do, mind mapping and things like that I started doing.”
Rory says if you are struggling in a game, it’s best to take a step back and think strategically.
“Say you are three balls down, snooker is probably the smartest thing to do,” he says.
“It’s where you leave them nothing, take away their options, so you try to get two shots and win the frame, that’s probably the best bet.
“But it’s sort of hard, especially because when they are at that elite level they are trying to leave you nothing as well.”
And if you are looking to make some good shots yourself to get ahead?
“Try and look what is the most open colour to pot, it’s all about where things are placed and how open it is,” Rory says.
But overall, just try and enjoy yourself.
“Even though it’s elite we still play casually, just for a laugh,” he says.
“Say we go to a tournament in Melbourne, we still try and have fun, that’s the main thing – don’t take it too serious.”
