Really?
First thing that stood out to me is that most matches aren't back and forth "hold serve" and decided at hill-hill because the person that won the lag got to break next. So while the person winning the lag might win the match more often, correlation isn't causation. It's more likely the winner is not only more skilled at the lag, they're also more skilled at the game in general (or at least more in stroke at the moment). And it was the actual playing of the game that decided the match.
There were 4 hill-hill matches. We won two. Europe won two. We won the lag in 3 of those. Only one of them ended with the lag winner clearing up a break and run. All the others had their last rack decided by both teams coming to the table and making mistakes like the things I listed (breaking unsuccessfully, missing balls, losing safety battles, etc.)
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The things that always stood out to me was watching SVB (or others) have a completely routine out and either bobble a pocket or hook themselves. The kinds of unforced errors I saw Europe do less of. And then I noticed Team Europe seemed much more consistent at making a ball on the break. Then I noticed over and over whether against FSR, Alcaide, Filler, or Shaw that we'd have kick safe exchanges go back and forth a couple innings but we'd routinely be the first one to give up a look at the ball. Especially since we have the Matchroom break rules which cause more racks to start with pushes and safeties.
What were you observing differently when you'd watch the cup?
One of these days we want to do a Superman vs Superman exhibition. It would be fun.
