So this is a nice reply and I am happy that matches i saw locally don't truly represent UPUSA.
I saw matches where +4 player's opponents never intended to make a ball. The goal was to play as slow as possible and try to tie things up.
Thing is, you can't kill enough clock if you are a -4 or greater to make it. We had a 700 play against a -5 and when the 700 was up they either ran out, or pushed the balls so the next shot would break out the cluster/problem area and win that game.
With like 14 mins left in the match the -5 was at 0 and the other was at 0.
The HARD matches are like -2 or -3 as they can play and not only run off clock, but make balls and keep things going.
Usually you're trying really hard to win the 1st game as to not get in that deeper - hole.
