Precision vs power?

[Push&Pool]

Yes guys, I made another poll for you! :grin: This time it's about shot-making and in-game strategy. In an average match, how much do you rely on soft, accurate shots which deliver the OB and CB right where you planned, and how often do you "give luck a try" and shoot with less aiming and more power, trying to get the best outcome you were probably unlikely to accomplish with precision?

When breaking, do you "blast away" as powerful as you can or do you have special "techniques" to hit the rack to drop as many balls as possible. Another question: Is avoiding scratch on break your primary concern or you're willing to risk pocketing the CB in order to get more balls in?

We all know precision is much more reliable, but it depends on your experience/skills to make your plans become reality. On the contrary, power shots don't take so much skills, however, they're a lot more risky. Still, if you manage to estimate your shot well, or you simply get lucky, you can make some crazy shots.

For me, it's really about the combination of the two, so that's where I put my vote. I know more than one answer is possible, so I enabled multiple votes. Please state your opinions on this matter and discuss all you want

 

[charlieeeh]

Yes guys, I made another poll for you! :grin: This time it's about shot-making and in-game strategy. In an average match, how much do you rely on soft, accurate shots which deliver the OB and CB right where you planned, and how often do you "give luck a try" and shoot with less aiming and more power, trying to get the best outcome you were probably unlikely to accomplish with precision?

When breaking, do you "blast away" as powerful as you can or do you have special "techniques" to hit the rack to drop as many balls as possible. Another question: Is avoiding scratch on break your primary concern or you're willing to risk pocketing the CB in order to get more balls in?

We all know precision is much more reliable, but it depends on your experience/skills to make your plans become reality. On the contrary, power shots don't take so much skills, however, they're a lot more risky. Still, if you manage to estimate your shot well, or you simply get lucky, you can make some crazy shots.

For me, it's really about the combination of the two, so that's where I put my vote. I know more than one answer is possible, so I enabled multiple votes. Please state your opinions on this matter and discuss all you want

No offense but why would anyone ever do this? Assuming it isn't a ring game or something.

And for breaks, you should break as hard as you can while still being able to squat the white.

 

[Push&Pool]

No offense but why would anyone ever do this? Assuming it isn't a ring game or something.

And for breaks, you should break as hard as you can while still being able to squat the white.

I regularly do that for shots I'm practically unable to hit while aiming. You wouldn't believe how many hundreds (maybe thousands...) of balls I dropped that way. I did practice it a lot though.

For breaking, I mostly do them full-power, but I don't worry about scratches as with our rules they aren't a significant punishment.

 

[sfleinen]

No offense but why would anyone ever do this? Assuming it isn't a ring game or something.

And for breaks, you should break as hard as you can while still being able to squat the white.

I agree, especially since the OP is talking about barbox 8-ball, in which, at least for the majority of places here in the U.S., is a "call everything" game. Unless we're talking about APA league rules, "splashing" the balls with force without calling a shot, and "taking" anything of your category that pockets (or pockets in the wrong/uncalled pocket), is not allowed.

And, if we're talking about within the same turn at the table (and not "inheriting" a bad layout after the opponent's miss), if one was truly precise with the cue ball, one wouldn't be in the predicament where he/she snookered him/herself, having to "splash at" something. That is, unless, the equipment is truly faulty, and the balls are not rolling true on its surface.

-Sean

 

[RRfireblade]

Umm, I'm not sure I've ever taken a shot without aiming it first.

I don't know that there's a difference between accurate aiming and not....either you aim or you don't.

So I guess the poll is REALLY.....who else is a banger ?

 

[Push&Pool]

Sfleinen, not everyone plays barbox 8 ball with any kind of shot calling. Actually, in my entire life I haven't seen anybody play that way. So, getting any ball in in any pocket is completely legitimate for many players.

RRfireblade, sorry but what would "accurate aiming" be? I never mentioned something like that. It's either aiming, aiming but shooting full-power, or simply shooting with some kind of estimating first (not really aiming).

 

[RRfireblade]

I guess I extrapolated from your use of the term 'precision'.

So I guess my poll answer is I always aim and the use power has nothing to do with aiming.

 

[sfleinen]

I guess I extrapolated from your use of the term 'precision'.

So I guess my poll answer is I always aim and the use power has nothing to do with aiming.

Amen. Power has everything to do with what I want the cue ball to do, and nothing to do with a loose interpretation of the word "aim." The only time power applies to aim -- in my game, anyway -- is when I'm subconsciously calculating deflection of the cue ball when applying side spin.

-Sean

 

[sfleinen]

Sfleinen, not everyone plays barbox 8 ball with any kind of shot calling. Actually, in my entire life I haven't seen anybody play that way. So, getting any ball in in any pocket is completely legitimate for many players.
[...]

In the U.S. "not everyone plays barbox 8-ball with any kind of shot calling" as well. We have leagues that play as you do, e.g. APA -- where as long as you make a legal hit on your category (i.e. stripes if you're stripes, solids if you're solids), as long as a ball of that category pockets, you retain ownership of the table. (The 8-ball is the only exception in APA -- you have to call/mark the pocket where you intend to pocket the 8-ball.)

But walk into any bar and try to play this way, and you'll quickly see that what is played in the APA, is not played in the local bars here. In fact, in most bars, it's not just call-shot, it's "call everything" -- meaning every contact that object ball makes on its way to the pocket. I don't agree with the "call everything" rules, obviously, but "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

-Sean

 

[bdorman]

I guess the way I interpret this poll is: when faced with no decent shot do you just fire into a stack a balls (with a legal hit) and hope something falls?

I'm a new player and I refuse to do that. Every shot is a determined aim to put a specific ball in a specific pocket. Otherwise, how will I ever improve?

But the guys I play with insist on no pocket-calling for any game...drives me nuts! I mean, okay, 9-ball is a video game so let's splash away. But 10-ball and 8-ball should be call pocket. When they don't have a decent shot they just blow up the table.

I haven't suggested playing 14.1 or one-pocket because I don't even want to see those games played that way.

 

[RRfireblade]

I guess the way I interpret this poll is: when faced with no decent shot do you just fire into a stack a balls (with a legal hit) and hope something falls?

I guess playing defense is not an option ?

 

[Push&Pool]

I guess the way I interpret this poll is: when faced with no decent shot do you just fire into a stack a balls (with a legal hit) and hope something falls?

I'm a new player and I refuse to do that. Every shot is a determined aim to put a specific ball in a specific pocket. Otherwise, how will I ever improve?

But the guys I play with insist on no pocket-calling for any game...drives me nuts! I mean, okay, 9-ball is a video game so let's splash away. But 10-ball and 8-ball should be call pocket. When they don't have a decent shot they just blow up the table.

I haven't suggested playing 14.1 or one-pocket because I don't even want to see those games played that way.

Generally speaking, that is the question. However, "firing away" into a cluster may sound simple to those who don't practise that technique enough and find no logic in it, but there are actually countless variables you have to take into account. For example, how much power you should apply, what is the best cluster to blow up, what are the chances of some of your balls falling in, how big is the probability of dropping some of your opponent's category or the 8 ball by accident, what are the chances of scratch, etc., etc...

It kinda annoys me when people consider "blasting away" a simple and easy tactic only absolute noobs and bangers use. Believe me, I'm talking from my personal experience. If you decide to play that way, there's almost infinite room to improve your "blowing up" techniques. And if you don't like them, defense is always the other option. Until you become a top player, I'd suggest you just to stay away from playing offensively and using only precision on shots which are practically impossible to hit well. You can still do it for fun and practise, though

 

[charlieeeh]

Even before safeties, I'd rather play a combination or a bank before riding Lady Luck.