Great point. I put our match on ice last year knowing I needed just 1 ball. My opponent put a pretty good safe on me, but allowed me to still see one of my balls, though it didn't go anywhere. He thinks he has me by the short hairs. I jack up, knock myball, a couple of his balls, and the cue ball off the table. All object balls all stay down, he gets ball in hand, but I got the one ball I needed. He, nor his team, was amused in the least but hey, he should have locked me down on that safe.
Safe Break or Let Him Go For It ?
- Thread starter Mickey Qualls
- Start date
Great point. I put our match on ice last year knowing I needed just 1 ball. My opponent put a pretty good safe on me, but allowed me to still see one of my balls, though it didn't go anywhere. He thinks he has me by the short hairs. I jack up, knock myball, a couple of his balls, and the cue ball off the table. All object balls all stay down, he gets ball in hand, but I got the one ball I needed. He, nor his team, was amused in the least but hey, he should have locked me down on that safe.
BCA experience?
I've played in 12 different national and local league organizations since 1966, including the BCA. I say the soft break is the smart move.
A buddy of mine played the soft break in every game of the Wisconsin State BCA singles event some years ago, and went undefeated...against a strong field.
I've played in 12 different national and local league organizations since 1966, including the BCA. I say the soft break is the smart move.
A buddy of mine played the soft break in every game of the Wisconsin State BCA singles event some years ago, and went undefeated...against a strong field.
Well every regional and national league event I've ever played in (1-2 min every year for however long) were played on 7 footers with buckets.
I'm not even sure if you can safety break on those tables without making a ball.
Anyways.... Like I said, I always prefer to have my own future in my hands, not sitting in a chair hoping the other guy misses. Its not even a pool thing for me, that's a hell of a way to go thru life.
I don't care.
We all have experience. Some more than others. Please don't use that as the reason. It's silly.
The other end to this, is that my opponent has to prevent me from making those three balls.
It's one thing if, say, I have to keep HIM from making those three balls. Then maybe I can wrap my head around the safety break.
Maybe.
But not only has my opponent been tasked with having to win the game, but he also has to keep me from getting that third ball in a pocket.
And that's assuming that I either don't make anything on the break, or safe myself to the point that I can't make anything after I commit to the group I want !!
My opponent has to either run out, or play such a jam-up safety that I can't hit anything even remotely close to making that third ball !!
On fouls, all balls stay down, so how I do it is irrelevant. Once the second ball is in the hole, there's a whole myriad of shots at my disposal. I can play ANYTHING into one of my balls to sink it.
I only have to pocket that third ball to advance my team.
The last thing I want to do, especially if I'm feeling good about my breaks, is give the top player in the league a chance to get to the table.
It's one thing if, say, I have to keep HIM from making those three balls. Then maybe I can wrap my head around the safety break.
Maybe.
But not only has my opponent been tasked with having to win the game, but he also has to keep me from getting that third ball in a pocket.
And that's assuming that I either don't make anything on the break, or safe myself to the point that I can't make anything after I commit to the group I want !!
My opponent has to either run out, or play such a jam-up safety that I can't hit anything even remotely close to making that third ball !!
On fouls, all balls stay down, so how I do it is irrelevant. Once the second ball is in the hole, there's a whole myriad of shots at my disposal. I can play ANYTHING into one of my balls to sink it.
I only have to pocket that third ball to advance my team.
The last thing I want to do, especially if I'm feeling good about my breaks, is give the top player in the league a chance to get to the table.