New safety rule

Banks said:
I'm a "75 in the 55" kind of person. Probably comes from living in CA when I got my license.

I'll ask my question again, though. How many racks do you run when you play?

You think safety playing is boring. To me, nothing is more boring than a safety-less game. From the break, you can usually tell who's going to win those. Unless, of course, they don't know how to play.

You got defensive real quick when people asked if you knew how to play. You started countering with saying they didn't know how to shoot, etc. So, what've you got? I'm guessing you're about an APA 5 or 6 speed.
Click to expand...

I am not the best at writing. I did not mean to come across as defensive.
It was a lot of those if you knew how to play comments. If I set up a nine ball rack on a table and just shoot by myself 2 out of 3 more or less. I play pool in spurts and always try to make the harder shots when I practice . Inconsistency is my problem. People in tournaments have told me I could be really good if I played more, But there are too many jerks in tournament play.
I broke my ankle, watched some pool on tv got on this forum .Getting back into the game now that I can walk again and notice things about the game that make me think. So I bring them up here.
 
YubaCushion said:
I am not the best at writing. I did not mean to come across as defensive.
It was a lot of those if you knew how to play comments. If I set up a nine ball rack on a table and just shoot by myself 2 out of 3 more or less. I play pool in spurts and always try to make the harder shots when I practice . Inconsistency is my problem. People in tournaments have told me I could be really good if I played more, But there are too many jerks in tournament play.
I broke my ankle, watched some pool on tv got on this forum .Getting back into the game now that I can walk again and notice things about the game that make me think. So I bring them up here.
Click to expand...

Understandable. The defensive thing has gone round and round here before. It's just too difficult to really "limit" in a game, because one can never really tell when it's going to come up and how often.

Inconsistency can be just as bad or worse with safety play. When you don't have those down, it can mean a loss just as quickly as going for shots that you aren't good at. The whole thing is a bit of a double-edged sword.

If you head to Salem or PDX, give me a little warning. I can never predict what I've got planned given short notice. Does your friend down there play? I play for fun or small $, so just about anything's cool by me.
 
Bob Dixon said:
If they're so enamored with the high skill level of safety play why aren't they willing to let the three-foul rule be off when there are more than five balls on the table? Then they could have the three-foul rule when safeties are more difficult and they can really show off their safety skills.

It's a trick question.
Click to expand...

I love that. The 5-3 rule. I think people are enamored with safety play because they have convinced themselves that a safe shot is as difficult as a pocketed shot skill wise, and it's not. Because if you miss on a safety , most of the time it still works. Close doesn't count on shots.
I tried to give Bob more green but they wouldn't let me.
 
Bob Dixon said:
If you'd like to know more about me, too, the annoying safety player I've been referring to who I beat 2-1 even with the annoyance is supposedly an 8 in league play.

Maybe I should also mention that we play on a non-standard Diamond Pro-Am with 4" corner pockets and 4.5" side pockets.

And I don't fail to appreciate safety play. I just don't appreciate it when someone plays it like a broken record on the first four to six shots when there are open shots and a reasonable pattern that could be attempted.
Click to expand...

I consider myself a crappy 9. If somebody's safing up on the first 4 to 6 shots, I'd just tell them to play by themselves because they obviously feel like they've got no chance whatsoever to win. Hell, even my friends that are APA 3s don't play like that. The closest I know is an APA 5/7 and a 6/7, but both of them know that if they've got a tricky run-out, their best bet is to play safe and deal with the problem. The last time I was safed into near-suicide was by a friend that's a 9 and he worked it well.. made a ball or a few, then safe, run out, break and safe up, etc etc.

My safe game is stronger than my shooting game, at least that's how I feel. Granted, I can come with some shots, but there aren't many people that I'm afraid of getting into a safety battle with. I squeaked out as the winner of the approx 7.1-7.5 8b bracket in Vegas and only had 3 bnr in 8 matches, two of which were in my easiest match.

My friends that I play with most regularly range from an APA 7/8 down to 3/3. For practice, they all get at least a 1 level handicap for cheap matches. Got a 6/7 down to a 4 once and won.

My typical hangout has Valleys, but I also play on Diamond barboxes for league. I've only played on a big Diamond twice, I think.
 
I wish I had the cash and I would pay for Bob and Banks to meet and play.
I think bob would Bob would get his money, He doesn't sound like he's messing around.
Sounds like Banks can play, with the Vegas stuff and all but, a little to sassy. Then I get winner. Bob how far away are you, I'm in northern CA.
 
YubaCushion said:
I wish I had the cash and I would pay for Bob and Banks to meet and play.
I think bob would Bob would get his money, He doesn't sound like he's messing around.
Sounds like Banks can play, with the Vegas stuff and all but, a little to sassy. Then I get winner. Bob how far away are you, I'm in northern CA.
Click to expand...

You're probably right. I'm no master, but I'll put up a fight if given the chance. As for being sassy.. that's half the game right there! I was asked years ago, when playing a different game, why I always talked smack. I told them I grew up with two older brothers and that winning is fine and all, but talking smack and backing it up is more fun. :thumbup: I also learned to play in a bar, so it's just part of the game to me.
 
Banks said:
You're probably right. I'm no master, but I'll put up a fight if given the chance. As for being sassy.. that's half the game right there! I was asked years ago, when playing a different game, why I always talked smack. I told them I grew up with two older brothers and that winning is fine and all, but talking smack and backing it up is more fun. :thumbup: I also learned to play in a bar, so it's just part of the game to me.
Click to expand...

Little sass is all in good fun but you got to go easy with people you first talk to.
They don't all have a great sense of humor and thick skin like me. You an older guy or a younger guy Banks.
 
YubaCushion said:
Little sass is all in good fun but you got to go easy with people you first talk to.
They don't all have a great sense of humor and thick skin like me. You an older guy or a younger guy Banks.
Click to expand...

Somewhere in the middle, just turned 39. Been playing for about 8 1/2 years. What part of NorCal are you in?
 
Bob Dixon said:
If you'd like to know more about me, too, the annoying safety player I've been referring to who I beat 2-1 even with the annoyance is supposedly an 8 in league play.

Maybe I should also mention that we play on a non-standard Diamond Pro-Am with 4" corner pockets and 4.5" side pockets.

And I don't fail to appreciate safety play. I just don't appreciate it when someone plays it like a broken record on the first four to six shots when there are open shots and a reasonable pattern that could be attempted.
Click to expand...

How do you not find a chance to win before getting back to the table 4-6 times?
 
here is my strategy for 8 ball and 9 ball, works fairly good, run out or play safe.....or a person can take the other approach....run out or lose.....play stiffer competition you'll see what i mean.
 
Bob Dixon said:
You should be able to figure that out yourself and what kind of table did you say you play on?
Click to expand...

I'm just saying, you should be winning the rack before the guy even has a chance to play 4-6 safeties for the vast majority of your games. I play on gold crowns and a metro every once in a while. Why, what do you play on?
 
Last edited:
Masayoshi said:
I'm just saying, you should be winning the rack before the guy even has a chance to play 4-6 safeties for the vast majority of your games. I play on gold crowns and a metro every once in a while. Why, what do you play on?
Click to expand...

He already said, non standard Diamond pro am.
 
Straightpool_99 said:
I will voice an unpopular opinion here: If some of you guys played snooker you would cry your eyes out! With the huge table/small balls and no diamond markings, the game of snooker higly favours the defensive players even up to quite high levels, not to mention the fact that you can roll up safe without rail contact. While learning to play snooker you will face an endless stream of hit-and-run players who play a few points and then safes. This is one of the things that turned me off that game for a while.

In pool the turning point comes much earlier, since you have the diamonds to help you, you can jump the ball and the pockets are larger. Against a good b-player, playing needless safeties will often blow up in your face. I'm not claiming to be very good, but there's rarely (notice i didn't say never) a good excuse to miss a kick or jump on a pool table. I miss sometimes, but its my fault.

All that being said, it can be boring to play against safety minded players. And if someone constantly plays me safe without needing to- I might avoid practising with that person, since I enjoy playing aggressively and enjoy watching others do the same. Don't forget that part of the enjoyment of playing pool is watching the guy you are playing as well.

My goal, playing pool, is to become a good player, and I believe the best way to get there is to play a balanced game of offense and defense. Not endlessly playing safe, never attempting a difficult shot.
Click to expand...

Hell, that shouldn't be an unpopular opinion, looks like more truth than opinion to me.
There's a video where a good snooker pro gets really boned, hooked at the head of the table and only one viable target at the foot of the table, and he keeps missing his 2 rail kick 4 or 5 times.

Are diamonds left off by choice or just not traditionally part of the manufacturing?
Do any tables feature them?
 
Bob Dixon said:
I'm just saying, I play on a much harder table than you. You have no idea if haven't played on a Diamond Pro-Am with 4" corner pockets.

And another thing I'll tell you is that I kick pretty good. I've MADE, from OB in the middle of the table, cuts in the side pocket off a two rail kick, and long one rail kicks into the corner pocket with OB near the spot, and others that were pretty good. In fact, the opponent I've been referring to started calling me 'Mr. Kick Shot'.

You claim it's easy. OK.
Click to expand...

I've had hundreds of hours on Table 1 at Hard Times. Games still rarely go past 8 innings. Its certainly not a regular occurrence. I would LOVE to have that many opportunities at the table even if I'm hooked every time, Odds are i'm going to safety him back or kick the ball in after a few unneccessary turns at the table.
 
Last edited:
Bob Dixon said:
I'm just saying, I play on a much harder table than you. You have no idea if haven't played on a Diamond Pro-Am with 4" corner pockets.

And another thing I'll tell you is that I kick pretty good. I've MADE, from OB in the middle of the table, cuts in the side pocket off a two rail kick, and long one rail kicks into the corner pocket with OB near the spot, and others that were pretty good. In fact, the opponent I've been referring to started calling me 'Mr. Kick Shot'.

You claim it's easy. OK.
Click to expand...

Two rail cut in the side, those are hard shots. I like the one kick's. I'm going out on a limb and say Bob's had time on a three cushion table. Instead of Mr. Trick shot, I suggest we go with Bob Kixson.
 
Bob Dixon said:
A Gold Crown pocket shelf with what dimensions?
Click to expand...

Under 4 inches at the opening, but does it matter? Tough table or not, any time you get back to the table more than is standard for the table layout, you should feel lucky. Its better than being ran out on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top