Mosconi Cup - Playstyle

[Hale1337]

I'm wondering if it is just me but I feel like the US team is really playing barbox pool on the 9'. It seems like they are slamming balls when they should be rolling them and bumping balls. I wonder if they see this more as an exhibition of skill and not a serious competition.

Don't get me wrong. I think the guys are actually shooting great(short of the misses)!

 

[vjmehra]

I'm wondering if it is just me but I feel like the US team is really playing barbox pool on the 9'. It seems like they are slamming balls when they should be rolling them and bumping balls. I wonder if they see this more as an exhibition of skill and not a serious competition.

Don't get me wrong. I think the guys are actually shooting great(short of the misses)!

I suspect its more to do with the way they were brought up.

In the US you seem to focus more on long races and gambling, so players naturally learn to get into a groove over time and develop an 'A-Game' where they can run multiple racks without letting their opponent get to the table.

The culture in Europe is very different, some of the players have national team coaching (e.g. the Dutch) and youth squads etc. so they focus on winning at all costs, even if its not pretty and develop a B and even a C game which is easier to fall back on in short races.

No idea if the above it true by the way, I'm no expert, I was just thinking that to myself when watching last night.

 

[vjmehra]

I suspect its more to do with the way they were brought up.

In the US you seem to focus more on long races and gambling, so players naturally learn to get into a groove over time and develop an 'A-Game' where they can run multiple racks without letting their opponent get to the table.

The culture in Europe is very different, some of the players have national team coaching (e.g. the Dutch) and youth squads etc. so they focus on winning at all costs, even if its not pretty and develop a B and even a C game which is easier to fall back on in short races.

No idea if the above it true by the way, I'm no expert, I was just thinking that to myself when watching last night.

Also the European safety game is light years ahead of the US, again I think thats probably for the same reasons and a bit of a culture issue (I've seen a few threads where playing safe is considered 'poor form').