What do you do when...

T

tomatoshooter

Well-known member
What do you do when playing a player who can't get out his or your way? It's like being stuck behind an RV on a mountain road. I was having to take intentional fouls (in 8 Ball) just to move his clusters. Then he'd miss a shot and create more problems or leave the cue ball against the rail. It's almost like the most effective strategy would be to not sink any of my balls until one of us can clear up his trash. If I have to play him again, I'll make sure to go to a 9' table with tiny pockets.
 
tomatoshooter said:
What do you do when playing a player who can't get out his or your way? It's like being stuck behind an RV on a mountain road. I was having to take intentional fouls (in 8 Ball) just to move his clusters. Then he'd miss a shot and create more problems or leave the cue ball against the rail. It's almost like the most effective strategy would be to not sink any of my balls until one of us can clear up his trash. If I have to play him again, I'll make sure to go to a 9' table with tiny pockets.
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If he's not rope-a-doping and you can legally pocket his balls do that. Or just pocket them anyway.
 
tomatoshooter said:
What do you do when playing a player who can't get out his or your way? It's like being stuck behind an RV on a mountain road. I was having to take intentional fouls (in 8 Ball) just to move his clusters. Then he'd miss a shot and create more problems or leave the cue ball against the rail. It's almost like the most effective strategy would be to not sink any of my balls until one of us can clear up his trash. If I have to play him again, I'll make sure to go to a 9' table with tiny pockets.
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If he's a low level player, I'd use caroms or combos off of my balls to sink a few of his. That said, it's all situational.

The real key to games like that is to never sell the farm. Think of it like 1P. Just bunt balls around and have more patience than he does. It's the most annoying type of game if you don't realize they play that way. If you realize they play that way, just wait them out. Do not attempt to break and run against a player like that unless you can 100% get out. Always leave some backup balls so you can get a hit.

At the end of your turn, leave them on the rails, places they have to kick to get a hit. Multiple rails are better as they may lose some control. Basically set them up to break their crap out so you can get a shot. Again, it's all situational, but don't get impatient and sell the farm.
 
Be better at safety play and shooting off the rail.

Otherwise, it’s actually an issue of getting out of your own way.

Obviously some days the rolls just don’t go our way. But in the long run, it’s much more about the shots presented after that we don’t execute properly.
 
I deal with some players like you mentioned , I look at it as if I'm playing straight pool and if nothing else when they leave me bad I return the favor as long as I don't foul and get one of my object balls out of the cluster and close to the pocket for next time .
 
The worst thing about the people that rearrange all the furniture danged near every shot is what they do to your head. Like everyone else trying to play runout pool, these people really bothered me for a while. Then I realized it was just their style and had to be taken into account when playing them. Like awkward boxers, awkward pool players can be hard to beat. Their game is lousy but it seems to bring yours down.

It all comes back to your mental game. Once you accept that you are going to have to deal with a mess every time they get to the table it isn't really a big deal. Take what's there and you can create, then duck. These people are between bangers and C players. No way they should win, patience is the key.

Hu
 
I just push balls around and pick my spot when I can win in a inning, or two(depending on how the balls lay). Until I get that opportunity, I just push balls into position to create that opportunity. Until then I don’t leave my opponent any room or chance to win. I maintain total control-to the best of my ability, which is easy with against a weak player.

If I need him to make a ball or 2 of his to open things up a bit. I’ll move the balls around and give him that chance to make a ball and feel good. I don’t ever give him a chance to win. Just enough to feel like he has a chance, even tho he doesn’t. That’s the magic of laying down a good stall. It’s kinda fun being on the lemon for a while, not for long sessions.

This is assuming he’s a weak player. That’s what the OP sounds like to me. This won’t work against a B player or stronger. Then you have to use other tactics or firepower.

Let’s the weak player feel likes he is in the game, when he never really is.

Gets boring after a while.

Patients as stated everywhere else in this thread. Playing winning pool isn’t a racing game. It’s doing what’s necessary to win.

Best
Fatboy<———likes playing accomplished players more
 
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tomatoshooter said:
What do you do when playing a player who can't get out his or your way? It's like being stuck behind an RV on a mountain road. I was having to take intentional fouls (in 8 Ball) just to move his clusters. Then he'd miss a shot and create more problems or leave the cue ball against the rail. It's almost like the most effective strategy would be to not sink any of my balls until one of us can clear up his trash. If I have to play him again, I'll make sure to go to a 9' table with tiny pockets.
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Last Sunday, I played with a guy who is blind in one eye, old and decrepit, and took about 2 minutes per shot.
{He had explained his health problems before we started}
So, I just sat back and let the time roll on.

Sometimes the best strategy is to be a gentleman about the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
 
philly said:
The object of winning in 8 ball is not necessarily to run out but to win the game.
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I'm at that stage where runouts of more than 5 balls are rare enough that if I think I can I have to try. I need some more restraint.
boogieman said:
The real key to games like that is to never sell the farm. Think of it like 1P. Just bunt balls around and have more patience than he does. It's the most annoying type of game if you don't realize they play that way. If you realize they play that way, just wait them out. Do not attempt to break and run against a player like that unless you can 100% get out. Always leave some backup balls so you can get a hit.
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Yeah, I don't lose patience in one pocket like in 8 ball. I have learned to leave balls at opposite ends of the table.
MitchAlsup said:
Last Sunday, I played with a guy who is blind in one eye, old and decrepit, and took about 2 minutes per shot.
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Thursday an old dude absolutely crushed me in one pocket. I knew going in he was going to beat me but it was impressive how well he did it and how easily he could tie me up. Nobody I know plays one pocket so it was a great learning opportunity. I think I'll challenge him to some 14.1 and see what he can teach me there.
 
Fatboy said:
I just push balls around and pick my spot when I can win in a inning, or two(depending on how the balls lay). Until I get that opportunity, I just push balls into position to create that opportunity. Until then I don’t leave my opponent any room or chance to win. I maintain total control-to the best of my ability, which is easy with against a weak player.

If I need him to make a ball or 2 of his to open things up a bit. I’ll move the balls around and give him that chance to make a ball and feel good. I don’t ever give him a chance to win. Just enough to feel like he has a chance, even tho he doesn’t. That’s the magic of laying down a good stall. It’s kinda fun being on the lemon for a while, not for long sessions.

This is assuming he’s a weak player. That’s what the OP sounds like to me. This won’t work against a B player or stronger. Then you have to use other tactics or firepower.

Let’s the weak player feel likes he is in the game, when he never really is.

Gets boring after a while.

Patients as stated everywhere else in this thread. Playing winning pool isn’t a racing game. It’s doing what’s necessary to win.

Best
Fatboy<———likes playing accomplished players more
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Eric is this virtual, am I misreading. You retired... Guy
 
This is 99% of the games I play against my wife. It is difficult to keep your cool & I can't count the number of times I've been completely taken out of my game and ruined what's supposed to be a fun time for both of us. Plus I never play safeties against her b/c it D/N seem fair, so she is often left with easy shots while I have circus shots. Oh well. The things we do for love😅
 
terpdad said:
This is 99% of the games I play against my wife. It is difficult to keep your cool & I can't count the number of times I've been completely taken out of my game and ruined what's supposed to be a fun time for both of us. Plus I never play safeties against her b/c it D/N seem fair, so she is often left with easy shots while I have circus shots. Oh well. The things we do for love😅
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I had three speeds, friends/dates, local gamblers, road players. Every once in awhile I got fired up and broke out the big game. Afterwards, I was still in big game mode when I went back to playing locals. It was funny, not only did dates and friends remind me to back it down a gear, so did the local gamblers in my usual haunts. They knew I was better but it was understood that they would at least get a look at the table most every game. I could forget that sometimes when my blood was up.

Hu
 
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