When playing/practicing with a lower skilled player - Do you change your strategy?

[Ssonerai]

Ye I think OP meant more of when you are actually playing the same game.

Agreed -
Good point about actually playing 2 different games in that case.

However, the set up should be such to convince the lower speed player that they can win if they focus.
Nothing improves a person as much as a real opportunity that does not seem hopeless.

As long as it forces me to work on some aspect of my game along the way to stay in the race myself.

I'm a fairly low level player, mostly due to lack of practice since my early 30's. But have been a decent teacher across several fields of craft and sport.

To scare myself in my 70th winter this past season, i signed on as a junior ski instructor. Overall my skiing improved immensely, esp when working with more advanced students; partly just being out on the snow 4 - 5 days/week. OTOH there were extended spells working with mostly never-evers & lower level that i would go out alone and realize I needed to refresh my own game. The comparison is closer than your might think to pool: both sports can only be accomplished at high levels when you are really deadly capable / constantly practised with the basics. Per points some others made above, too; after about the 3rd lesson with a group or private, i stop skiing like a beginner and model higher level even when they are following me in a lower level form.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... A year later, he is still a FargoRate 430 ish. ...

Is he ever on the practice table working on his weaknesses?

 

[Bob Jewett]

If it's just a friendly practice session, I tend to shoot borderline shots and not play much safety. I probably shouldn't do that.

As far as showing the much weaker player his best chance to win, that depends. If he is a 400 and you are playing nine ball, his best chance to win is to ride the nine ball as often as possible early in the game. He can't play like SVB or FSR -- he has no chance to run six balls in order.

I think it's not exactly the topic, but if you are playing a much weaker player, you should probably play more safeties at nine ball. A very good local player had to give up 5-2 in a handicapped nine ball tournament. The 2 slopped in the 9 the first rack putting him on the hill. The 5 won each of the next five games on three fouls.

 

[telinoz]

Is he ever on the practice table working on his weaknesses?

As mentioned, he buys everything Predator.
Archos II ball set and carry case.
He is on a table, maybe 4 times a week.
He practices everything... but, badly.
Many people, including me have offered to coach him.
He listens for 10 to 15 mins, then reverts back to what he was doing.

He told me years ago he got king hit by a bouncer.
Now, this guy is massive already, Lebanese background and built like a tank.
The bouncer was bigger.
Spent time in hospital and I suspect he might have head trauma.
Or
He is just a stubborn angry man.

On another thread about how are you going in league on here I mentioned our main room was closed.
This guy ruined 3 tables, by playing jump shots for 30 mins.
The staff didn't care...
We will have a new venue near end of 2023 best case.
All the players have become shareholders.
This guy, if we see him practicing jump shots will be asked once to stop, then insta banned if he doesn't.

Some people, you just can't reach..
(From Cool Hand Luke)

 

[ChrisinNC]

I think it's not exactly the topic, but if you are playing a much weaker player, you should probably play more safeties at nine ball. A very good local player had to give up 5-2 in a handicapped nine ball tournament. The 2 slopped in the 9 the first rack putting him on the hill. The 5 won each of the next five games on three fouls.

In our weekly handicap 9-ball tournament, when playing a match against our lowest ranking players (2/5 race), one rule I have for myself is I will not resort to winning a game by 3-fouling them, even if they are on the hill.

I don’t judge other players who do, but I’m not going to. If I can’t find another way to win the match, I don’t deserve to win it.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... I don’t judge other players who do, but I’m not going to. If I can’t find another way to win the match, I don’t deserve to win it.

I understand that approach especially for the TD/room owner, but in the match where the 2 lost on fouls five games in a row, he learned thoroughly the importance of kick shots. Probably more valuable than the $5 entry fee. And he was a participant in a (locally) legendary match, like the guy that Earl ran 11 racks on.

 

[ShootingArts]

As the proprietor/manager of our Poolroom, when I can, I try to take the opportunity to play with our lesser skilled regulars that love the game, when they are playing by themselves.

Every opportunity to play I consider as a practice session for myself, so I try not to change my strategy, regardless of who I am playing. Whether playing 8-ball or 9-ball, just as if I was playing in a tournament or a $ session against a legitimate opponent, I will play defensive shots/safeties, if I feel that is the proper play.

In doing so, in addition to practicing those skills for my own benefit, I’m trying to teach my opponent the correct way to play to maximize their chances to win the game, as opposed to attempting low percentage shots when a defensive shot is obviously the better play.

When doing this, I usually try to explain to them as to why, so that hopefully they will understand the concept of doing everything they can to try to win, even though this is not how these lesser skilled recreational players ever consider playing when they are playing each other.

Just curious as to what others here do when they are playing / practicing against lesser skilled players in a non-tournament, non-gambling situation?

A room owner is in a different position than other people. One thing you might consider if you aren't doing it already, is shorter visits to people's tables. Show them one or two things and leave.

Now as to how to play much weaker players, for a few years I was a big fish in a little pond. If I dropped out my best belly to the ground road game nobody else would be happy. First off, I do rarely turn down far weaker players when they want to play with me. I feel like playing them, helping them a little when they are receptive, is paying forward what I can't pay back to the people that helped me long ago.

I had three speeds or more on a pool table. First speed, dates and friends. No need to pound their heads in and plumb stupid to do that to a date! I won't try to bring maximum focus to shots and my shot selection when it isn't obvious might be a little questionable. Second speed was for the local gamblers. We played by the game when no real action was to be had for usually three or five bucks, killing time and drinking beer. It was unspoken but understood I would give them one or two openings a game, not necessarily easy outs but a chance. This is I think the best way to play much weaker players. Give them some chances at the table. How hard or easy to make the chances depends on the other player and you. Third speed or above was for road players. Belly down, the goal was always to run out or lock them up hard with a safety.

These days the worm has turned and I am happy to just hear a ball fall now and then when I am shooting!

Hu

 

[bbb]

if i was good enough to play a weaker player
i think i would figure out their speed and leave them just tough enough so all i have to do is clean up the slop
this way they get to shoot and i am finishing off the balls i am supposed to make after his miss
and give out help if wanted and/or asked for
as a weaker player
watching you run out all the time
and racking for you
except to be able to ask a question or 2
i can watch your patterns from the rail
i will give you a good example of a stronger player playing me in a way that works for both of us
i am VERY GREATFUL AND APPRECIATIVE
to be able to play a very highly skilled player once a week in onepocket
he lets me get to 4 or 5 and then gets to work
he doesnt freeze me to balls or rails but lets me have space so i have wiggle room to get out of traps
towards the end of the session or before lunch (i provide lunch and beer....we play at my house)
we play races to 2 where he bears down and i get to see at least his b+/A- game sometimes his A game
during these races i am froze to balls or rails
and the traps are tougher... and he will run 8 and out when available or manufactured by him
the whole time we play i can ask him "what would you do"/how did you hit that?/is this a double kiss/can you beat the kiss/ how?/if i have a chance to run some ...i can ask him do i shoot this ball for shape on that one or that one first....you get the idea
my game has really improved from my time with him
i have to say to him
THANK YOU VERY MUCH......

 

[gregcantrall]

When I play weaker players I feel duty bound to do my best. That way if and when they win a game they know they have accomplished something. Plus I am teaching them how to play(Right). Well if they pay attention. If a player says, "take it easy on me" at the coin flip, it inspires me to make sure they get my best.
When I was introduced to 9 ball in the early 80s at the legendary White Spots Wednesday night tournament (Fife WA), I paid $5 a week for the lessons. After a year and a half I got a beer for 7-8th. By 89 I was playing even with the big boys.

 

[rexus31]

HELLO??!!

 

[garczar]

I'm usually pretty good about giving tips after games or cheap sets. If they ask i'll help if i can. But i do try to beat them. That's how i learned: taking ass whippin's and wearing that rack.

 

[trob]

I play more aggressive for sure. In apa If I couldn’t get out my focus if playing safe would be to not only tie him up but get my ball trouble ball near a pocket. I want a player who can’t normally run out to stress if they miss they are going to lose. The last thing I want is for them to make a couple balls..miss.. and I still don’t have a shot So they get another chance with half the rack gone and a higher percentage of winning.

 

[eastcoast_chris]

I understand that approach especially for the TD/room owner, but in the match where the 2 lost on fouls five games in a row, he learned thoroughly the importance of kick shots. Probably more valuable than the $5 entry fee. And he was a participant in a (locally) legendary match, like the guy that Earl ran 11 racks on.

Reminds me of our Friday night handicapped nineball tournament. We handicap by balls and games. I'm a -3 meaning I have to give a 9 or lower 3 games on the wire in a race to seven. A 9 has to run to the 9 ball, but there are 8's, 7's, and even 6's who get the 6,7,8,9 wild !

There was a girl who was ranked a 6 that was often winning the whole tournament because she could pot quite well, but not much strategy.

I complained that she should be raised.... then I drew her the next week. I had to give 3 games and the 6,7,8,9 in a race to 7.

Long story short... totally out of protest, I 3 fouled her 7 times in a row. Refused to make a ball unless it lead to an even better safety.

Dick move, but they did eventually raise her to an 8.... where she should have been all along.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Torture them by hardly ever leaving a clear shot. Make a ball or two and then hide the CB so they're in jail with nothing.
They'll try something lame and leave enough open for you to make another ball or two before hiding it again. This is
a lot of fun for one of the players and not the other. I know because I'm the "other" when playing a certain pro player and
he has all of the pleasure doing it rather than running racks for an all out stomping. Easiest done with one pocket or
14.1 but any game works and it does sharpen the defensive part of the game.

 

[ShootingArts]

I'm usually pretty good about giving tips after games or cheap sets. If they ask i'll help if i can. But i do try to beat them. That's how i learned: taking ass whippin's and wearing that rack.

Torture them by hardly ever leaving a clear shot. Make a ball or two and then hide the CB so they're in jail with nothing.
They'll try something lame and leave enough open for you to make another ball or two before hiding it again. This is
a lot of fun for one of the players and not the other. I know because I'm the "other" when playing a certain pro player and
he has all of the pleasure doing it rather than running racks for an all out stomping. Easiest done with one pocket or
14.1 but any game works and it does sharpen the defensive part of the game.

I have been known to do this to much more equal players. My big table practice partner and I were going to give a bar table tournament a try and practicing on a seven foot Valley. I introduced him to that one or two balls and duck strategy!(grin)

Hu