I think this has gotten a little too personal, and the bigger picture is getting lost. I honestly think the disagreeing parties are closer then they think. This is a straight pool forum, can't we try to raise the bar a bit?
I believe stating the disagreement as an issue of playing 8-6 vs big runs is not all that accurate or beneficial. Instead, let’s discuss the larger issue of when to vs when not to play safe. That is really what this comes down to. In every match, we have to make decisions at the table that dictate the direction a rack takes. I think some of these decisions must factor in our current skill level.
Let’s look at a specific situation that comes up a lot for players like myself that do not yet play strong and see how each side would choose to play it. I know I will learn from the all answers.
http://CueTable.com/P/?@2AQlx4BDVt3...HATt3ICAn3JHGh4KEMO3LBrR3MElF4NByc1OIrk3PCCC@
What to you do with this? I tried to set it up so that there is a shot on the five, but it is hard. I also setup the 10 so that it should be dead in the corner.
I see two choices:
1) Pocket the 5, 15, 1, then the 10 as a secondary break.
2) Soft stop shot on the 6 stopping the cue ball and rolling the 10 to the rail for a legal safe.
A good player probably chooses option 1 (maybe a different pattern, but you get the idea). Would a weaker player be better off playing the safety now?
Are situations like this not what the disagreement is really about?
I believe stating the disagreement as an issue of playing 8-6 vs big runs is not all that accurate or beneficial. Instead, let’s discuss the larger issue of when to vs when not to play safe. That is really what this comes down to. In every match, we have to make decisions at the table that dictate the direction a rack takes. I think some of these decisions must factor in our current skill level.
Let’s look at a specific situation that comes up a lot for players like myself that do not yet play strong and see how each side would choose to play it. I know I will learn from the all answers.
http://CueTable.com/P/?@2AQlx4BDVt3...HATt3ICAn3JHGh4KEMO3LBrR3MElF4NByc1OIrk3PCCC@
What to you do with this? I tried to set it up so that there is a shot on the five, but it is hard. I also setup the 10 so that it should be dead in the corner.
I see two choices:
1) Pocket the 5, 15, 1, then the 10 as a secondary break.
2) Soft stop shot on the 6 stopping the cue ball and rolling the 10 to the rail for a legal safe.
A good player probably chooses option 1 (maybe a different pattern, but you get the idea). Would a weaker player be better off playing the safety now?
Are situations like this not what the disagreement is really about?