8-ball: Addition of safety play = TOUGH opponent!

[Billy_Bob]

The other night I played 8-ball with a guy I have not played for a couple of years and back then he was easy to win against...

He has since learned to play safeties and to THINK ahead - To look down the road and see what lies ahead and shoot his current shot based on this information.

If the 8-ball is tied up or he can't run out, he will play safety after safety until it is possible for a runout.

Basically his pocketing ability and his position playing seem about the same as it was two years ago. The ONLY change is he has incorporated safety play into his game.

All of a sudden he is a TOUGH opponent to beat! As tough as some of the best players I know!

Yet he is not as good as these "best" players at pocketing or position play...

So this made me realize just how important safety play and thinking ahead are to the game of 8-ball. It can make a not-so-good player into one of the most difficult to defeat.

Many players concentrate on pocketing balls and position play - and then may learn a little safety play in passing. So maybe 90% learning pocketing/position play and 10% learning safeties/thinking ahead.

Perhaps that should be switched to 50% learning pocketing/position play and 50% learning safety play and thinking ahead?

 

[duckie]

I love a good safety battle in 8 ball. The importance of safety play really can be seen in a good game of 8 ball. I've lost and win a few games based on whether I lost or won the safety battle.

I also think 8 ball doesn't get the respect it deserves. There is this semipro player that plays where I do. After one game of 8 ball, he said that running out in 8 ball is alot harder than 9 ball because of more balls on the table and clusters that happen.

 

[Thunderball]

Perhaps that should be switched to 50% learning pocketing/position play and 50% learning safety play and thinking ahead?

I've been 8 balling for years.In our league you either learn to play safties,or learn to lose with grace...at least with the "upper" handicapped guys.

Its key stuff...really key stuff..to getting more wins in a session then other teams.I been preaching it for to long to remember.

 

[Catahula]

an observation...

Don't you just hate it when a player learns to shelve his ego and instead starts approaching the game from the perspective of "I'm in this to win".
I love playing great "shooters" in league who step up and start peeling the balls off as soon as they see the 1st open shot. They turn the cue ball loose more often than not. You almost want to thank them for their help. Invariably they will find themselves in some sort of one or two ball hell with no place to hide the cue ball even if the idea did occur to them.
When a player starts attributing as much credence to a well played safety as a tough cut shot or combination they are on their way to becoming someone to contend with.

 

[thermal]

Don't you just hate it when a player learns to shelve his ego and instead starts approaching the game from the perspective of "I'm in this to win".
I love playing great "shooters" in league who step up and start peeling the balls off as soon as they see the 1st open shot. They turn the cue ball loose more often than not. You almost want to thank them for their help. Invariably they will find themselves in some sort of one or two ball hell with no place to hide the cue ball even if the idea did occur to them.
When a player starts attributing as much credence to a well played safety as a tough cut shot or combination they are on their way to becoming someone to contend with.

That's why I like to play with freinds at home. We don't shoot to win but to pocket balls. Each turn at the table the thought about not being able to run out is not a thought.

It's amazing the shots and runs that are made especially when you always want your opponent to not miss.

 

[IA8baller]

When a player starts attributing as much credence to a well played safety as a tough cut shot or combination they are on their way to becoming someone to contend with.

Truer words were never typed.

 

[dabarbr]

I once beat a couple of guys out of $400 playing eight ball. They were alternating games. One guy was a bit better then the other, but the lesser player played very smart with his safeties.
We decided to play a 3 out of 5 for the whole amount they had lost. They picked the better shooter to play against me figuering that he had the best chance.
I was glad because in my opinion the lesser player with the better safeties had the better chance in a short race. Good safeties are a good equalizer. Needless to say I won the extra $400.

 

[Bamacues]

Safety play is SO important. I watch really good young players run down to one ball or the 8 ball, then they can't get out. If their opponent is a good safety player, they will never see that ball again. Some players tend to forget that the true object of play, in 8 ball or 9 ball, is not necessarily making balls, it is about controlling the table.
Joe