Although a break is often controlled, there is still a random factor that keeps you shooting or hooked after the break. I see this as an important strategy early in a 9-ball game as well. Let's say you have a very poor safety option and a poor chance at making the ball. Is the best choice: hit the lowest numbered ball firmly into as many other balls as you can to create an opportunity for yourself? Agree? Disagree? Should never be used as an option? Odds are against you?
9-Ball Blaster!
- Thread starter BarTableMan
- Start date
i have seen that routine pulled with moderate success by s/l 3s or lower.
if something does not fall in one of the 6 pockets they usually leave me kicking
although i love playing in the apa i hate the slop i see in lower level players.
i never see that pulled by 5s and up.
if something does not fall in one of the 6 pockets they usually leave me kicking
although i love playing in the apa i hate the slop i see in lower level players.
i never see that pulled by 5s and up.
Im not an expert, but DISAGREE.
1) any ball you can hit "firmly", you can also play safe on.
2) when you "slam the balls", you are most likely creating opportunities for the other guy, not yourself.
3) however, strategy takes into consideration the ability of the other guy, and if he cant run 3 balls, you might decide to "ride the 9" early in the game, but not as recklessly as you describe.
4) "should never be used as an option" ! Try to either make a shot or make a safety, you dont get better by banging balls.
I play in a 9 ball tournament whenever I get a Sat off. There are couple of younger players that do exactly that. If they figure they don't have a good chance at pocketing a ball, they will blast the lowest ball on the table at 50 MPH. It usually results in either them slopping a ball in or a dirty hook.
I love it when someone plays a nice safety on me, it is great practice to get out of it without the use of a jump cue. But, at least, play a good calculated safety, not slop. I can seriously appreciate the effort with that.
It drives me half crazy and I am already half way there.
I love it when someone plays a nice safety on me, it is great practice to get out of it without the use of a jump cue. But, at least, play a good calculated safety, not slop. I can seriously appreciate the effort with that.
It drives me half crazy and I am already half way there.
Last edited:
I frequently hear people say "If the shot to make the ball is as hard as the safety - go for the shot. If the safety is easier, go for the safe." It's all about controlling the table; and whacking the balls a hundred miles an hour doesn't do that.
Every time a SL4 or lower does this to me, he either makes 1-2 balls and then gets shape to run out... or he jails me so badly I couldn't get out with a helicopter
Last week I tried this out against my opponent because I was tired of his slop. I randomly slammed at my object ball three times and scratched the white all three times. All in all, it's a crappy strategy.
Last week I tried this out against my opponent because I was tired of his slop. I randomly slammed at my object ball three times and scratched the white all three times. All in all, it's a crappy strategy.
You have to be careful with phrases like that, especially in 9ball. The probability of executing a safety is only half of it. You have to factor in the probability of returning to the table with a more favorable situation. That is to say, "What is the probability I will execute this safety and receive BIH and/or a better shot than what I have now?"
Once you play safe, your opponent is going to have an unpredictable influence on your success-probability. That's why you should always lean toward offense. As a rule, most players will only play safe when the probability of running-out is low. Better players will make this determination the moment they get to the table and plan accordingly, hoping to improve their run-out odds with their chosen safety.
In sum, when faced with a 90% run-out and a 100% safety, you run-out. The only time playing safe *might be* the right choice is when you're more than 90% certain you'll get BIH (which is incredibly rare).
Jude - you're absolutely right. I was implying, but should've made clear, that by playing the safe, you're playing a very positive % to get BIH afterwards, or least the chances of the opponent selling out an easy shot are very high. As in, not a weak safety.
Every time a SL4 or lower does this to me, he either makes 1-2 balls and then gets shape to run out... or he jails me so badly I couldn't get out with a helicopter
Last week I tried this out against my opponent because I was tired of his slop. I randomly slammed at my object ball three times and scratched the white all three times. All in all, it's a crappy strategy.
I think there's some sort of divine intervention there - when good players try to slop-out, they always get screwed. It's like karma saying "you know better, and now i'm going to F you." LOL
I understand. I just hate those sayings that people use. One I particularly get annoyed with is when people say, "I'm playing the table, not my opponent". How you handle my safeties may determine how much I play safe. Of course, many opponents may not leave an impression on me either way but be rest assured, if I find a guy who can't kick, he's going to get a lot of kicking practice from me.
If it's after the break...then you push out. Beyond that, hit-em-hard-and-hope works really well on the bar table. Not quite as well on the big table unless you control the cueball. You'll want to get the 9 ball moving. You'll want to put as much distance between the cueball and object ball as you can (in case you miss). You'll want to freeze the cueball on a rail. If you can do all of that, then firing at the cheese is a good option.
I like your thinking. It's rare, but sometimes the situation lies where you're more likely to win by framming the balls at 100 mph than by playing a weak safe that leaves the object ball near a pocket.
I remember an old Accu-Stat match where Nick Varner was doing commentary; he and the other guy were debating whether the player should play safe or shoot. After the guy played safe, Nick came with one of my favorite lines ever:
"I guess he hasn't had enough of those kicked in on him yet."
Last edited:
In bar pool...7 foot table big pockets ...we used that shot a lot. It was called the " splash " shot.....fairly effective. 9 footers...not so much...easy to sellout.