9 Ball Hitting Hard and Hoping as a Strategy

tashworth19191

tashworth19191

Pool will make you humble
Silver Member
I play in a BCA 9 Ball league where in BCA slop counts. I have always tried to play safeties, make a good hit, shoot my ball and play position. But the table I play on are Valley Bar tables with huge pockets. Several 600 level Fargo players have now started just knocking the hell out of the ball and hoping something goes it. The usually hit it as hard as a break shot and try and stop the cue ball. Believe it or not, it is working. I have to say that the stats I have taken in my own game where the opponent does this works about 60% of the time.

I don't think this would work well on Diamond table or larger tables, but on these tables with the 4.5" pockets with huge shelf seems to work well. Obviously when they have shots they try and run out, but when an opponent leaves them bad, they just try and make a good hit and blast the balls.

What is your opinion?
 
tashworth19191 said:
I play in a BCA 9 Ball league where in BCA slop counts. I have always tried to play safeties, make a good hit, shoot my ball and play position. But the table I play on are Valley Bar tables with huge pockets. Several 600 level Fargo players have now started just knocking the hell out of the ball and hoping something goes it. The usually hit it as hard as a break shot and try and stop the cue ball. Believe it or not, it is working. I have to say that the stats I have taken in my own game where the opponent does this works about 60% of the time.

I don't think this would work well on Diamond table or larger tables, but on these tables with the 4.5" pockets with huge shelf seems to work well. Obviously when they have shots they try and run out, but when an opponent leaves them bad, they just try and make a good hit and blast the balls.

What is your opinion?
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If this was Jeopardy, I will take "what is a banger for $600"!

For most people that work hard practicing, lucking out doesn't feel great.
 
Welder84 said:
If this was Jeopardy, I will take "what is a banger for $600"!

For most people that work hard practicing, lucking out doesn't feel great.
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I agree, that is why it frustrates me when I play a good safe and someone kicks the ball with as much speed as they can just trying to luck something in. I have lost way to many matches this way in 9 ball.
 
tashworth19191 said:
I agree, that is why it frustrates me when I play a good safe and someone kicks the ball with as much speed as they can just trying to luck something in. I have lost way to many matches this way in 9 ball.
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Is this a non handicapped Masters style league?
 
Welder84 said:
Is this a non handicapped Masters style league?
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It is non-handicapped on player level, handicapped on team level. Every play on one team plays every player on the other team to 10 points. 9 ball counts 2 points. First one to 10 wins. Unfortunately the player that wins MVP is a guy that shots every shot hard. On the last match I played him he made 6 of the 10 points needed in pockets he wasn't even aiming at, that is where my frustration comes it. He has a 612 Fargo Rating, but much of that is due to the fact he only plays at one place with these huge pockets. He went to state tournament and played on Diamond tables an went two and out. I beat him to put him out. I am a 482 Fargo and beat him 4-1. He had to go to 5.
 
tashworth19191 said:
I agree, that is why it frustrates me when I play a good safe and someone kicks the ball with as much speed as they can just trying to luck something in. I have lost way to many matches this way in 9 ball.
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It's probably not a good safe if there is a easy one rail contact on the OB. Or an easy jump. My experience with 600+ FR players is a simple snooker is rarely enough.
 
kling&allen said:
It's probably not a good safe if there is a easy one rail contact on the OB. Or an easy jump. My experience with 600+ FR players is a simple snooker is rarely enough.
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Jump shots are not allowed and most of the time it is not even a 1 rail. He just blast into a cluster and hope something goes two or three rails, and goes in. I tried it just blasting balls on these tables and I won that way, but it did not help my game and did not make me a better pool player.
 
Just my $.02 here but imo 9ball was designed to be a GAMBLING game. League play didn't exist when the game was invented. If you want skill game play call-shot 8ball like most leagues. I read the APA 9b rules the other day and was amused to say the least. What a great way to ruin a great game.
 
Hitting hard and hoping is a valid strategy when you can't see a viable offensive or defensive opportunity.

A few years ago I was in a hill-hill playoffs match with cash on the line in my cash league. My opponent missed the 8 and in the process tied it and the 9 ball up near the spot and left the cue ball near the opposite end rail.

I didn't see a viable shot and instead just hammered the 8 ball, which sent it, the 9 ball, and the cue ball pinballing around the table. I ended up making the 8 AND the 9 and came within about a half-inch of scratching in the corner pocket. Given the stakes, the impossibility of the situation, and the outcome, it's still probably the most memorable pool shot of my life.

I've seen SL 9s on occasion hit hard and hope in my APA league as well. When you get 5 or 6 balls moving on a small table with big pockets, your odds of either making something or leaving them tough/safe are actually not all that bad IMO.
 
We had a guy at the pool hall who was probably an APA 4 or 5 but he for most of the time gambling would hit the cue ball into the object ball and send all the balls moving.
People obviously had to spot him, and his nick name was "Slammer."

When he got to the table you can count on one of his money balls going or something else going.
 
garczar said:
Just my $.02 here but imo 9ball was designed to be a GAMBLING game. League play didn't exist when the game was invented. If you want skill game play call-shot 8ball like most leagues. I read the APA 9b rules the other day and was amused to say the least. What a great way to ruin a great game.
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Outside of a pro game with 9 on the spot and three ball must, aren't the rules pretty much the same? Action players agree on rules prior to that match; league players have the same rules every match
 
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