I've been kicking an idea around in my head for the past couple of weeks. Given that I've been playing pool for a long time and that when I started playing, most people never played an intentional safety, it's only recently (last couple of years) that I've even thought about safety play. I think there are a lot of people in the same boat and people who are new to the game could benefit from practicing playing safe. What I've been thinking about is a game where your performance (score) is directly related to good safety play. What I have so far: I was thinking that it would be harder to play a good safe with less balls on the table so 9-ball would be preferable to games that use more balls. It would be easier to play a good safe on one particular ball than a whole group of balls, so overall I'm leaning towards 9-ball as the game to base this on.
Break would be an open break and any balls made on the break spot. Making a ball on the break allows you to continue your inning. Your first shot at the table (after the break) may be used to make a ball. If you make a ball, you score one point and keep shooting. Your next shot must be a safety. (Here's where I need some help to flesh things out). I was thinking that if you play a safe where the incoming player has no direct shot at the lowest numbered ball on the table, you score a point. The incoming player has the choice of trying to make a ball or play safe. If no ball is pocketed, then the shot would automatically be a safety attempt and would be evaluated on its effectiveness.
Where I run into a problem with this is in judging a safety. Obviously if only the 8 and 9 are left on the table, it could be next to impossible to play a safe where the lowest ball couldn't be seen. This dilemma causes me to wonder if it might be better to judge a good safety by whether the incoming player makes the ball or not. Given that we all miss an easy shot from time to time, this may not be effective either.
My question is, if you were playing this game, would you score a defensive point for leaving a tough shot or would you score a point if your opponent didn't make a ball on his first shot at the table? If you would score a point for leaving a tough shot, how would you define a tough shot? Don't want any arguments due to an individual's judgement on what a tough shot might be. You might also want to throw in your $.02 on the value of such a game and if you have ever played something similar that made one focus on and practice safety play.
Break would be an open break and any balls made on the break spot. Making a ball on the break allows you to continue your inning. Your first shot at the table (after the break) may be used to make a ball. If you make a ball, you score one point and keep shooting. Your next shot must be a safety. (Here's where I need some help to flesh things out). I was thinking that if you play a safe where the incoming player has no direct shot at the lowest numbered ball on the table, you score a point. The incoming player has the choice of trying to make a ball or play safe. If no ball is pocketed, then the shot would automatically be a safety attempt and would be evaluated on its effectiveness.
Where I run into a problem with this is in judging a safety. Obviously if only the 8 and 9 are left on the table, it could be next to impossible to play a safe where the lowest ball couldn't be seen. This dilemma causes me to wonder if it might be better to judge a good safety by whether the incoming player makes the ball or not. Given that we all miss an easy shot from time to time, this may not be effective either.
My question is, if you were playing this game, would you score a defensive point for leaving a tough shot or would you score a point if your opponent didn't make a ball on his first shot at the table? If you would score a point for leaving a tough shot, how would you define a tough shot? Don't want any arguments due to an individual's judgement on what a tough shot might be. You might also want to throw in your $.02 on the value of such a game and if you have ever played something similar that made one focus on and practice safety play.
