Decisions
- Thread starter Patso44
- Start date
Not really, your decision is going to based on past experience, pool theory and your own skill level. You have to choose the correct shot for you, because that is the one you are going to execute most effectively. If you aren't capable of consistently making a specific shot with lots of inside english sending the cue ball however many rails you may want to consider a different option in competition even if it is the shot selection of a professional. HOWEVER, you need to be constantly practicing and working on different shots to add more tools to your arsenal.
In short, no.
Great posting Cameron
like always^^Pool is a game of percentages- think about it and learn
lg
Ingo
I don't hit people up but I'll give you my opinion.
The following is a complex thought process, but this is pretty much the logic of making a decision:
1.)If you are faced with a hard shot and a hard safety, first try to determine if making the shot will benefit you. If it doesn't help you get closer to winning the game, then consider not taking it.
2.) If you feel that making the shot would benefit you, then try to determine what the result might be if you attempt the shot and miss. You may be able to manipulate the speed to turn it into a two-way situation where if you miss, you don't leave your opponent a shot.
2.)If you don't see it as a two-way situation, or can't figure it out, then look for a safety. As you know, the object of a safety shot is to prevent your opponent from pocketing a ball. If you feel that the safety is a low percentage shot as well, then try to figure out what you might possibly leave your opponent if you miss the safety.
3.) Now evaluate both situations. If both are equally as hard to accomplish but one will will possibly leave your opponent tougher if you miss or fail, pick that one.
4.) If you can't figure out what might happen if you miss the shot or the safety, then you are going to be hoping for luck. The better skilled you are, the less you will be relying on luck. At some point, all players of all skills will face a situation where they will have to hope for some luck.
5.) Once you decide that you will have to hope for some luck, then you should probably just go ahead and take the shot. By taking the shot, you will have 2 opportunities for good luck. One is that you will make the shot and stay at the table. The second is that you will miss the shot but leave your opponent tough.
If you decide on trying the difficult safety, you only have one opportunity for good luck, which is that you will leave your opponent tough. But you will be leaving the table.
Regarding this decision process: It doesn't matter what your skill level is. The process is basically the same and you will make your decisions based on your level of skill.
The following is a complex thought process, but this is pretty much the logic of making a decision:
1.)If you are faced with a hard shot and a hard safety, first try to determine if making the shot will benefit you. If it doesn't help you get closer to winning the game, then consider not taking it.
2.) If you feel that making the shot would benefit you, then try to determine what the result might be if you attempt the shot and miss. You may be able to manipulate the speed to turn it into a two-way situation where if you miss, you don't leave your opponent a shot.
2.)If you don't see it as a two-way situation, or can't figure it out, then look for a safety. As you know, the object of a safety shot is to prevent your opponent from pocketing a ball. If you feel that the safety is a low percentage shot as well, then try to figure out what you might possibly leave your opponent if you miss the safety.
3.) Now evaluate both situations. If both are equally as hard to accomplish but one will will possibly leave your opponent tougher if you miss or fail, pick that one.
4.) If you can't figure out what might happen if you miss the shot or the safety, then you are going to be hoping for luck. The better skilled you are, the less you will be relying on luck. At some point, all players of all skills will face a situation where they will have to hope for some luck.
5.) Once you decide that you will have to hope for some luck, then you should probably just go ahead and take the shot. By taking the shot, you will have 2 opportunities for good luck. One is that you will make the shot and stay at the table. The second is that you will miss the shot but leave your opponent tough.
If you decide on trying the difficult safety, you only have one opportunity for good luck, which is that you will leave your opponent tough. But you will be leaving the table.
Regarding this decision process: It doesn't matter what your skill level is. The process is basically the same and you will make your decisions based on your level of skill.
Most of the above seems like good rotation advice. I'd add that if it's a pattern game (8-ball, 14.1, one pocket) always choose the shot that leaves you choices. Also decide whether it's better to leave pockets closed with your balls or open for a longer run. You want to maximize your options and limit your opponents with your choices. A lot of times that will mean taking a harder shot over a hanger, but makes a run more likely for you. Also, I'm not a big fan of using "what if I miss" as a consideration for shot selection...visualizing missing a shot is a sure way to end up doing just that.
"What if I miss?"
Everyone misses. If you don't consider what you'll leave on a miss, you're likely to give away games. I don't think you have to actually visualize a miss to do this...if you have visualized where your cue ball will come to rest on every shot, you already have a good idea what you will be leaving your opponent if you miss. This is what two-way shots is all about!
Donny L
BCA/ACS Instructor
Gainesville, Fl
Everyone misses. If you don't consider what you'll leave on a miss, you're likely to give away games. I don't think you have to actually visualize a miss to do this...if you have visualized where your cue ball will come to rest on every shot, you already have a good idea what you will be leaving your opponent if you miss. This is what two-way shots is all about!
Donny L
BCA/ACS Instructor
Gainesville, Fl
Nice post!