Do/Should Pros Watch Recorded Matches (Scouting Report)?

[BeiberLvr]

In all other sports, coaches and players will watch game footage of their opponent. They do this to develop a game plan and figure out the opposing team's strengths and weaknesses. Obviously, it's different in those sports, because they know who they are going to play. However, that doesn't mean you have to go into a big tournament completely unprepared.

Most big tournaments will have the list of players competing well before the tournament even starts.

So maybe a player could look up a few players they aren't familiar with and watch any of their matches (if available) on Youtube.

 

[West Point 1987]

In all other sports, coaches and players will watch game footage of their opponent. They do this to develop a game plan and figure out the opposing team's strengths and weaknesses. Obviously, it's different in those sports, because they know who they are going to play. However, that doesn't mean you have to go into a big tournament completely unprepared.

Most big tournaments will have the list of players competing well before the tournament even starts.

So maybe a player could look up a few players they aren't familiar with and watch any of their matches (if available) on Youtube.

I use them (I'm definitely not a pro, but to illustrate the point)...I played in a recent regional tour stop that required advance entry payment (the VA State 10 Ball Championship). I went down the roster, googling/YouTube'ing the names and found oodles of stream clips on about half the field. Watched them all to guage speed and how different players played out the table (safeties, types of safeties and preferred/avoided shots). It's a very useful tool...that said, though, I think most pros know a lot about each others' games and have played each other enough to know what the need to know. As far as players they're not familiar with, I'd bet they figure they'll beat them anyway; might be how top level players sometimes get snuck up on.

 

[bdorman]

Given the amount of time it would take (128 players and you have no idea who you're going to draw) it would probably be a waste of time.

They know the games of the regular pros because they've played them so often.

 

[Andrew Manning]

You're playing the table more than the player in pool though. Among "major" sports, it's really only similar to golf in that respect. In golf the course doesn't get any harder or easier depending on who you're playing against. The right shot is still the right shot regardless of who you're playing against, so there's not really any value in scouting your competitors.

In pool it's the same way; if you see that the guy doesn't bank very well, and you decide to therefore leave him bank shots when you could have run out or played a strong safety, you're being stupid. Yes, players have different strengths and weaknesses, but no, you shouldn't select your shots based on that information.

Whether it's Efren, a local legend, or an anonymous B player, you run out when you can and you lock him up as well as you can when you can't run out.

-Andrew

 

[Gerry]

This thread reminds me of back in the day when another pool room would call our pool room to guage the speed of a player, or to let you know a road agent is on the way etc. its all fair n square.....they try to sneak in and get your $$$....you get info as quick as you can.....of course this was PRE interwebs..

OP....I would not do this for a tourney, but if a big gambling match was upcoming.....hellyea, I'm gonna turn into an eagle scout on the opponent!


G.