Doubles Advice, Playing w/ a much stronger Player?

Shooter08

Shooter08

Runde Aficianado
Silver Member
I'm playing in a doubles tournament this weekend with a partner who is way better than me. The tourney allows for a total Fargo Score of 1100 between partners. My partner is twice the player I am. How should I adjust my game? I'm thinking I should probably play conservative and safe unless I know I can get out. The rest of the field will be mostly teams of A and AA partners. It seems to me a Master and a C player would have just as much if not better chance to win. My partner can run out on any up, if I play decent safes and run when I can I think we have a chance. Opinions welcomed on how I should play, my partner will get out if it's available, but I want to pull my weight too.
 
What type of doubles?

These days, most doubles tournaments are alternating shot. Is that not be case at the event you are going to play? The answer to my question will have a huge impact on the type of advice given.
 
I don't like the doubles tournaments when it's shoot till you miss instead of alternating shots, it's not relaly a doubles tournament then since you can guarantee a win when the better player plays instead of having to deal with a possible miss or bad position by the weaker player in every game.

I don't think you need to change your game at all, I mean if you were by yourself, you'd play the same way to try to win, so play the same way. If you are worried that you'll let down or dissapoint your partner, don't, if you have to think that way, you picked the wrong partner. And it will likely just mess you up by adding 4 more things you have in your head aside from just the shot you are shooting.

I played in a doubles tournament where it's shoot till you miss, never again. The bad player was pretty bad, but she would invarabily just play a safe to try to get the better guy to the table again to run out, or get really luck and leave me or my partner (who was my son), no shot. If it was singles, even after the safe, it would then be on HER to run out, so she'd still need to shoot the balls in instead of having someone 2 levels over her take over. If it was doubles, then they have to deal with her playing bad shape or missing the shot every other shot. As it was with shoot till you miss, there was none of what you'd see in a true doubles tournament. She'd shoot a shot, miss, then we'd go, if we missed or were hooked and left an open shot after a kick, the good player won the game for them. Boring to play that way and not in the spirit of doubles at all.

Plus it totally messes with your rhythm and thinking waiting to shoot extra turns if you don't shoot alternate shots.
 
I can't make a ball when playing partners! I'm an average B player and when I play partners I'm more close to D+ to C-! I've had a tough time with partners probably because I play very odd and wild shots!

But either way, my recommendation to you is PLAY YOUR GAME! If your not a solid A player, don't waste your time trying to figure a "different" way to play, you're (me included) not good enough to "switch" our game without sacrificing our true ability!

Plus, the only way to get better is to play your best 100% of the time! Your best is your game, switching it becomes tough! At least for me anyway:)

Good luck

Eli
 
Just play ur game if ur buddy is good as u say he shouldn't leave u though a hole lot so u should be able too get out just fallow his lead watch what patterns u think he's taken stay on same page u guys will do good
 
I just played in a scotch doubles tournament yesterday and placed third out of a field of 32. Not that this makes me an expert or anything.

But as the weaker player, let your doubles player know the type of shots that give you fits, and ask him to steer away from them. Almost always leave him a small angle. According to Bert Kinister, you can get any where on the table with a 22 degree angle.

If you see a lock safety, play it. Ball in hand with a masters player equals run-out. And, Shoot with confidence. Shoot it like a pro.
 
The biggest determinants on 'how you should play' are:
your ability
the shot
who follows you
the score\

now start stopping starting 14 threads a day and go play pool for us all.
 
My wife and I played in one partners tournament. We split for first. Only advice I gave was don't get fancy. Trust your partner. Rather have a longer shot than no shot. Play smart.
 
Scotch Doubles is alternating shots. I've seen Scotch Doubles with man/woman advertised as Jack and Jill Scotch Doubles. Regular doubles is playing with a partner.


hang-the-9 said:
I thought Scotch doubles was man/woman and "regular" doubles is alternate shots with your partner.
Click to expand...
 
I have heard it called Dutch doubles, Scotch doubles, and Jack-n-Jill. I have no idea what the difference is, but safely assume Jack-n-Jill means one male & one female per team.

As for regular doubles, if I were the stronger player I would hope that my partner understood how to utilize strategic shots more so than just trying to make his/her share of balls. Open up some clusters without selling the farm, ducking in for a tight safety, etc. do a lot more for the stronger player than making balls. One thing that would help a lot would be to drive your object balls into the open, preferably placed in front of pockets to simultaneously set your partner up while blocking your opponents. With regular doubles, the weaker player can assume the role of navigator, creating pathway for your pilot to fly in for the win. Simply put, utilize your turn at the table with a mindset that your partner can run out for the win if he has a clear pathway, and doesn't get ran on before he gets his turn. You gotta safely clear him a path if at all possible, while ensuring that he gets a turn at the table.

Being a weaker player in the team doesn't make it any less important of a role. Contrarily, it's a critical role. You have just as much pressure on you as he does, and if you do it correctly, just as important of a job. It's a great opportunity to practice safeties & strategic play under the guidance of a more seasoned player, against a more seasoned player. Should be a fun & educational experience. Good luck!
 
ctyhntr said:
Scotch Doubles is alternating shots. I've seen Scotch Doubles with man/woman advertised as Jack and Jill Scotch Doubles. Regular doubles is playing with a partner.
Click to expand...

Maybe it's just how my brain works, but if someone said "regular doubles" to me, I'd think alternate shots. Shoot till you miss is singles with 4 people LOL.

People usually pick shoot till you miss if you are partnered with a worse player so you want to make sure you have a better chance of winning. I've played quite a bit of doubles and the way they want to play is always like that. Two players with similar skill, they pick alternate shots. Two players with a clear skill gap, the better player wants shot till you miss to keep the other player from messing him up with bad position or a miss.
 
So got third, money paid to 4. I covered entry and Calcutta out of respect for my partner and split even the winnings. Getting to the hall at 9am and leaving around 1:30 am it wasn't real profitable but I had fun and drank way more among other things I should have. One question, my partner, much stronger player than me, was really getting up and down and looking real uncomfortable on a big shot, not like him normally. I called a coach. Get one per game, just to reset him, not give shot advice. He took it differently than I intended, just wanted him to settle, didn't mean any disrespect, but now I feel like I should of just shut the F up, he is a state champ and I'm a pion, but I thought him reassessing would be beneficial. If you are the weaker partner, should you just shut up? At this point I'm thinking so.
 
I have played in a few doubles tournaments. One time, I chose a friend who couldn't make three consecutive shots to play in a University game room tournament. It was scotch doubles, and we ended up winning. The best match was playing against the two best players (on bar boxes). One time after a break, I was looking the table over to decide what group to take. My partner comes up to me and gives me his opinion. I just smiled to myself and shot what I thought was the best, and we ran out from there. I tried to leave shots for my partner, so he did not have to do much with the cue ball.

Other SDSU game room tournament: partner was a girl who was lucky to make a single ball in practice, I had to pick a girl who did not play much in order to participate after winning the prior singles tournament. I did let her shoot one ball that was right in front of the pocket when she asked. The format was alternate innings, so I had her play for a hit on her turn. We were undefeated and in the top three when she had to leave for a meeting. I tried to win by myself, but ended up dry breaking each time, so had to forfeit the games.

Another scotch doubles tournament, I was playing with a former member of a state champion team. I deferred to him and he planned out the game, with a few exceptions. We won that one.

Some bad experiences. Partnered with a classmate, who was a bit better. We were the top bid in the Calcutta, but did not place. IMO, one player should be the leader, and the other should follow their plan as much as possible. Maybe I was the problem, because it happened with another guy who did not like to be coached. he responded once that if he wanted my opinion, he would ask for it.

A mixed scotch doubles and I was partnered with the best woman in the league. Before her shot, I mentioned which ball I wanted to shoot next. She chose to shoot differently. I jumped over a full ball to make the one I wanted, and we ran out the game.

I sure wish I played like I did 25 years ago. Can't see across the table clearly now.
 
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