Four safeties from Grady - Merry Christmas early

[Williebetmore]

Okay, after numerous requests I am posting 4 of the safeties that Grady Mathews showed me during a recent lesson (with Grady’s permission). Remember that these safeties were probably only 5 minutes worth of an 8 hour lesson – Grady moves at a brisk pace. All of you wanna-be-pool-hustlers should take a lesson from Grady – or at the very least buy one or more of his tapes – do yourself a favor, and support someone who has devoted his life to the game, and has contributed more to the game than any of us (shameless and unpaid for advertisement).

All I really want to know is how many of you know these safeties? Look at all 4, and let me know (either on this thread or in a PM) which ones you already know and use. Thanks.

Here is safety #1, which, when Grady showed it to me made me almost physically ill (since it was a position that lost an extremely crucial mid- season match for me during the last straight pool season). I was behind 95-94 (playing to 100) against the best player in the league, when he broke the balls, missed, and left a wide open table as below. Unfortunately for me, the cue ball was frozen to the 8 ball and I had NO shot, and NO easy safety . The balls were not exactly as below – the crucial part is knowing what to do when your cue ball is frozen to another ball near the rail. This safety is applicable to many pool games besides straight pool.

Just aim towards the closest long rail to just barely skim the 8 ball, use a very soft stroke. The 8 ball will just move slightly, and the cue ball will go to the long rail, and back to the 8 ball, coming to rest right against the 8-ball (as in the second diagram below). Experiment with it, you usually need a little left or right English depending on the exact orientation of the cue ball and 8 ball

 

[Williebetmore]

Safety #2

Safety #2

Often in straight pool you are left on the stack (cue ball very close to, or even touching the one) with no easy safety available by skimming the stack (as in the top diagram). You can, however, drive the 2 ball to a rail, leaving the cue ball resting on or very close to the 1 ball (use the position in the bottom diagram to practice this shot). Just aim into the 1 ball using a soft, slightly below center hit – just hard enough to get the 2 ball to the rail. Avoid drawing the cue ball, it should just stop next to the one. Easy to master in a few minutes, I guarantee this shot will win you a game or two in my straight pool league.

 

[Williebetmore]

Safety #3

Safety #3

Basically the same as Safety #2, but now you have 3 object balls in a row to deal with (use the bottom diagram to practice this shot). This requires a masse’ stroke, very soft, very slightly below center hit (as determined along the axis of the elevated cue). Again, the cue ball should end up on or near the 1 ball, and the 6 ball should softly go to the long rail. Your opponents will be pissed.

 

[Williebetmore]

Safety #4

Safety #4

This is a devilish, and surprisingly easy safety that is tremendous for 9-ball. You are left with the 9 ball (or any other ball for that matter) in the worst position on the table near the side pocket. You and I both know you can’t force it through the rubber into the side, and making it in another pocket is chancy. Why not play for the safety as below. Just obtain a shallow angle on the 9. Softly shoot into it, cutting it slightly to your right. The 9 ball will roll down and off the rail a little way, the cue ball will be HOOKED in the jaws of the side pocket. In 5 minutes of practice you will be able to do this 8 out of 10 times from a variety of different angles. This seems a much higher percentage play than trying to pocket the 9 or play another safety – it is a game-winning shot when executed well.

 

[sjm]

Actually, I don't like safety number one. I like tapping it to the long rail, but if I freeze opponent to the eight, I actually make the response easier, not tougher, for my opponent. This might allow them to thin the eight, go to the bottom rail, and come back to, more or less, the same position. Leaving them near the eight but not frozen to it would appear to put more pressure on them.

I like safeties number two and number three a lot, and agree they need to be in your arsenal.

I defiinitely do not like safety number four in this position, not when I can play shape onto a two way bank. Make the eight and play the shape below. Then, using a stop shot and the speed for a four rail duck to protect against a miss on the long side, bank the nine in the corner. I can make the bank a decent percent of the time, but even if I don't, I'll typically leave the position shown in the bottom table, from which I still have a very real chance to win the rack.

I've seen safety number four played in competition by Pat Fleming, but it's only for tight-pocket competition, as the pocket will swallow up the cue ball far too often on loose equipment. Even on a tight table, though, I'll play for the two way bank over the safety in this layout.

 

[excessknowledge]

Okay, after numerous requests I am posting 4 of the safeties that Grady Mathews showed me during a recent lesson (with Grady’s permission). Remember that these safeties were probably only 5 minutes worth of an 8 hour lesson – Grady moves at a brisk pace. All of you wanna-be-pool-hustlers should take a lesson from Grady – or at the very least buy one or more of his tapes – do yourself a favor, and support someone who has devoted his life to the game, and has contributed more to the game than any of us (shameless and unpaid for advertisement).


Heck I just sent off to get the new tapes a couple days ago.You know he told me they would have dvds in about a week or 2 for only $5 more.You are correct he gives up so much information its unbeleavable.Great thing is he communicates very easy.I would recomend his tapes for both the novice and the pros.I plan to run my son down to him a couple times to learn the safty basics.He is a great teacher. I am telling the wife its for my son but its for us both lol

 

[Williebetmore]

I've seen safety number four played in competition by Pat Fleming, but it's only for tight-pocket competition, as the pocket will swallow up the cue ball far too often on loose equipment. Even on a tight table, though, I'll play for the two way bank over the safety in this layout.

SJM,
Thanks for the feed back. I'm wondering though about the "two way bank" - do you ever scratch, do you ever leave the nine in a position where it can be pocketed? It seems that the 9 must travel a long way through an area where it can be pocketed. I will have to take the advice of my instructor - practice both options, then try each 10 times in a row (to completion of the game) and see which has the highest level of success for me. Unfortunately I'm at work until Monday evening, so no pool for me (thank heavens for Accu-Stats, the NBA, and the PGA to help relieve the boredom while I'm stuck here). I will say I almost never scratch on this safety on my table, but I've NEVER tried it elsewhere (I'll bet it works okay on those tight Diamonds we have here).

P.S. - I agree that on Safety #1 there are other options - definitely depends on the position of the other balls - this is just one of many for consideration.

 

[Williebetmore]

Heck I just sent off to get the new tapes a couple days ago.You know he told me they would have dvds in about a week or 2 for only $5 more.You are correct he gives up so much information its unbeleavable.Great thing is he communicates very easy.I would recomend his tapes for both the novice and the pros.I plan to run my son down to him a couple times to learn the safty basics.He is a great teacher. I am telling the wife its for my son but its for us both lol

EK,
You are so right. I love your avatar - I'm wondering how many others know who he is (I have this same picture on the Wall of Fame in my basement - so I won't give the secret away).

 

[sjm]

SJM,
Thanks for the feed back. I'm wondering though about the "two way bank" - do you ever scratch, do you ever leave the nine in a position where it can be pocketed? It seems that the 9 must travel a long way through an area where it can be pocketed. I will have to take the advice of my instructor - practice both options, then try each 10 times in a row (to completion of the game) and see which has the highest level of success for me. Unfortunately I'm at work until Monday evening, so no pool for me (thank heavens for Accu-Stats, the NBA, and the PGA to help relieve the boredom while I'm stuck here). I will say I almost never scratch on this safety on my table, but I've NEVER tried it elsewhere (I'll bet it works okay on those tight Diamonds we have here).

I have always asked my most serious student to practice the speed for the four rail duck. It's a very valuable shot in nine ball.

I've seen Ginky use it often, numerous times against yours truly. If the nine ball weren't so near the side, you could follow the cue ball and leave the cue on the top rail. In this position, I think discretion favors a stop shot over a follow shot.

Grady is right, though. Practice all the options, so then you'll know your own percentages. Still, the four rail duck is an important shot, and , as we've seen, it can situationally be played as part of a two way bank strategy.

 

[Williebetmore]

I have always asked my most serious student to practice the speed for the four rail duck. It's a very valuable shot in nine ball.

I've seen Ginky use it often, numerous times against yours truly. If the ball weren't so near the side, you could follow the cue ball and leave the cue on the top rail. In this position, I think discretion favors a stop shot over a follow shot.

Grady is right, though. Practice all the options, so then you'll know your own percentages.

SJM,
As I think about it, the speed control should not be as tough as I initially thought - I would just make sure I hit it hard enough to get to the 4th rail; it couldn't have very much speed coming off that 4th rail; there should be a fair amount of forgiveness in such a shot. I'll try it Monday (but please don't confuse me with a serious student - I like to joke around).

P.S. - the four rail duck you show is very similar to a straight pool safety shown to me by Danny DiLiberto. Imagine the 9 ball a little further toward the head rail, left as an aborted break shot with the remaining 14 balls racked. He then 4 rails the 9 to your position on the foot rail, with the cue ball following up to rest on the head rail. I'm sure you already know it, but I was surprised the first time I saw it.

 

[sjm]

SJM,

P.S. - the four rail duck you show is very similar to a straight pool safety shown to me by Danny DiLiberto. Imagine the 9 ball a little further toward the head rail, left as an aborted break shot with the remaining 14 balls racked. He then 4 rails the 9 to your position on the foot rail, with the cue ball following up to rest on the head rail. I'm sure you already know it, but I was surprised the first time I saw it.

Ah, Willie, then you are already familiar with the magic of this safety! Of course, you have to know the speed, but once you do, it's a nice option to have in some situations.

 

[Williebetmore]

Ah, Willie, then you are already familiar with the magic of this safety! Of course, you have to know the speed, but once you do, it's a nice option to have in some situations.

SJM,
"Familiar" with watching it, NOT familiar with executing it (I'm finding there is a difference in the two), NOT familiar with the parameters of the shot (ie. allowable angles, speed adjustments for different angles, pitfalls), or the percentages of the shot. Other than that I own the shot.

 

[Chilifide]

EK,
You are so right. I love your avatar - I'm wondering how many others know who he is (I have this same picture on the Wall of Fame in my basement - so I won't give the secret away).

R.G.

Chilifide <----Thinks he knows.

 

[excessknowledge]

EK,
You are so right. I love your avatar - I'm wondering how many others know who he is (I have this same picture on the Wall of Fame in my basement - so I won't give the secret away).

You know it

 

[1pRoscoe]

Thanks for taking the time to WEI it as well. I appreciate it.

I have used 2/3 quite often, as they are abundant in one pocket.

The nine ball shot looks nice! I'm going to have to try that, as we all know that shot come up more often than we would care....

 

[chefjeff]

Number 1 works really well in 8-ball when the three balls are all close to one rail. Hit it with a little follow and the cueball freezes to the first ball (mine) and the second ball (the opponent's) rolls away just enough to allow a runout when, hopefully, getting ball in hand. With just a little angle, something hits a rail, btw.

We call it "Jerome's shot" after the guy who we learned it from. I can't tell you how many games it has won for me.

Thanks, Willie....and Grady.

Jeff Livingston

 

[Hal]

Danny Basavich shows safety #4 in his DVD instructional set.

 

[Koop]

I've seen safety number four played in competition by Pat Fleming, but it's only for tight-pocket competition, as the pocket will swallow up the cue ball far too often on loose equipment. Even on a tight table, though, I'll play for the two way bank over the safety in this layout.

Hey SJM,

When executed as diagrammed would you mind showing us what your next move would be after the 4 rail safety? These are the situations where more times than not, I crumble.
Just curious if you figured something out after having it happen so many times.

Thank you in advance,
Dave

 

[sjm]

Hey SJM,

When executed as diagrammed would you mind showing us what your next move would be after the 4 rail safety? These are the situations where more times than not, I crumble.
Just curious if you figured something out after having it happen so many times.

Thank you in advance,
Dave

Think I'd try to cut the nine up the short rail and into the corner for the win.

 

[sjm]

Number 1 works really well in 8-ball when the three balls are all close to one rail.
Jeff Livingston

That's exactly how I see it, Jeff. Good safety in eight ball, but not in straight pool.