How did you develop a really good safety game?

KoolKat9Lives

KoolKat9Lives

Taught 'em all I know
Silver Member
Please, I'd like to ask only those advanced in safety play in 9 or 10 ball.

I was playing yesterday in a US Open qualifier. I was tied with the eventual winner of the exemption when he put this safe on me.

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That's a strong shot! One I probably would not have seen, much less attempted. On a few occassions this week I have had strong players look at table layout and QUICKLY SEE and execute a safe. Advanced safes that I don't quickly (if even) see.

Beyond watching a gazillion hours of matches, how did you develop your safe play so you can see them and execute them? Did you have a mentor? Is there a great instructional resource out there? Are there drills to practice them?

Thanks,

Matt <-- wants to lock 'em up FIRST next time!
 
I do not have a mentor or anything like that. I just watch ALOT of matches on youtube and anywhere else i can find em'.

There is always a good safety option on the table. It's just a matter of seeing it.

For an example:

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I think Souquet tried this on Mika in the WPC 2001 final in the last frame.
Somehow i always remember it and i have done it so many times i hardly never miss this safe.

It's all the matter of being creative and seeing the shots i guess...
 
My safety game improved the most from playing competitive one pocket. It probably took my safety play up by at least double. You play the soft shots and slow speed needed for well executed safeties majority of the time in one pocket. Notice many of the upper echelon safety players in rotation are also very skilled one hole practicltioners.
 
Playing One Pocket

IMO...playing one pocket is the easiest way to get where you see many more safeties than most any 9 or 10 ball only players. While instructionals are very beneficial, I feel very confident in saying that playing one pocket is by far the best way to learn to see those lockdown safety type shots. And besides actually playing, watching the pros play on accu-stats, TAR, etc, is so much more helpful than watching them play rotation as far as learning...again, just my opinion.

Ryan
 
I set this shot up, played the safety, then jumped the seven in.

I must admit I was playing the seven in the side, but it rattled (diamond pockets) and ended up hidden behind the 8 on the opposite rail.


I would say this is a pretty common safety, but you really want to be frozen(or real close) to your blocker. The thing I dont like about these safeties? If you dont take the seven off that 2nd rail, the point where it made contact with the first rail is going to give your opponent a perfect reference for their kick. my .02
 
You can find that exact safety in Bob Hennings Pro Book and similar ones in Pro Skill Drills. I feel that is a basic but very common safety that comes up frequently in all games.
What I think improves your safety game other than watching the pro's and instructional books/dvd's. When you get yourself into trouble look for the safe before the offensive shot. This will get you thinking in a different direction. Also throw out some balls and never run more than 1. Take ball in hand make a ball and play for a safety. Your goal is to play a safe that either gets you BIH or a desired outcome. Then play a return safe on yourself.
 
I'll tell you how I got much better....playing right there at Breakers.

I had a running game going with an 'old timer' (Big Scott) We gambled, and paid double for a 3 foul. What ever the bet was....

Needless to say...we went for it alot!!

It won't take long......
 
Play all-safeties games with a practice partner. You can invent them pretty easily - for instance:

Play a normal game (8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, etc.) but with no shots allowed, only safeties. For each non-hit (or missed shot if it's a "difficult shot" safety) award point(s) to the safety player and remove the target object ball from the table. Highest score when there's only one object ball left wins. If the next object ball is hidden take ball in hand in the kitchen (spot the next OB if it's also in the kitchen).

Other Possible Rules:

- Increase the number of points awarded for each successful safety as object balls are removed from the table (because safeties are harder with fewer hiding places).

- Start with kicks only and allow jumps later.

- Discuss the pros and cons of each safety after it's attempted.

If you don't have anybody to play this with, play both sides yourself.

pj
chgo
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Please, I'd like to ask only those advanced in safety play in 9 or 10 ball.

I was playing yesterday in a US Open qualifier. I was tied with the eventual winner of the exemption when he put this safe on me.

CueTable Help



That's a strong shot! One I probably would not have seen, much less attempted. On a few occassions this week I have had strong players look at table layout and QUICKLY SEE and execute a safe. Advanced safes that I don't quickly (if even) see.

Beyond watching a gazillion hours of matches, how did you develop your safe play so you can see them and execute them? Did you have a mentor? Is there a great instructional resource out there? Are there drills to practice them?

Thanks,

Matt <-- wants to lock 'em up FIRST next time!
Click to expand...

you come play me for 10 a game.
 
I used to play a lot of pool against, Nick Vhlahos. When Nick, was in his prime, he could put you behind balls better than anyone I ever played. He learned how to do this, by playing a weak player, that came into his room, a race to seven, and Nick had to get the guy on three scratches, to win the game. If the guy he was playing made a legal hit, he had ball-in-hand. And if that player could clear the balls, off the table, before Nick got him on three scratches, he would win the game. Nick, usually, won the match.

Crazy, but true.

If you want to improve your safety game, you have to work on them. I practice, the way I play. If I'm in a situation, that calls for playing a safe, I play the safe, and it better be a good one. Then I try to kick and hit the ball. The people I'm playing are going to lock me up, tighter than a drum. I better have a solution to the problem.

Far to many players, only practice making shots. A great safe, is as good as any shot on the table.

I'll give you two tips.

Play safe with the cue-ball.

Look for a group of balls the cue-ball won't travel through and try to get the cue-ball behind them. The closer to the ball your hiding behind, the better.

_______________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Please, I'd like to ask only those advanced in safety play in 9 or 10 ball.

I was playing yesterday in a US Open qualifier. I was tied with the eventual winner of the exemption when he put this safe on me.

CueTable Help



That's a strong shot! One I probably would not have seen, much less attempted. On a few occassions this week I have had strong players look at table layout and QUICKLY SEE and execute a safe. Advanced safes that I don't quickly (if even) see.

Beyond watching a gazillion hours of matches, how did you develop your safe play so you can see them and execute them? Did you have a mentor? Is there a great instructional resource out there? Are there drills to practice them?

Thanks,

Matt <-- wants to lock 'em up FIRST next time!
Click to expand...


thats a great shot, to see those shots, several things have to happen.

A) s-l-o-w-d-o-w-n, nobody free wheeling is likely to see that shot(most likely, there could be a exception) The exception would be from a experienced player.

B) Awalys look at all options, no be just offensive minded-that comes with time and experience and s-l-o-w-i-n-g-d-o-w-n.

C) As a gereral rule when ever you can park the the CB is that close to a OB with out getting fancy, think about it. make it a habit to look for the lock-up in that scenerio. This comes with experience. It comes up alot but you have to be able to squeez them good and that means knowing the speed of the table to execute that shot. If you hit it a hair soft you just sold out. I lost a game with the same shot playing $200/game 8 ball a couple months ago. I didnt know the equipment, it was to slow(I came up short). the closer you get the CB to the blocker the bigger margine of speed error is ok -if the shot lays that way, Squeeze them tight.


D) Dont try and run every rack, try and win every rack(if you have a shot)


E) Listen to anything Chris Bartrum says. ;) :)



I'd saythere is a 70%-80% chance I would have saw that shot if I was playing for $$$ that mattered, not $50 social pool. If I was playing cheap I'd most likely over looked it too. I'm just a old C- player, so anythings possible, experience is the best teacher. Bet more and think more.
 
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real bartram said:
you come play me for 10 a game.
Click to expand...

KoolKat,

If Chris is even remotely serious, I would take him up on the offer. (It's definitely worth the road trip.)

One of the best ways to improve your game is to play someone several levels above you, and watch exactly HOW they beat you...

And as InTheCloudz mentioned, play one pocket...In an average game of 9 ball, there might be one or two defensive shots.

In an average one pocket game, depending on who you're playing, there could be 10-20 defensive shots, and the concepts of the safety shots that you learn in one hole will transfer to every other game.
 
grady

the finer points of banking and safety play is a dvd by grady mathews i like. it shows different ways to approach safetys to get the cb locked up tighter
 
" experience is the best teacher. Bet more and think more." quote by fatboy

i second that, plus if you want to create an air tight game,mentally you have to be one of two things.... either REALLY hate loosing, or REALLY hate giving money away. i've never met a great player who wasn't one or both of these things. once you get into the mindset of never wanting to let your opponent to the table with a shot, you'd be amazed at all the great safety's you'll come up with.
 
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the concepts of the safety shots that you learn in one hole will transfer to every other game
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A few posters here have said this, but I disagree. The kinds of safeties in 1 pocket are usually very different from safeties in other games. For instance, in 1 pocket you don't have to hit the OB you're hiding from and you usually have a large cluster of balls to hide behind or just need to get the CB on the wrong side of the OB in order to get an adequate safety. In other games you usually need to hit the OB (or one of a group of OBs) and then hide the cue ball completely from it (or from a group of them).

1 pocket safeties are more frequent than in other games, but they're usually very different and often much less difficult.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
A few posters here have said this, but I disagree. The kinds of safeties in 1 pocket are usually very different from safeties in other games. For instance, in 1 pocket you don't have to hit the OB you're hiding from and you usually have a large cluster of balls to hide behind or just need to get the CB on the wrong side of the OB in order to get an adequate safety. In other games you usually need to hit the OB (or one of a group of OBs) and then hide the cue ball completely from it (or from a group of them).

1 pocket safeties are more frequent than in other games, but they're usually very different and often much less difficult.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...

I partially agree.

One pocket will teach you how to perform your safeties better.

It will teach you the correct angle coming off the OB to place the CB in the correct postion

it will "fine tune" your ability to stun the CB to restrict movement after the hit

It will teach you to look for positions to place the CB in order not to allow the opponent a shot for his hole.

But it isn't the same as 9 ball safeties.

Two guys that play on the Midwest bar box tour, practice with two object balls. Each placed on the spots to start off with. Then they use the CB and fuzz the closest OB and try to hook the opponent behind the other OB. Good practice and has two benefits.

1) it limits your ability to use multiple blockers, so you get better practice at seeing different angles to complete your safety.

2) it saves on quarters while you are waiting for your next match. :D
 
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