I always thought it was me against the table. But recently I was told by a stronger player that I need to find the weaknesses in my opponent's game. He didn't tell me how to do that. What are the best ways for me to actively test their limits during the early stages of a match?
How do you find your opponent's weakness?
- Thread starter dzone
- Start date
Since the only time I can affect their game is if I play a safe, or otherwise complicate the table i.e tie up some balls, I look to see if they can kick and/or jump. When you can play a safe, pay attention to how they kick at the ball, did they go 1 rail instead of 2, were they even close, etc. Did they jump, if so, did they hit the ball, did they make the ball. Did they tie up balls instead?
Of course, you have to be proficient at kicking to know if they did the right thing.
I'm sure there will be more educational posts coming, looking forward to them.
Bet more and watch if their arm shakes
Make 'em offers...
If you are not winning, you need to find the weakness in YOUR game.
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You should know how already or don't gamble with them.
You can alter the table by getting in their heads. Believe it.
Any player that starts bitching and moaning after a miss and looks to be on tilt is getting a dead nut safety played on them.
I really like that word exploit. When I played tournaments a little bit, first time any of the well known rack artists used to rack for me the first time I would carefully look over the rack a minute or two. Soon the other player would jump up. "Something wrong?" "No, I am just looking for something to exploit."
Somehow that word had a nasty sound and after that I got very careful racks instead of slug racks they were somewhat famous for.(grin)
Never a bad idea to chase your opponent's weaknesses but as others have suggested, best to clean up your own act first! Shooting too hard and aiming at the wrong place are two common issues.
Are you optimizing the available pocket every shot? Studying your own flaws makes it easier to see the same flaws in others.
Hu
dquarasr
Registered
So many possibilities:
- they can’t kick well
- they can’t bank well
- they can’t combo well
- they can’t jump well
- they can’t make loooonnnngggg shots well
- their CB control is not that good so they have trouble breaking up clusters
- they can’t deal with slow or fast play well
- they can’t shoot elevated over a ball well
- they can’t shoot frozen on the cushion well
- they are easily frustrated by safeties
- they are easily flustered by being down early in a match
- they get down on themselves when they dog a shot
All of these behaviors are exploitable to leverage if you pay attention to their body language, the things they say out loud or mutter to themselves, and their shot execution. Don’t play on your phone. Don’t watch the football game on the TV screen. Don’t talk up the cute server. Watch your opponent at the table.
- they can’t kick well
- they can’t bank well
- they can’t combo well
- they can’t jump well
- they can’t make loooonnnngggg shots well
- their CB control is not that good so they have trouble breaking up clusters
- they can’t deal with slow or fast play well
- they can’t shoot elevated over a ball well
- they can’t shoot frozen on the cushion well
- they are easily frustrated by safeties
- they are easily flustered by being down early in a match
- they get down on themselves when they dog a shot
All of these behaviors are exploitable to leverage if you pay attention to their body language, the things they say out loud or mutter to themselves, and their shot execution. Don’t play on your phone. Don’t watch the football game on the TV screen. Don’t talk up the cute server. Watch your opponent at the table.
I've been playing this game since 1961 and I can spot my opponent's strong and weak points after a couple racks, I can't explain how I just see it.
Fvalstounge
Member
I had a team member in leagues who would try to get in a better player's head with (seemingly) earnest questions.
"I can't get any rhythm in my stroke. Do you exhale as you stroke the ball, or hold it until after?"
"How do you shoot so straight with your elbow in that position?"
"I gotta try that stance. Maybe it'll work for me, too."
"I can't get any rhythm in my stroke. Do you exhale as you stroke the ball, or hold it until after?"
"How do you shoot so straight with your elbow in that position?"
"I gotta try that stance. Maybe it'll work for me, too."
how can i exploit the weaknesses then??
Just watch for the shots they have trouble with. Mostly, this is going to apply to safety play, as some have mentioned, so over one match you might not get enough info to be useful. Can't jump? Can't kick? I think the advantage of paying perfect attention to what they do right/wrong is small.
Fvalstounge
Member
I think an intentional bad break to start with, leaving a nice big cluster and very few open balls, might give some insights to how they approach the game. Are they patient and strategic, or just get frustrated and blast the pile? That alone could help shape some strategy.
Rusty in Montana
Well-known member
If you are the one breaking the rack don't miss and leave a easy or open table if at all possible !
I feel that the only thing I can control is me and what I can or can't do while at the table .
If the opponent has the break when you get a turn if that happens take you're time and do you're best to run the rack !
Worrying about what you're opponent can or can't do isn't where you want you're mind at and it's a close cousin to sharking yourself in some ways .
You have to have faith in you're ability and seeing a pattern of your balls to reach a win !
Just some ramblings of a older pool player
I feel that the only thing I can control is me and what I can or can't do while at the table .
If the opponent has the break when you get a turn if that happens take you're time and do you're best to run the rack !
Worrying about what you're opponent can or can't do isn't where you want you're mind at and it's a close cousin to sharking yourself in some ways .
You have to have faith in you're ability and seeing a pattern of your balls to reach a win !
Just some ramblings of a older pool player
If my opponent is hitting well and playing proper safes I'm the weak one. After a game or two the level shows. How do we know their weakness? It'll come right out....
What game(s) are you playing?