Improving Defense - Safety Drills

[FeelDaShot]

On Saturday, I played my first bar box 9-ball tournament in almost 2 years. Since the pandemic started I've mostly just been playing the ghost on my 9 FT home table. Not much else. So this was an interesting experiment getting back into tournaments and playing on smaller tables.

My offense was great. Once I got in line and in control of the table I was running out at a pretty high rate. However, as you might have guessed, my defense was piss poor. I would often find myself coming to the table with a clear look at the object ball but I wouldn't have a good offensive shot. I would try some type of the safety and completely sell out. This was frustrating to play such good offense and then just give games away on defense.

So I now realize that I need to find a way to practice safeties without getting super bored. That's when I came across Neils Feijen's youtube channel which I found to be amazing. Check out these defensive videos, they are absolutely top notch:

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These are exactly what my game has been missing. I can't wait to get back on the table and master all of these shots before my next tournament.

Hopefully you guys find this as useful as I did. If anyone else has any similar safety practice routines please share. Cheers!

 

[Flatfoot]

Great stuff!

 

[Jimmorrison]

Niels channel is excellent

 

[Jimmorrison]

By the way, thanks for posting something about billiards.

 

[Bishop]

Was looking for videos like this the other night before I got busy with something else.

Thanks for posting these.

 

[Geosnookery]

Good lessons.

I mostly play Snooker and and it’s an advantage when playing many players in Pool ( I need help against good Pool players).

A big difference is ‘mindset’. In Snooker one comes up to the table every time thinking ‘what is the best shot?’ And not ‘how can I clear the table?. Clearing the table often is the best shot but not always. Safeties can make up 80% of the shots in some Snooker games. It will only be a few percent of shots in Pool but safeties can really throw your opponent off their game. If I can’t defeat a good player with skill, I may do better with strategy.

Many players will immediately focus on sinking an easy shot. However, occasionally better not to sink an easy shot but to snooker the opponent with a safety to get a ball in hand or even better position next table visit.