In a handicap tourney what strategies to use on a low ranked player?

KoolKat9Lives

KoolKat9Lives

Taught 'em all I know
Silver Member
Say you're playing 9 ball and you have to race to 4 and your opponent only needs to go to one. This is a completely different game of 9 ball than I am used to.

What strategies, beyond the obvious, do you employ?

For one instance, should I start some racks by putting the 9 ball into solitude on a far off rail and give BIH? So I can eliminate him getting the banging combo and also making shape difficult at the end?

Do I break differently?

Do I not even consider getting out unless it's an 80% + proposition?

Thanks,

KK9 <-- got sore butt from low 'capper last night
 
Expect the unexpected from them. Everything from running more balls than you would expect to making the absolutely lowest percentile shot ever, making combinations that only a pool god could make. :) My advice is find your defensive game. Lock them up constantly and look for 3 fouls, they'll hate playing you but it can be effective.
 
Out move him. He may be able to shoot but odds are he cant outplay you. Hide balls take pockets create clusters ect. Thats why i prefer 8ball over 9 ball sometimes. I dont have many that can out shoot out move and out think me in the same match. Generally if i lose i beat myself.
 
Safe, and re-Safe. Keep in mind that you want to get the object ball and the 9 ball on different ends of the table. Use ball-in-hand to make a few balls and again put your opponent in difficult situations.

I wouldn't necessarily group the 9 with other balls, as we all know it will end up lining dead into the corner.

I usually don't tie up balls in this situation either because this player is rated much lower because they can't run 7-9 balls. I manage the game until I either know that I can get out, or I can run many balls and have a lock up safe late in the game.

If you get in a tough shot late in the game, instead of going for the difficult shot (aka. the sell out), try and duck, give them a tough bank, etc.
 
I was just in this prediament last night in 8 ball and had the opponent get the opening game off me as well. It was then a 5-1 race. No 3 foul rule in APA (dang it) so I ended up playing 1-2 shots at a time and then playing a safe. In one game I had 7 safeties while I tried to break up a cluster and move some of my balls off the rails to set up a good run.

In the end I won 5 games to 1 and didnt loose another.
 
don't miss....

It's simple....don't miss.

If you are playing with a situation like that, then you just can't outrun the luck factor, and bangers usually seem to have more of that than you or I...

You just got to play your best.

I like to think to myself, everyone is Efren. When I've done that, I've won....

Damn I need to do that more often......:o

Jaden
 
Neil said:
Exactly! And, IMHO, this is the only solution to consistently beating that handicap. They only need one game, they are taking as many flyers as they can. And, it's amazing how often they get 'lucky' on an absolutely ludicrous shot. Best strategy- don't let them shoot!
Click to expand...


Of course my reply was a bit sarcastic....after reading all the safety play posts, I was thinking DON'T DO IT!! Letting them to the table with something other than an absolute lock will likely end in disaster....you're right, don't let them shoot - at all. Lucky kick into the 4 sends the 4 and maybe another ball and the cueball flyin' - could end the game and match, done.
 
I think when the handicap is by games I definitely play more safes and take lower risk outs. I'm less likely to fire at a ball and let whitey fly all around the table for a 20% chance of getting shape. I find when I'm playing better players (local champs) and I'm getting the handicap they normally kill me on safes and out moving me.

-J Chao
 
Go out of your way to avoid fouls. They will use every ball in hand opportunity to ride the nine.

Scratching on the break is the easiest mistake to make. And often, the one nine combo is available with ball in hand.
 
Was this league or a tournament?

If a tournament, then a race to 2 for 8 ball should be the minimum. If 9 ball, then a race to 3 should be the minimum.

Playing 9 ball or 8 ball where 1 player only has to win 1 game is ludicrious.
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Say you're playing 9 ball and you have to race to 4 and your opponent only needs to go to one. This is a completely different game of 9 ball than I am used to.

What strategies, beyond the obvious, do you employ?

For one instance, should I start some racks by putting the 9 ball into solitude on a far off rail and give BIH? So I can eliminate him getting the banging combo and also making shape difficult at the end?

Do I break differently?

Do I not even consider getting out unless it's an 80% + proposition?

Thanks,

KK9 <-- got sore butt from low 'capper last night
Click to expand...

Safty play works the best , Just put the ob close to the your next shot for the run out..
Good luck
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Say you're playing 9 ball and you have to race to 4 and your opponent only needs to go to one. This is a completely different game of 9 ball than I am used to.

What strategies, beyond the obvious, do you employ?

For one instance, should I start some racks by putting the 9 ball into solitude on a far off rail and give BIH? So I can eliminate him getting the banging combo and also making shape difficult at the end?

Do I break differently?

Do I not even consider getting out unless it's an 80% + proposition?

Thanks,

KK9 <-- got sore butt from low 'capper last night
Click to expand...

Good question....

My best results in game handicaps have been to just play my game and run the table :D

Against weaker players, if there is any thought I'll miss the shot, I always go for the 2-way shot....

If the nine is in the jaws, get it off the table....otherwise, they will go after it and quickly....

My biggest problem in 9-ball is ball handicaps....I've always used game handicaps in the past....I have learned that if your opponent has the wild 8, you gotta always remember there are 2 game winners on the table....
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Say you're playing 9 ball and you have to race to 4 and your opponent only needs to go to one. This is a completely different game of 9 ball than I am used to.

What strategies, beyond the obvious, do you employ?

For one instance, should I start some racks by putting the 9 ball into solitude on a far off rail and give BIH? So I can eliminate him getting the banging combo and also making shape difficult at the end?

Do I break differently?

Do I not even consider getting out unless it's an 80% + proposition?

Thanks,

KK9 <-- got sore butt from low 'capper last night
Click to expand...

I sure you are playing call the nine in a race to one.......I would be banging em around too if all I had to make was one ball.
 
Majic said:
I sure you are playing call the nine in a race to one.......I would be banging em around too if all I had to make was one ball.
Click to expand...

Nope, unfortunately. Bang away on the wild 9.

How @ in the beginning of a rack that doesn't sit great -

put the 9 up on the middle of the lonely head rail and give up ball in hand?

Is that a viable tactic?
 
We have this issue in AZ, against better players I never take a low risk shot thats outside my realm of abilities. Against weaker players I make sure that nine is no where near the next OB.
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Nope, unfortunately. Bang away on the wild 9.

How @ in the beginning of a rack that doesn't sit great -

put the 9 up on the middle of the lonely head rail and give up ball in hand?

Is that a viable tactic?
Click to expand...

Sounds like a winner. You know they won't run out so giving them ball in hand early in the rack, to relocate the 9 might be an option. Or shoot enough safeties to get ball in hand throughout the game. Play for a lockup safety late in the rack.
 
Neil said:
I think you might be confusing this thread with an 8 ball tourney. This is a 9 ball tourney. If a player is going 4-1, either the one really, really is bad, or the 4 can play pretty good. There is now way the 4 is going to play safe late in the game in 9 ball, unless he totally screws up- which shouldn't happen ever.
Click to expand...

yes sir !!! I am not confused one bit:p


I was trying to avoid telling my buddy to just run out :):):)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top