In bar table eight ball, do you deliberately miss shots?

I like it when my opponent thinks I missed a shot. Often times I'm just re-arranging the furniture so to speak. Of course I do miss but I'm not trying to. ;)

If you want to see some strategy that can be tied directly into your 8 ball game, watch some 1 pocket. It gives you a real good idea of how to not leave your opponent anything. Of course in 8 ball there are more pockets but the idea is the same. Make your balls easy and theirs tough. I think it's Cappelle that has a "Play your best 8 ball" book. It's a good one that talks about strategy. That's what's so neat about pool, the more you play you pick up all kinds of stuff that wouldn't have even crossed your mind before. It's a fun game and I don't think anyone truly masters it. Sure they can beat other players but they still miss, and there's always something to learn.
I NEVER miss a shot unless the pocket moves right when I strike the cue ball, I hate it when that happens.
 
Depends on the bar/rules you are playing by....In some bars they don't like it when you play safe and very much discourage anyone who does........In that case missing on purpose IS a strategy....The key however is to be able to miss on purpose without it looking like you missed on purpose.

Any place that does not discourage safes....there is no reason to miss on purpose
 
Isn't a safety "missing on purpose"?

pj
chgo
Semantics....but Yes it is.....

There is intent and also perceived intent......It is that perceived intent that is important in some bars.

The wording can be spin doctored any which way you want.......but my "perception" is you get the jist of it...;)
 
Hmmm.

I miss shots intentionally on a 7 foot and 9 foot at the same rate playing 8 ball. I play exactly the same way on both.
 
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Yep. If you can't get out --- why should you give them the chance. Play enough SL3's who love to play safe,or put up their own blocker balls and you'll be hiding or sending a few to the rail if you can't get out.
 
Another one is safety down, you can call safety, make a ball, and not have to shoot again.

This is really only for higher level players and rules. No "bar" player would know this is a rule, nor does it apply to non-called shot rules like APA. It is a nice strategy to use if available.
 
I am wondering if intentionally missing shots is a common used tactic by players in 8 ball, particularly on bar tables? (Perhaps waiting on an opponent to shoot off some of their balls).
A player should be open to shooting whatever he believes is his best shot at the given moment.

Surely you don't think otherwise?
 
it depends on the local bar customs if playing for money. if you dont want to get in a fight.

same for safeties. if in doubt ask what they expect before you play. some take a safe personally and will react badly.

if in a league or tournament then anything goes usually.
 
I remember when safeties and two way shots were plenty adequate reason for a Mickey Finn level punch to the nose or eye! I won't say I deserved an academy award for some of the performances after a "miss" but I certainly deserved a nomination sometimes.

I know there are still pockets of unenlightened people so when you step into a strange place best to learn house rules before making a major faux pas never mind that you know the rules two miles down the road. I went into a place in the piney woods a few years back that called itself a pool hall. First time I have ever seen a dozen new Valley's lined up, nothing else.

Some bozo met me coming in the door and wanted to know my intentions. I would have thought that my large cue case would reveal my intentions but I told him my intentions were pure and innocent. Bust every player there under forty and have my way with their women! My actual intent was to hit a few balls on those new tables and see how they hit. The road player's weren't fairing too well there.

Hu
 
This is really only for higher level players and rules. No "bar" player would know this is a rule, nor does it apply to non-called shot rules like APA. It is a nice strategy to use if avavailable.
High level 8 ball strategy can lead to pocketing a ball and calling safe. It is however a very rare situation. If I am pocketing a ball when calling safe, it's more likely to be a billiard or combination to pocket an opponent ball that's blocking. I want to keep my balls on the table and hopefully blocking when I allow my opponent to shoot. The more balls I have the more options available when I get back to the table. When I call safe and pocket my ball it's most often because I hit it too hard and it accidentally fell in the pocket I was trying to block.
 
I am wondering if intentionally missing shots is a common used tactic by players in 8 ball, particularly on bar tables? (Perhaps waiting on an opponent to shoot off some of their balls).

Lots of examples of how and when to do it “by accident” can be found in this video:

 
In 8 ball I look for shots that leave my opponent little to nothing if I Miss plus a good shot or options on the next ball if the shot is made. With offense and defense being factors in every shot.
Pretending to miss when safety is the intent would be a hustlers tactic. It's a tactic that's applauded in a poker game. 🤷‍♂️
Can't believe I missed that shot!! Wink wink.
Oh crap. Sorry for the tough leave there boss.
 
The only deliberate thing I do on a bar box is not playing on them. Barbox = America's Billiard Crack-Cocaine.
 
Can't believe I missed that shot!! Wink wink.
Oh crap. Sorry for the tough leave there boss.
I have brag on my best acting
It came in a White Spot 9 ball bar table race to 3. Playing Don Wirtiman (the guy that busted Cole ) I caught him at 2 and made a ball on the Break but had no shot to make the 1 ball. The 1 was on the side rail and there was a wired 5-9 combination on the foot rail. I rolled out to a kick bank to the combination and figured it better be tough for him to give it back. So I rolled and hooked it. My assessment after the shot was, "oh shit that's the perfect angle ". So my exaggerated disappointed expression sold him. He didn't get out of his chair, just motioned and said, "shoot again". He spent the rest of the evening muttering to anyone that would listen, how he got beat by this 'no stroke son of....'
 
I have brag on my best acting
It came in a White Spot 9 ball bar table race to 3. Playing Don Wirtiman (the guy that busted Cole ) I caught him at 2 and made a ball on the Break but had no shot to make the 1 ball. The 1 was on the side rail and there was a wired 5-9 combination on the foot rail. I rolled out to a kick bank to the combination and figured it better be tough for him to give it back. So I rolled and hooked it. My assessment after the shot was, "oh shit that's the perfect angle ". So my exaggerated disappointed expression sold him. He didn't get out of his chair, just motioned and said, "shoot again". He spent the rest of the evening muttering to anyone that would listen, how he got beat by this 'no stroke son of....'
Never play harder than you have to to beat a guy, was my motto.
Served me well.
Esp in those small local places that don't take kindly to Roadies.
Use an okey-doke kinda routine to disarm them. Hard to hate a guy when he's considerate, polite, got you laughing, buying you and yours rounds and keeping his eyes OFF your old lady - and missing shots he shoulda made, even tho you can't see one of your balls after he does and you're kicking or playing a combo. Lol.
Hide the leather my friend. He's gonna get it all. And if he does it right, will be able to return to fist bumps and handshakes in a few weeks and do it all over again.
 
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