Low-Risk Shots vs. High-Risk Shots

[JAM]

Poker players oftentimes will go for the high-risk call, and so do golfers. Maybe it is the excitement of the gamble and coming with that right decision for the almighty win.

Most pool players would never dream of executing an uncertain shot, if there's a less risky shot available; in other words, they play the odds and opt for the shot that will not leave the table wide open to their opponent. This is, of course, good game strategy. :yes:

With that said, I do believe it important for beginners or newbies to pool to practice good fundamentals from the get-go, but I have always believed that after one acquires the mechanical skills of pool, the rest is mental. There is something to be said about the power of positive thinking. Champions don't become champions without taking risks. :wink2:

I agree that, unless they're Efren Reyes, it is beneficial to practice good fundamentals, but if you never acquire those risky shots in your arsenal, you just may stay the same speed and never progress.

A football team never made it to the Super Bowl unless they were good at defense and offense. After all, those "Hail Mary shots" sometimes will make you or break you, but it's knowing WHEN to use it that is key in competition. :thumbup:

In pool, I think the more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know, but all of the scientific algorithms and analyses in the world ain't gonna get you to that winner's circle if you don't take chances. :wink:

So, are you a defensive player, an offensive player, or both?

 

[KoolKat9Lives]

I learned 9 ball in the mid 70's when push out was the game (2 misses ball in hand). Defense was a small fraction of the stragey. Today, if you don't have a huge tool-chest full of defensive skills, you don't even exist.

Anyway, am I an offensive or defensive player? When faced with an option of O or D, I'm usually going for the hole.

Psychologically you have more to gain than to lose over your opponent, and in close matches - he who gains the better psyche has a large advantage!

 

[Ironman317]

if the defensive shot is just as tough to execute as the offensive shot, then i say go for the offensive shot and give yourself a chance to win right then and there.

 

[JAM]

I'm taking the cut

And that's what separates the lions from the lambs. It's probably why I never excelled in pool. I was always the lamb!

 

[JAM]

I learned 9 ball in the mid 70's when push out was the game (2 misses ball in hand). Defense was a small fraction of the stragey. Today, if you don't have a huge tool-chest full of defensive skills, you don't even exist.

Exactly right. I agree 100 percent

Anyway, am I an offensive or defensive player? When faced with an option of O or D, I'm usually going for the hole.

Psychologically you have more to gain than to lose over your opponent, and in close matches - he who gains the better psyche has a large advantage!

Ain't it the truth. When you pound your opponent with shot-making capabilities, it makes 'em dog it when they finally do get to the table. They're so mesmerized by the offensive shooting that they stumble! :wink:

 

[hustlin62946]

i play both ways depends on how i feel i guess. as a side note if your

gambling with weaker players u can kill a good game by locking them up.

i actually play a guy that has that as 1 of our rules for the game i cant

play any defense and no ball in hand and stay behind the line on scratch.

give him just the 5 ball wild. he dont play 4 much but i play him sometimes

for practice because he never shuts up and tries to shark me the whole

time. everytime i run a couple racks in a row he will say now u better let

me shoot or this games over mister.lol

 

[ShootingArts]

makes their toe nails curl!

Brett Favre is the greatest sandlot player in the NFL, by far the most exciting quarterback of the last few decades in my opinion. With any other quarterback on the field 13 points down with less than two minutes to play the other team's sideline is laughing and joking. With Brett on the field they are still sweating bullets because He is willing to take the risks needed to score 14 points with two minutes remaining if they get the onside kick. That is the advantage of a big shot even if there is risk involved. Sometimes a near miss strikes as much fear into the other player as making a ball on a shot they would never dream of attempting.

I was playing one pocket with a stranger with a lot of balls open but his pocket favored. He was still stunned after the game that I took a high risk shot leaving the cue ball in the middle of the table. "That shot was a total sell out if you missed!" I didn't miss and I didn't feel any need to reply the obvious, I didn't plan on missing.

Being willing to do what it takes to win and having the firepower to make the big shot or big play when it counts often enough to stick in people's minds are huge weapons. You don't have to make them all the time, Brett has some spectacular losses too, the other team or the other player remembers the wins!

Hu

Poker players oftentimes will go for the high-risk call, and so do golfers. Maybe it is the excitement of the gamble and coming with that right decision for the almighty win.

Most pool players would never dream of executing an uncertain shot, if there's a less risky shot available; in other words, they play the odds and opt for the shot that will not leave the table wide open to their opponent. This is, of course, good game strategy. :yes:

With that said, I do believe it important for beginners or newbies to pool to practice good fundamentals from the get-go, but I have always believed that after one acquires the mechanical skills of pool, the rest is mental. There is something to be said about the power of positive thinking. Champions don't become champions without taking risks. :wink2:

I agree that, unless they're Efren Reyes, it is beneficial to practice good fundamentals, but if you never acquire those risky shots in your arsenal, you just may stay the same speed and never progress.

A football team never made it to the Super Bowl unless they were good at defense and offense. After all, those "Hail Mary shots" sometimes will make you or break you, but it's knowing WHEN to use it that is key in competition. :thumbup:

In pool, I think the more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know, but all of the scientific algorithms and analyses in the world ain't gonna get you to that winner's circle if you don't take chances. :wink:

So, are you a defensive player, an offensive player, or both?

 

[TWOFORPOOL]

9 Ball is an offensive game and if you want to play alot of defense go play one pocket.

Today's strategy is to play safe on any shot thats even semi tough. I see over and over again where a player is running out and gets out of line only to duck and turn himself from a chump to a champion. One foul dictates this sort of play. 9 Ball today with one foul ball in hand is boring. Everbody talks about how great the players are today but I don't see anybody running more than 2 or 3 racks (on 9 foot tables) simply because they won't try a semi tough shot and will duck instead.

Again 9 Ball is an offensive game and I would really like to see a tourament playing roll out. It brings the great shot making back to the game. You could even play roll out where after the roll out the shooter has to make a ball or his opponent will get ball in hand. I think that would be exciting to see rolls outs that are very tough to make but could be made since the person rolling out might get the shot back.

 

[Cameron Smith]

It depends on what you mean by hail mary shots. I see players practicing three rail banks shots, weird kiss shots, timing shots, masse shots etc. and these guys aren't even One Pocket players (We don't have any of those around here.) Personally I feel their time would be better served practicing served practicing long straight ins.

I'm aggressive in that I will take on difficult pots and some challenging banks if they feel right, but I won't shoot a 10-20% hail mary shot unless my opponent isn't good enough to fire back at me. The only other time is if it will guarantee me the win.

As for practicing fundamentals, most never get perfect mechanics so I think everyone should have them adjusted now and again if only because we get lazy sometimes. FWIW Efren has a completely different stance now than he did in the 80's. Neils Feijen didn't have a pause in his stroke in the late 90's. Just sayin.

 

[JAM]

i play both ways depends on how i feel i guess. as a side note if your

gambling with weaker players u can kill a good game by locking them up.

i actually play a guy that has that as 1 of our rules for the game i cant

play any defense and no ball in hand and stay behind the line on scratch.

give him just the 5 ball wild. he dont play 4 much but i play him sometimes

for practice because he never shuts up and tries to shark me the whole

time. everytime i run a couple racks in a row he will say now u better let

me shoot or this games over mister.lol

Then that tells me that you're a good player, one who knows how to adjust! :wink:

 

[JAM]

Brett Favre is the greatest sandlot player in the NFL, by far the most exciting quarterback of the last few decades in my opinion. With any other quarterback on the field 13 points down with less than two minutes to play the other team's sideline is laughing and joking. With Brett on the field they are still sweating bullets because He is willing to take the risks needed to score 14 points with two minutes remaining if they get the onside kick. That is the advantage of a big shot even if there is risk involved. Sometimes a near miss strikes as much fear into the other player as making a ball on a shot they would never dream of attempting.

I was playing one pocket with a stranger with a lot of balls open but his pocket favored. He was still stunned after the game that I took a high risk shot leaving the cue ball in the middle of the table. "That shot was a total sell out if you missed!" I didn't miss and I didn't feel any need to reply the obvious, I didn't plan on missing.

Being willing to do what it takes to win and having the firepower to make the big shot or big play when it counts often enough to stick in people's minds are huge weapons. You don't have to make them all the time, Brett has some spectacular losses too, the other team or the other player remembers the wins!

Hu

Excellent analogy, Hu!

You're right in that everybody does always remember the win. Nobody seems to recall who came in second place, runner up, or even third. :frown:

It's those competitors who come with the big shots that seem to rise high in the ranks. In fact, that's true in life, even in industry. If you don't take gambles, you'll never make it to the next level. I like to keep advancing, at least in my own industry. It keeps it challenging for me. Plus, the additional income comes in handy too! :grin-square:

 

[JAM]

9 Ball is an offensive game and if you want to play alot of defense go play one pocket.

Today's strategy is to play safe on any shot thats even semi tough. I see over and over again where a player is running out and gets out of line only to duck and turn himself from a chump to a champion. One foul dictates this sort of play. 9 Ball today with one foul ball in hand is boring. Everbody talks about how great the players are today but I don't see anybody running more than 2 or 3 racks (on 9 foot tables) simply because they won't try a semi tough shot and will duck instead.

Again 9 Ball is an offensive game and I would really like to see a tourament playing roll out. It brings the great shot making back to the game. You could even play roll out where after the roll out the shooter has to make a ball or his opponent will get ball in hand. I think that would be exciting to see rolls outs that are very tough to make but could be made since the person rolling out might get the shot back.

That is right on cue [pun intended]. 9-ball is an offensive game. There ain't nothing worse than sweating a match between two warriors on a field of green that keep playing safe against each other. How boring!

Of course, in one-pocket, playing safe is the name of the game. That's why it's not a good spectator sport on TV, though I love me some one-hole matches, especially when my horse is in the match. He is a very offensive player, and he does well with one pocket, but I thnk he could take a few lessons from players like Nick Varner who play it safe. Patience is a virtue needed for one-pocket for sure. :wink:

 

[JAM]

It depends on what you mean by hail mary shots. I see players practicing three rail banks shots, weird kiss shots, timing shots, masse shots etc. and these guys aren't even One Pocket players (We don't have any of those around here.) Personally I feel their time would be better served practicing served practicing long straight ins.

I agree with that, especially for players who are still learing the basic fundamentals of the game. They need to, of course, be very comfortable with making those long straight-in shots with authority. Shooting with authority should always come first. It helps one to develop the mental part of the game, meaning confidence.

I'm aggressive in that I will take on difficult pots and some challenging banks if they feel right, but I won't shoot a 10-20% hail mary shot unless my opponent isn't good enough to fire back at me. The only other time is if it will guarantee me the win.

As for practicing fundamentals, most never get perfect mechanics so I think everyone should have them adjusted now and again if only because we get lazy sometimes. FWIW Efren has a completely different stance now than he did in the 80's. Neils Feijen didn't have a pause in his stroke in the late 90's. Just sayin.

Good point. Players should always be willing to experiment with new techniques. If you don't, you'll never get better.

 

[Ratta]

"...if u re doin successfully your shot....it was the right idea :wink: "
however- of course there are too many situations in our loved game to be able to say "that s the only way to make it right.."- but if u re watching often other guys playing you ll see that hobby players or semi-pro s very often just playing *strange* sequences or stupid balls just because they re afraid (missed easy shots before etc). and like the guy shown up before- 9 ball usualy is a very offense game- but if u have an open table without any bigger problems (no matter what game-8er, 9er, straight pool)- go to finish the game- defensive just in the case if u need to
whatever: if u to play a save- play it! if u goin to make to ball go into the pocket: then make it!
don t miss a save- or don t miss a shot- then u re always right ^^

 

[dave sutton]

bad poker players make high risk calls. thats why most are life loosers. good players play the precentages when its in their favor. making a tough call when the $$$ is in your favor is ok in poker bc there is a change you can win. most wont. playing mika even betting 100 to win 400. what are your chances. never!

IMO POKER DOESNT TRANSLATE INTO POOL THAT WELL. THATS WHY A PRO CANT WIN THE MAIN EVENT BUT YOU RARELY TO NEVER SEE A NO NAME WIN THE US OPEN. SOME GO FAR BUT EVENTUALLY SKILL CATCHES UP

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETIMES IN 8BALL A BETTER PLAYER WILL TAKE A TOUGH SHOT FIRST BC THATS THE SHOT TO GET THEM OUT. ALSO I FIND IN GAMES YOU SHOOT A SHOT BC THATS THE BEST SHOT YOU PROB WILL SEE AT THAT BAD. BAD PLAYERS DONT EVEN REALIZE THIS. "WILL I GET A BETTER SHOT THEN THIS?'' IF THE ANSWERS NO THEN YOU MUST SHOOT IT

 

[JAM]

bad poker players make high risk calls. thats why most are life loosers. good players play the precentages when its in their favor. making a tough call when the $$$ is in your favor is ok in poker bc there is a change you can win. most wont. playing mika even betting 100 to win 400. what are your chances. never!

IMO POKER DOESNT TRANSLATE INTO POOL THAT WELL. THATS WHY A PRO CANT WIN THE MAIN EVENT BUT YOU RARELY TO NEVER SEE A NO NAME WIN THE US OPEN. SOME GO FAR BUT EVENTUALLY SKILL CATCHES UP

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETIMES IN 8BALL A BETTER PLAYER WILL TAKE A TOUGH SHOT FIRST BC THATS THE SHOT TO GET THEM OUT. ALSO I FIND IN GAMES YOU SHOOT A SHOT BC THATS THE BEST SHOT YOU PROB WILL SEE AT THAT BAD. BAD PLAYERS DONT EVEN REALIZE THIS. "WILL I GET A BETTER SHOT THEN THIS?'' IF THE ANSWERS NO THEN YOU MUST SHOOT IT

Those are very good points, especially about 8-ball.

I think you hit the nail on the head that the different games of pocket billiards each require a decision-making process as to WHEN to playing offensively or defensively. :smile:

 

[JAM]

"...if u re doin successfully your shot....it was the right idea :wink: "
however- of course there are too many situations in our loved game to be able to say "that s the only way to make it right.."- but if u re watching often other guys playing you ll see that hobby players or semi-pro s very often just playing *strange* sequences or stupid balls just because they re afraid (missed easy shots before etc). and like the guy shown up before- 9 ball usualy is a very offense game- but if u have an open table without any bigger problems (no matter what game-8er, 9er, straight pool)- go to finish the game- defensive just in the case if u need to
whatever: if u to play a save- play it! if u goin to make to ball go into the pocket: then make it!
don t miss a save- or don t miss a shot- then u re always right ^^

Now that's what I call positive thinking! That will definitely enhance one's chances to win for sure!

 

[dave sutton]

those are very good points, especially about 8-ball.

I think you hit the nail on the head that the different games of pocket billiards each require a decision-making process as to when to playing offensively or defensively. :smile:

thanks. Ill tell you what tho. Id rather shoot a person that fires all the time rather then one that plays lock up safes.

Hard to beat a 4 tool player. Shoot move think and hide

 

[Ratta]

@JAM

in my opinion each kind of billards- no matter which one all depends on positive thinkin. it s of course all about practice, practice and again practice- the more u practice the more expirience you ll get! Noone can steal your expirience if you re really playin and trainin often, your chance to stay in a situation which seems like *sharks in your bathroom* is not that big and if you ll come often to that point, that u think *what f....in situation is that?* then u have to practice and play more tournaments.
well know situations= no fear
unknown situations = feelin like *sharks in your bathroom*

just your turn to get out of these next time

lg

Ingo

 

[Black-Balled]

I'm taking the cut

We can't pretend we are you though. Gets really expensive!!