Ok so I have a little problem

ugotactionTX

ugotactionTX

I'm in dead rack!
Silver Member
Been playing the small games for years but have recently moved onto bigger and better things. 1 pocket a couple of years ago and more recently 14.1 ( last 6-7 months ) No real high runs to speak of. 34-35 balls is about as good as its been but more often 15-25 balls is a good run for me. Ironically it's not getting from one rack into the next that's ending my runs but usually a stupid positional error on my part or more common, just shooting the ball into the rail :banghead:

Anyway my question(s) is about safety play in Straight Pool. I consider my self a fairly accomplished defensive player and play pretty strong safe's in 8 ball and 9 ball. However, I am quickly realizing the difference between playing a "good" safe (where your opponent may not have a decent shot) and a PRODUCTIVE safe where if given the chance I can maybe win the battle and run a few balls. I have a much better grasp of productive safes in 1pckt, but the same approach in 14.1 does not always produce an opportunity to win the exchange.

not sure that make any sense?

sometimes I feel like I'm just bumping and nudging the balls around to what "appear"good positions or just putting the cue ball as far away as possible, only to have it flipped back around on me in a most uncomfortable way...

so do any of you guys have some suggestions that might help me to recognize and SEE better safes? I'm feel like I'm capable of pulling them off ( most of the time) I just don't think I'm thinking about the safe like I should.

I've watched everything I can, and play anyone that will have a go, but as you know there's not that many competent 14.1 players around and even the ones that play don't always make the right choices....

any help is much appreciated.
 
Watch the Reyes/Appleton match in the 2012 World 14.1 Championship if you can. They played safe on the entire rack until there was only one ball by the rack area. Nine consecutive safeties were played which was the longest safety battle I ever saw.

The score was Reyes (25) Appleton (57) when it started, which was about 47 minutes into the match and the battle lasted about 10 minutes.
 
HI Jim,

safetyplay in straightpool is for sure important. If you re already a strong defensive player with knowledge in strategy you cannot be soooo unexpirienced.
What i tell everyone is, that for example safeties on the frozen racks are a must have in everyones arsenal. If you play a safe, then it must put pressure on your opponent.
And especially with those safeties on the *full rack*, you can put a lot of pressure onto your opponent. Most of the time you re able to let whitey roll *frozen* into the rack letting 2 balls or more coming out of the rack. The result is that in most cases that you leave 2 open balls on *2 sides* of the table. So oyu limitate your opponents choices to response easily.

All other *thumbrules* like *distance*, hooked cb, or shooting ball by calling safety have the same sense in 14.1.

So finally it depends on expirience, rating your opponent and rating also yourself if you play a safety.
My opinion is, that you have to dictate the match with a safety- you have to ACT and not just to REACT.

And watching games is for sure a good teacher- but nothing goes over expirience. i love a quote from G. Fels about the moment, when a player feels like *sharks appearing in your bath* :p
This hits the nail^^ If your opponent have this feeling.....your safety was good :p

lg
Ingo
 
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