play safe or shoot?

T

thall

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Ever play someone a game of 8 ball and he'd rather play safe instead of trying to make his shot? I'm not talking about trying to make a hard shot but a easy shot that he would skip because playing the safe is easier than the shot. Years ago I played pool all the time. I got sucked into to playing in a league and found guys constantly playing safe instead of attempting makeable shots. I've always played offence and tried to make my shots and not worry about burying the other guy behind a ball on purpose. If a guy shoots and misses and the cue rolls behind another ball burying it that's one thing but to do it on purpose is another to me. Back in the day we had a name for that type of player. In the pool room we all knew who the "safe" players were and we would tell em grow a set, go play with the kids you woose.

Mosconi hated playing Crane because Crane played slow and he played a awful lot of safes. Mosconi's safes weren't much because he rarely played a safe. Sigel was famous for burying the other players with safes yet he claimed he hated having to play safe, he'd rather take the shot if it was makeable. Strickland's safe play is the worst part of his game because he is all offence. I've seen him screw up so many times trying to play safe its funny. Its not his style to play safe.

I know we have all been told playing safes is part of the game. I've always said yeah its part of the game, the sissy part. I'd rather a guy miss a ball on purpose when he's really playing safe than to tell me I'm playing safe.

How do you guys feel about safes?
 
As much as some people "love" defense, I prefer offensive games to both play and watch. I know safeties are a part of the game and appreciate them when they are played and executed well, but it makes for "boring" games to both play and watch IMHO.
 
maybe those people just know what theyre doing. 8 ball is a game where taking one of your balls off the table is a mistake unless you can run out. i dont think id wanna visit your pool room if people get ridiculed for playing safe. im guessing theres not a lot of one pocket action :) strickland plays some beautiful safeties for what it's worth
 
thall said:
Ever play someone a game of 8 ball and he'd rather play safe instead of trying to make his shot? I'm not talking about trying to make a hard shot but a easy shot that he would skip because playing the safe is easier than the shot. Years ago I played pool all the time. I got sucked into to playing in a league and found guys constantly playing safe instead of attempting makeable shots. I've always played offence and tried to make my shots and not worry about burying the other guy behind a ball on purpose. If a guy shoots and misses and the cue rolls behind another ball burying it that's one thing but to do it on purpose is another to me. Back in the day we had a name for that type of player. In the pool room we all knew who the "safe" players were and we would tell em grow a set, go play with the kids you woose.

Mosconi hated playing Crane because Crane played slow and he played a awful lot of safes. Mosconi's safes weren't much because he rarely played a safe. Sigel was famous for burying the other players with safes yet he claimed he hated having to play safe, he'd rather take the shot if it was makeable. Strickland's safe play is the worst part of his game because he is all offence. I've seen him screw up so many times trying to play safe its funny. Its not his style to play safe.

I know we have all been told playing safes is part of the game. I've always said yeah its part of the game, the sissy part. I'd rather a guy miss a ball on purpose when he's really playing safe than to tell me I'm playing safe.

How do you guys feel about safes?
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Defense is an integral part of any sport/game, and pool is no different. It's just as important to be adept at playing safeties as it is to run balls.

To me, what you're saying about safety-play in pool is the equivalent someone saying in boxing that bobbing, weaving, and general head movement are for sissy's. Defense isn't for sissy's...it's for those who understand strategy and get that there's more than one way to win.
 
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In tournament or match play my rule of thumb is if the odds of NOT making the shot are way high or I can make the shot but have no chance of getting shape then a safety is in order. Sometimes you are in a match with a player that if you miss you won't get back to the table. Better learn and practice safeties. Safeties are an art.
 
thall said:
I know we have all been told playing safes is part of the game. I've always said yeah its part of the game, the sissy part. I'd rather a guy miss a ball on purpose when he's really playing safe than to tell me I'm playing safe.

How do you guys feel about safes?
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I feel that I would rather play a guy that is doing everything to win than play a guy that thinks safes are for sissy players, unless it is for money, then bang away buddy.
 
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As long as it's within the rules of the game, I don't really feel one way or the other about how my opponent plays. I want to play against everyone's "A" game, so if they think that playing defense gives them the best chance to win, I want them to play defense. If they are playing defense in a position where they have an easy run out, I'll be glad for the chance to get back to the table and make something happen.

I would much rather have my opponent intentionally play a solid defensive shot on me than watch them get a lucky roll on a missed shot to hook me.
 
I try to pick the option that will give me the best chance to win. Is it a safe or to shoot? Depends, if it's a 50/50 option I'll go for the shot. Sometimes I'll have a shot that I just don't have any confidence in shooting and I'll will look for a safety. That same shot I might shoot at a different time when my confidence is higher for said shot.

Also, no matter how lock down the safety is, it's possible that the incoming player might make it or hit it and leave you safe. The only sure fire 100% safety is running out.
 
I look at the shot and if I can make the ball and get position on the next, I shoot it.

If I cannot pocket my ball AND get shape on the next, I look for a defensive option.

If there's no easy defensive shot, I go back to pocketing my ball and hoping for the best.
 
railbird99 said:
If your opponent likes playing you, you're doing something wrong.
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Not sure about that all the time. I have had opponents say to me that they were going to get their a** kicked when I have stepped up to the table but we still enjoy playing together because we're good guys to play with. I play some guys that are much better than me but I still enjoy playing with them and I assume they like playing with me. Conversely there are some guys I want no part of playing because they're obnoxious a holes regardless of their skill level.
 
I was playing a friendly tourney. Guy wasn't a good shooter. Wouldn't even look for a shot most times let alone a run out. Basically all he kept doing was safe safe safe. So with 4 balls on the table playing 9 ball. I would just hand him the cue ball. Think he made one and played safe. Same thing. Handed him the cue ball. Made one and played safe. Balls are wide open now. So again I hand him the cue ball. Two balls to run out. Made one missed the 9. I could have gotten out of any of his lame safe. Just wanted to show him what I thought of his shooting ability. Couldn't even run two balls. Safes are fine. When needed. Don't play if you can't shoot though.
 
It's all about whichever shot improves that player's winning chances the most in that game. It's that simple. Whether the player uses correct judgement is a whole different matter. As long as you're playing to the best of your judgement and ability, what the other player is choosing to shoot shouldn't make any difference to you.
 
jburkm002 said:
I was playing a friendly tourney. Guy wasn't a good shooter. Wouldn't even look for a shot most times let alone a run out. Basically all he kept doing was safe safe safe. So with 4 balls on the table playing 9 ball. I would just hand him the cue ball. Think he made one and played safe. Same thing. Handed him the cue ball. Made one and played safe. Balls are wide open now. So again I hand him the cue ball. Two balls to run out. Made one missed the 9. I could have gotten out of any of his lame safe. Just wanted to show him what I thought of his shooting ability. Couldn't even run two balls. Safes are fine. When needed. Don't play if you can't shoot though.
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Only one way to get better, and that is to play. Would have been nice of you to help afterwards and educate him a bit. You know, to help the future of the game and all lol.
 
IN regards to safeties, 8 ball is a completely different animal than 9 ball. Think about it this way:

IN a game of 9 ball- you are shooting on the 8. The shot is either a tough bank or play safe. The bank is say 30%, the safe is 50-65%. Poor players go for the shot. Decent players may go for the safe, but smart players go for the shot. Why?
30% You make it +
20% You double bank it
25% you are still left safe on the 8 when you miss.
= 75% total

In 8 ball, all that goes out the window. Don't run 6 balls if you can't run 8. Even if I have a makable shot, but I have a ball that is tough somewhere else, If I can hide the CB I play safe just for the BIH I need to get out my tough ball. It is hard for me to lose a game of 8 ball when I still have all my balls on the table and my opponent only has 1 or 2.
 
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