A problem I'm aware of with my game that I just can't seem to stop doing is taking (and usually missing) the low percentage shot when I'd be much better off trying a safety. It's a 'can't play pool without balls' attitude that's killing me. Some good players I've talked to go as far as saying you should even bypass the easy shot if there's little chance of a reward - going for a safety that'll put your opponent in a bind is the smart thing to do. I've had some tough matches lately with some patient, savvy opponents that sank a lot of ball by just waiting for me to go for in a safety battle. Just throwing this out for thought and to see if some of you have had this problem as well. What did it take to overcome it?
Playing smart
- Thread starter slach
- Start date
Many a times easy shot costs a lot. People in overconfidence ignore such shots which pay them heavily in tournaments.
So, whatever comes keep practicing.
So, whatever comes keep practicing.
Steve: a lot of guys in the Monday league would take a tough shot on a ball up to the top pockets, just because it is possible. Then they have no shot and have to figure out a safety. Better to leave that ball out there and, if you can, do a safety putting something else out on the other side, so that when the other guy is done with his safety you have a little more to work with.
Safety battles can be interesting, especially if you are not really stroking the ball well. I was able to beat a guy in the tournament this Saturday who has been playing rather well. He beat Cozzolino about a month ago and split with Ron Shepard last Monday.
in a race to 100, I played 43 safeties and probably a few intentional fouls. My high run was only 17, but his was less and I beat him 100-86.
Fool around with safeties a bit. It can be fun.
Safety battles can be interesting, especially if you are not really stroking the ball well. I was able to beat a guy in the tournament this Saturday who has been playing rather well. He beat Cozzolino about a month ago and split with Ron Shepard last Monday.
in a race to 100, I played 43 safeties and probably a few intentional fouls. My high run was only 17, but his was less and I beat him 100-86.
Fool around with safeties a bit. It can be fun.
Seems i am stuck in the same spot lately.
Only having time to play my one match each week, with no time to put in any practice time at all. come match time, i get fixated on try to run balls to overcome the handicaps that i have to give. not playing smart at all, which i should know better to not try to to make my game situations my practice sessions where i play no safeties at all.
I guess i really have to rededicate myself back to my game and allot myself some practice time so i can bring my game back to snuff to help me win my league matches. the safeties will definitely help right now !!
-Steve
Only having time to play my one match each week, with no time to put in any practice time at all. come match time, i get fixated on try to run balls to overcome the handicaps that i have to give. not playing smart at all, which i should know better to not try to to make my game situations my practice sessions where i play no safeties at all.
I guess i really have to rededicate myself back to my game and allot myself some practice time so i can bring my game back to snuff to help me win my league matches. the safeties will definitely help right now !!
-Steve
I think you need to adjust your strategy sometimes. In the 14.1 league I play in, most of my matches are against players similarly ranked so I can play normal. When I'm giving up a lot of weight against a weaker player, I try to do my best to give them funny situations over and over. Oftentimes, I have to go to 150 before they get to 50 and most of them are more than capable of running an open rack of balls so I will take modest risks at the start of the rack and get more aggressive as the balls on the table disappear.
On the flip side, if I'm playing a better player, their defensive prowess/advantage will often be the determinant. If I feel I can out-move the guy, I'll play safe. If I think it's a coin-flip, I'll weigh that against the probability of making the shot I have. If I think my opponent is strongly favored to win the safety battle, I'm going to be aggressive.
On the flip side, if I'm playing a better player, their defensive prowess/advantage will often be the determinant. If I feel I can out-move the guy, I'll play safe. If I think it's a coin-flip, I'll weigh that against the probability of making the shot I have. If I think my opponent is strongly favored to win the safety battle, I'm going to be aggressive.
When I practice straight pool and wind up with no shot I play safeties with myself. Sometimes it's 10 or more back in forth.
It's a very important part of the game.
Straight pool requires patience. Sometimes you have to out wait your opponent.
It's a very important part of the game.
Straight pool requires patience. Sometimes you have to out wait your opponent.