Safety Players

Andrew Manning said:
Because under APA rules, it isn't a safety if a ball goes in, intentional or not.

As it was explained to me, "defensive shots", which are what you mark in the APA scoresheet, are not exactly the same thing as "safeties". Instead, they are any shot where you didn't intend to make a ball, whether you were trying to hook the other player, trying to position the balls to your advantage, stalling to force the other player to address clusters you don't want to address, or whatever reason you have for not intending to make a ball.

The reason for this is the APA wants to know for its handicapping algorithm how often you make a ball when you intend to. It's not that they look at safeties as an indicator of skill level, it's that they look at missed shots as an indicator of skill level, and if you didn't intend to make a ball, your inning didn't end with a missed shot; otherwise, it did end with a missed shot.

And in this light, trying to disguise your defensive shots is definitely sandbagging, and the most wide-spread kind of sandbagging at that.

-Andrew
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Hey thanks Andrew! I only got to play in it once enough to get my 4 games in each session, as I live in TX and commute up there for work. I will not get to play anymore anyway. I will probably not play APA any more anyway, just becasue of the slop rule more than anything. But I will say this, if I do, I will start declaring my defensive shots. I think it is the right thing to do! I just never heard of anyone doing it before. So, I guess we live and learn.
 
I always call out "D" (short for defense) when I'm playing a match. Just a habit I picked up when I started playing league. A lot of folks don't. Meh. :P
 
This is why I have worked very hard on shot safeties. I am picking the shot, with the intention of pocketing the ball, but if I don't, I am leaving my opponent hooked. It's easier said than done, and I have worked very hard on them for about 18 months now, but it has paid off. It's only considered a defensive move if I fail to pocket the ball, but my intention on these shots is to always pocket the ball. The hardest thing to learn was controlling the speed of the CB, and understanding where it is going to go should the ball be pocketed and should it not, since it's placement on the table will be slightly different. It's the difference between hooking your opponent, or hooking yourself...which I still do occasionally...Lol.

Case in point, we had a 2nd Chance playoff for a trip to Reno yesterday. I was one of only three women to show in a field full of guys. My final set, I went in with a 2 handicap and had to play a 0 handicap. I wound up taking him to hill/hill, and had the out planned and then the nerves just hit me so bad, I blew the shot and left him the out. But I was the last woman left standing, and did have to play someone much better than me, and I wouldn't have gotten as far as I did without a good shot safety regimen. Now I gotta work on the nerves thing!!!!!

Lisa
 
ScottW said:
I always call out "D" (short for defense) when I'm playing a match. Just a habit I picked up when I started playing league. A lot of folks don't. Meh. :P
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It really is funny, but before we started talking about this, I always say safety, except when playing on bar tables. I wonder if that atmosphere just messes with me. I guess I have seen so many people tryto get away with stuff in the bars, that it invades my subconscience thinking. In my 14.1 leage in TX I call myself on everything, even if the other guy doesn't see the foul or believes me. Weird; I'm glad we have talked about all of this. Thanks everyone!
 
ridewiththewind said:
This is why I have worked very hard on shot safeties. I am picking the shot, with the intention of pocketing the ball, but if I don't, I am leaving my opponent hooked. It's easier said than done, and I have worked very hard on them for about 18 months now, but it has paid off. It's only considered a defensive move if I fail to pocket the ball, but my intention on these shots is to always pocket the ball. The hardest thing to learn was controlling the speed of the CB, and understanding where it is going to go should the ball be pocketed and should it not, since it's placement on the table will be slightly different. It's the difference between hooking your opponent, or hooking yourself...which I still do occasionally...Lol.
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More and more, I realize that playing good safeties is *harder* than playing good shots to pocket balls. Last night I was playing in a little local 9-ball tournament and out of several planned safeties, only two really worked the way I wanted.

Safety play really requires better cue speed control than just shooting around, I think. It's something I need to work on. :D
 
I usually end up winning alot more, when I play a safety or two in a game. Simple as that.

When I try to play all offense, even if i'm shooting real good, I've lost ALOT of games. I remember one night in particular, beginning of the season....was shooting hotter than hell......got cocky & tried a tough full-table bank shot (instead of playing a safety, like I should have). Left an easy shot on the 8-ball (the woman I was playing was an average player). Lost the game. :(

Last Wednesday, I won all 4 of my games that night against a real good team......was not shooting the greatest, but I strategized, & ended up winning. I even did a couple sloppy safeties, but they were good enough to cause the other player to miss a tough shot.
 
ScottW said:
More and more, I realize that playing good safeties is *harder* than playing good shots to pocket balls. Last night I was playing in a little local 9-ball tournament and out of several planned safeties, only two really worked the way I wanted.

Safety play really requires better cue speed control than just shooting around, I think. It's something I need to work on. :D
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Totally agree'd, i play alot of eightball so safety play is easier more balls to hide behind but more balls to shoot at, and in nineball you have to hit a certain ball so safety play must be perfect. I practice alot of safety play on myself and try to escape them it has been working in my game.
 
One of my students used to be 100% offensive minded. I started playing him 9-ball but rather than trying to make balls, I would play safe on every shot. He learned two things very quickly...how to get out of jail, and how good defense can beat the best offense. He is on my APA team now playing as sl7. He knows how to read a table, and can totally frustrate just about anyone he plays. Learning how and when to use defense has made him one of the strongest players in the area.
Steve
 
This Thread Has Been Valuable to Me

I was thinking about this thread last night at league....playing an SL4. I'd like to report that I'm now 5-1 but alas I lost the match. Once again I walked away feeling like I beat myself. Except for the 3rd game where I was pretty soundly beaten.....I had an opportunity to win every game The first game I had 2 shots on the 8 the second of which was a 70% shot for me and I missed it in a horrible off the tit pocket rattle......Game 2 was all me I felt I played it smart and in control even though it took me 2 shots at the 8.....The last game was mine for the taking and I couldn't close the deal.....
On a high note I only gave up 1 ball in hand all night.....on a scratch.....All in all my team was handed our asses last night ......We did play the first place team and I doubt that we're still tied for second after last night...

Thanks for all the help and inspiration everyone I have taken it to heart......and as soon as I figure out how to stop beating myself I'll be able to beat others for a change

Banger
 
I think there are many valid points brought up in this post. Someone mentioned not getting as safe as you would like and then having that mistake cause you to lose the game. Even more frustrating is playing a good saftey and having someone make a kick or jump shot on you and then run out. I realize that if the odds are in your favor to play a saftey it is the right shot. Sometimes this game is just hard to swallow. I guess that is really why so many people love it.
 
how do they rate your average in the APA whats the highest, they have a APA league here but its hundred of miles from me so i just play in the leagues here and the highest you can get is a 10 i'm a 9 right now just wondering how they rate averages and things for the APA leagues Thanks.
 
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