Safing a safer

[Bluewolf]

When I first started pool and in the practice games was attempting to defeat our sl5, I did a safety. He turned to me and said,'you cannot safe a safer',and proceeded to beat me.

It just seems that in the mental game, it is better to get the other person to play your game, than to try to defeat them in a type of strategy that they are very good in.

Last night I played a weak player. I got out everything but the 8,he still had all of his balls on the table and he was coached to safe me. Therefore, short of a three rail kick for a legal hit, which I cannot do yet, my only option was two innings of illegal hits on his balls to spread them out where I could not be safed over and over. It did not really matter as far as the outcome because my illegal hits gave him shots that would have been extremely hard for him to, given his ability make. So getting his bih did not help him.

Gosh , though, I did see what it was like to have the shoe on the other foot from a time when I was like that too and all I had in my arsenal was playing a bunch of safes, hoping to pick off my balls.

It did remind me though of what that sl5 apa had said to me when I was a just picked up a cue beginner. Interesting how history repeats itself.

What was interesting is that I had potted very well but innings were longer due to the lack of skills that very good players have with shape, breaking up clusters, so that they do not get tied up often and so do not have the innings strung out on them.

Just as aside- Seeing a player who cannot only pot balls but plays such wonderful shape and control of that cuebal is like watching art in a motion. It is a beautiful thing to see and the player I want to one day be.

I do believe nothing is impossible given drive, determination and the game boiling in the blood.

Laura

 

[Midnight Rain]

Yes Laura for excellence in pocket billiards you must have the game in your blood. Like in any other sport it takes dedication to become great. I know what you mean when you talk about someone who has great position play with the cue ball. It is genuinely poetry in motion. The soft roll to perfect position on the next ball almost as if the cue ball was floating on a cloud being controlled by the player. It is wonderful to watch I have had the fortune of watching a lot of good players that had excellent cue ball control. I have almost become one of those players unfortunately a two year break and having my stroking hand go through a winder on an extrusion machine pushed my game so far back I have no other way of trying to get it back than to have a good friend coach me and help figure out what has changed and what can be done to fix it. Also if you are a lower level player it is not wise to try to out safety a more advanced player. They will get the table just about everytime, they have more skills. That's why they are an advanced player. If you are going to play safeties on a more advanced player make sure it's at a steep angle and a cross table kick the short stuff they are used to and doesn't present much of a challenge.

 

[Bluewolf]

I have almost become one of those players unfortunately a two year break and having my stroking hand go through a winder on an extrusion machine pushed my game so far back I have no other way of trying to get it back than to have a good friend coach me and help figure out what has changed and what can be done to fix it. Also if you are a lower level player it is not wise to try to out safety a more advanced player. They will get the table just about everytime, they have more skills. That's why they are an advanced player. If you are going to play safeties on a more advanced player make sure it's at a steep angle and a cross table kick the short stuff they are used to and doesn't present much of a challenge. [/B]

Yuch on that experience you had. I would have probably switched and played leftie, but then I switch hands anyway to some slight degree. Actually, I started serious middle of last august. In the middle of oct got very sick and it was one thing after another in addition to severe hand tremors I had to find a way around. I must have that 'indominable spirit' because I never gave up. Now those challenges appear to be mostly in the past and am starting to see results.

It is funny though. Learning safety early on, even though I need it less and less the better I get, does help me to get out of them quicker. The only way a weak player can safe a stronger player is when the shooter is very weak in strategy. Unfortunately, I see many intermediate players who shoot well but know nearly nothing of strategy. It usually does not change the outcome but it can make the game very long, add many more innings than when the stronger also knows strategy.

I am sorry once again about your hand. I do hope things get better. I really believe that a person can overcome almost anything if the desire is strong enough.

Laura

 

[L.S. Dennis]

I'm assuming we're talking 8-ball here so what I have to say may not count as much. But when it comes to 9-ball I always remember one of the things that the great Buddy Hall always said, and that is: "If the safe is as hard as the shot, take the shot!!!" You need to give yourself a chance to win.

 

[Midnight Rain]

I probably will start shooting lefty even though I have rehabilitated my right hand. The only thing I don't like about it is I have not used my left hand at all so it would be very frustrating for me even now to switch to it. I would be right back to square one and I can atleast run 60% of the racks I run into now with my right hand. It's funny though because I have been doing stroke exercises with my left hand and off the table it's as straight and pure as you could ever think of but put a cue ball in front of it and you can see the tip of my cue going crazy. Makes me feel like a complete mullet.

 

[Bluewolf]

I probably will start shooting lefty even though I have rehabilitated my right hand. The only thing I don't like about it is I have not used my left hand at all so it would be very frustrating for me even now to switch to it. I would be right back to square one and I can atleast run 60% of the racks I run into now with my right hand. It's funny though because I have been doing stroke exercises with my left hand and off the table it's as straight and pure as you could ever think of but put a cue ball in front of it and you can see the tip of my cue going crazy. Makes me feel like a complete mullet.

What I have noticed in switching. I was able to get a good stroke with my left. The bridge is a problem. So far an open one okay but closed is very clutzy. This would take practice for me too to do the switch completely because I have better ball speed with my right and cannot hit as hard with my left or draw well with my left.

Even though it would require work, I believe I could do it because I do switch to keep from using the mechanical bridge and also climb on the table as much as is legal for the same reason. I know I should practice more with this mechanical bridge but I have just put that off.

Laura