Some bar players do not have a clue!

[ridewiththewind]

Anyway I shoot a difficult combo shot with just the right speed to leave the second ball blocking the corner pocket and not drop into the pocket. I was pleased with my "speed control" and skill at shooting this shot.

Anyway this guy had no idea why on earth anyone would intentionally not make a ball into a pocket nor did he have any idea that it is sometimes a good strategy to intentionally block a pocket.

It's called playing a 'shot safety', doesn't need to be called, as long as it is a legal hit, and I do it all the time!

The basic idea behind 'shot safety' is that you choose the shot that, whether the object ball is pocketed or not, leaves your opponent with little or no options for a shot. Not only does this involve the object ball, but cue ball placement as well. I have found it to be extremely effective.

Lisa

 

[Ratchet]

.50 cent a game ?

Could it be BOOZE, and THINKING do not mix well. most BAR make money off BOOZE, and not Pool at $.50/game Pumped in with Two Quarters a Game..... IMO....

50 cents a game is now called the good ol' days in most places with a large population ! Personally I am nostalgic over a quarter a game where a dollar would by a 50 cent draught beer and 2 games of pool .

Ratchet -

 

[Billy_Bob]

Did you make the shot? It sounds like you did.

Well before my shot, I had two balls near the corner pocket which were lined up so the furthest ball out could not be made (other ball was blocking path to pocket) and the closest to the pocket ball could only be made with a combo shot or if the cue ball was at the far end of the table.

So I considered both of these balls to be "trouble" balls.

Also I had two other "trouble" balls in different locations.

So I shot a slow combo shot which sent the cue ball to slowly hit the first ball, which then slowly hit the second ball moving it to just in front of the pocket, but not dropping into the pocket.

Then the two balls were rearranged so that one was blocking the pocket and could be made from just about anywhere on the table and the other ball was out of the way. So neither was a trouble ball anymore.

And this is what I wanted. I did not want to pocket the ball, I wanted three things. 1. I wanted to fix the trouble ball situation with the two balls so I would be able to make them with a future shot. 2. I wanted to block the pocket. 3. I wanted to "buy time" by doing this so I could take my sweet time fixing the other two trouble ball situations or wait for my opponent to fix these for me.

And of course if my opponent had any sense (which he did not), the first thing he would have done would have been to knock his ball into my blocking ball (pocketing my ball) so that his ball would then be blocking the pocket. Or he could have caused his ball to follow in my ball and open up the pocket so he could shoot additional balls into that pocket.

What bar players typically do instead is to spend a lot of time trying to make their balls which are in front of a blocked pocket into other pockets. And they give me plenty of opportunities to fix other trouble ball situations or re-arrange things, then runout.

So my strategy was to free-up all of my balls, keep my opponent from shooting in at least one of his balls by blocking the pocket (he can't win until that pocket has been cleared or he uses up several innings making those balls into other pockets since he could not kick or bank), and to let my opponent shoot in most of his balls so I have an easy runout - nothing blocking my balls.

My opponent proceeded to shoot in most of his balls (not thinking about the blocked pocket situation until last). And I'm just relaxing, maybe shooting in a ball or two or moving a ball closer to a pocket. I know my opponent CAN'T win until he deals with the blocked pocket situation.

So after my opponent was kind enough to clear the table of his balls, I ran out.

So early on in the game, just block one or more of their balls, then remove the blocking ball last or next to last before sinking the 8. But if you do this to me, I will pocket your ball with one of my balls and open up the pocket or block it with my ball.

 

[Cornerman]

And of course if my opponent had any sense (which he did not), the first thing he would have done would have been to knock his ball into my blocking ball (pocketing my ball) so that his ball would then be blocking the pocket. Or he could have caused his ball to follow in my ball and open up the pocket so he could shoot additional balls into that pocket.

So... did you make an advanced play or an average play against a worse opponent?

I tend to think that intermediate players rate the hanging ball too high, and that it gets them in trouble against seasoned players more often than they think. Against a non-seasoned player, anything works. Even shooting all your balls in and missing the 8-ball works.

Surely you wanted to knock your ball in on the combination and run out from there. I think, however, that it was the "you got robbed" comment and not the misunderstood stupendous play that you're talking about when you say "some bar players have no clue." Those particular players had no clue that the result was as strong as it could have been withought pocketing the ball and allowing you to run the table (if it was runable).

What bar players typically do instead is to spend a lot of time trying to make their balls which are in front of a blocked pocket into other pockets. And they give me plenty of opportunities to fix other trouble ball situations or re-arrange things, then runout.
.

I think this is typical of a lesser skilled player, and nothing to do with bar play.

That being said, Fred's Idiot Guide to Runout 8-ball demands that those silly balls blocking pockets better be taken off the table early. They don't do the good you think they do. A seasoned player will absolutely take those balls off the table early. It opens the pockets so that he can shoot his other balls in, similar to 14.1.

Fred

 

[BillYards]

Speaking of rules disputes....

I immediately had 5 BCA Masters getting all excited over the shot. They were telling me I had to make an "honest effort" at hitting the low ball... for money.

Let's just say I was dumbfounded. Not by the dispute, but rather the calibre of players making it.

Sphinx... I gotta agree with you on this one... "honest effort"?? Who the hell judges that?? Maybe your idea of honest effort is different from theirs! Where do you draw the line? Is a miscue an honest effort? Maybe! Maybe I know how to miscue on demand... making it a dishonest effort.

I guess you should have just said..."What do you mean? That was the best I could do... making it an honest effort. Sorry I did not sell out the game to your friend!"

How the heck can these guys argue their point? Jackasses - every one of them!

Go back there and give 'em hell! (And take their money... they can't be THAT good if they are that... confused!)

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Sphinx... I gotta agree with you on this one... "honest effort"?? Who the hell judges that?? Maybe your idea of honest effort is different from theirs! Where do you draw the line? Is a miscue an honest effort? Maybe! Maybe I know how to miscue on demand... making it a dishonest effort.

I guess you should have just said..."What do you mean? That was the best I could do... making it an honest effort. Sorry I did not sell out the game to your friend!"

How the heck can these guys argue their point? Jackasses - every one of them!

Go back there and give 'em hell! (And take their money... they can't be THAT good if they are that... confused!)

I have all their money.

 

[George]

I agree, I like to shake my head and agree in that type of situation. I have found that one of the best plays in bar 8-ball is the "accidental safety", which is pretty much the same type of play that you made. You just have to look frustrated and maybe curse at the table a few times to pull it off usually. You don't want to be one of those "dirty players" who's playing safe, intentionally blocking pockets, etc..

Hey......wait a minute, I resemble that remark. Now thats just downright mean I tell ya

George<------gets abused no matter where he is