I think I have seen a thread on this topic before, but I couldn't dig it up. For me, this is a significant issue because my winning percentage GIVING WEIGHT is much higher than my winning percentage with I am GETTING WEIGHT. I have a few thoughts on the reasons for this and by tomorrow morning I'll post my actual percentages in this thread.
My first thought on this topic focuses on which player is likely to be better at matching up. Since the better player is the player giving the weight (except for those rare occasions when someone has laid down a great lemon and is getting weight from someone they can beat heads up), he (or she) seems likely to be more knowledgeable than the player getting the weight. Of course there are exceptions, but I'm willing to bet that, on average, players giving weight know more about the game and matching up than players getting weight. Obviously, the player better at making the match will win more often.
Here's another slant. How well can a player gauge the speed of another player? I'm thinking that it is easier to gauge the speed of a lesser player than a player who plays better than you. If you are a B player and play 20 games of one pocket against a strong shortstop, you'll probably lose every game. Then you play 20 games against Efren and again lose every game. About all you know at this point is that you have no chance to beat either of your two recent opponents; you likely don't have a clear idea about which of the two is the better player. So, on the assumption that it's easier to judge the speed of lesser players than better players, the player giving weight probably has a better idea of the poorer player's speed than vice versa. And so the better player is likely to offer weight that will still allow him to win while the weaker player may think he's getting the best of it.
Another approach is to consider what type of games brings out your BEST game. With me, when I give weight to a weaker player, I approach the game and every shot in the game with considerable confidence, especially playing one pocket. I know I can almost surely make a mistake or two and still have a chance to win the game. Against a strong player, who is giving me weight, I feel much more pressure and am much less confident as I drop down on a shot. I know, against a strong player, that I may not survive even a single mistake.
Finally, consider how hard it is to get in rhythm when you are the weaker player. You shoot less often and many times are shooting in response to a safety played by a strong player. You may be spending so little time at the table that you never really get into stroke during the session.
So I solicit your opinions on this topic. It occurs to me just now that I could have done this as a poll and asked under which situation is your winning percentage higher, giving weight or getting it.
My first thought on this topic focuses on which player is likely to be better at matching up. Since the better player is the player giving the weight (except for those rare occasions when someone has laid down a great lemon and is getting weight from someone they can beat heads up), he (or she) seems likely to be more knowledgeable than the player getting the weight. Of course there are exceptions, but I'm willing to bet that, on average, players giving weight know more about the game and matching up than players getting weight. Obviously, the player better at making the match will win more often.
Here's another slant. How well can a player gauge the speed of another player? I'm thinking that it is easier to gauge the speed of a lesser player than a player who plays better than you. If you are a B player and play 20 games of one pocket against a strong shortstop, you'll probably lose every game. Then you play 20 games against Efren and again lose every game. About all you know at this point is that you have no chance to beat either of your two recent opponents; you likely don't have a clear idea about which of the two is the better player. So, on the assumption that it's easier to judge the speed of lesser players than better players, the player giving weight probably has a better idea of the poorer player's speed than vice versa. And so the better player is likely to offer weight that will still allow him to win while the weaker player may think he's getting the best of it.
Another approach is to consider what type of games brings out your BEST game. With me, when I give weight to a weaker player, I approach the game and every shot in the game with considerable confidence, especially playing one pocket. I know I can almost surely make a mistake or two and still have a chance to win the game. Against a strong player, who is giving me weight, I feel much more pressure and am much less confident as I drop down on a shot. I know, against a strong player, that I may not survive even a single mistake.
Finally, consider how hard it is to get in rhythm when you are the weaker player. You shoot less often and many times are shooting in response to a safety played by a strong player. You may be spending so little time at the table that you never really get into stroke during the session.
So I solicit your opinions on this topic. It occurs to me just now that I could have done this as a poll and asked under which situation is your winning percentage higher, giving weight or getting it.
