The Art of Lagging

KoolKat9Lives

KoolKat9Lives

Taught 'em all I know
Silver Member
Has lagging become a lost art? It seems to me that when people do lag, it's always this 3 second quick sequence:

- Shake hands and say good luck

- within a milli-second, get down on the shot

- one, maybe 2 practice strokes, and hurridly poke it down the table

Why does the lag get the red-headed step-child treatment? In numerous matches at higher levels, it is one of the most important shots, if not THE most important.

I see many pro's regularly not get inside a diamond of the rail. And I see more and more people rather flip a coin than lag.

I don't get it. This is a game of skill so why dodge it or half-ass it?
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Has lagging become a lost art? It seems to me that when people do lag, it's always this 3 second quick sequence:

- Shake hands and say good luck

- within a milli-second, get down on the shot

- one, maybe 2 practice strokes, and hurridly poke it down the table

Why does the lag get the red-headed step-child treatment? In numerous matches at higher levels, it is one of the most important shots, if not THE most important.

I see many pro's regularly not get inside a diamond of the rail. And I see more and more people rather flip a coin than lag.

I don't get it. This is a game of skill so why dodge it or half-ass it?
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When I moved to NC a few years ago, one of the first things I noticed was that everyone lagged for their league matches. I'm from MS and we flip coins. I actually had to practice lagging. I'd never really played that shot before.

From my limited travels, it seems to be a regional thing. I didn't notice much lagging in the deep south.

matta
 
I'm just down in S.C. and I never see anyone lagging for the break here, it's always a coin toss instead. I like the idea of lagging more, but it just hasn't caught on here for some reason.
 
I prefer to lag. I would rather lose on my lack of skill than on luck. I try to make all my opponents lag but most act pissed that I had the gall to suggest such a thing.
 
I've noticed in Charlotte, league matches are almost always "lag for break", but it seems tournament players just flip. I say, if you're willing to trust the opening break to the flip of a coin, it obviously doesn't mean anything to you. Just go ahead and let me break.

Steve
 
matta said:
When I moved to NC a few years ago, one of the first things I noticed was that everyone lagged for their league matches. I'm from MS and we flip coins. I actually had to practice lagging. I'd never really played that shot before.

From my limited travels, it seems to be a regional thing. I didn't notice much lagging in the deep south.

matta
Click to expand...

Same here; I moved to Texas a couple of years ago and noticed the same thing in that they lag for break for APA matches. I moved from Maryland where it was always determined by a coin flip.
 
While I agree that it is a very important shot at the pro level, and in a short race, alternate break format, perhaps the most important shot. But at the amateur level, until you get to the level where your opponents can break and run with a decent consistency, it's really not that important of a shot.
 
weirdhen said:
While I agree that it is a very important shot at the pro level, and in a short race, alternate break format, perhaps the most important shot. But at the amateur level, until you get to the level where your opponents can break and run with a decent consistency, it's really not that important of a shot.
Click to expand...

I don't agree with this... In an event where you move tables, it is a great way to get a feel for table and rail speed. This is information every level requires for shape. On fast tables with my stroke, I pull back about a ball and half and follow the same amount. This puts me very close to rail. Short or long I can make adjustments before pocketing or shooting a match ball.
 
Lagging is the preferred method of determining the break on the West Coast.

Not everyone likes to flip, and as with everything else, there are exceptions.
If I had to guess, I would say that more then 50% of the players prefer lagging.

Doesn't the BCA league pre-determine which player breaks when it is their turn? To insure there are equal amounts of breaks for each team?
 
If you flip a coin for the opening break, and the winner of each game breaks in the next game, it is possible (although highly unlikely in most cases) that the winner of the flip can run out the entire match.

Can anyone name another sport or game of skill in which one of the contestants can lose without ever participating?

Ban the flip! Up with lags! LOL
 
When you lag for the break on an alternate break format, you're not only determining who breaks first, but who breaks last if it gets to hill- hill. Makes that lag even more important.

Now that I think about it, I got to hill- hill with E twice in that tourney last week. The first time, I won the lag and then made the 9 on the break in the final game. The second time, she won the lag and then broke and ran out on the final game. So you could almost say the lag was one of the deciding factors for our matches.
 
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In the APA you lag for the break!!! Oh but then, if you win the lag you are presented with another challenge. In 9 ball you make a ball you might be severely hooked on the next. NO PUSH, thus leaving your opponent the advantage. In 8 ball you might make a stripe on the break and solids may be severely better but you are stuck with no shot on your ball. If you are a 7 playing against a 4 in a 5-2 race your in deep &*#@
 
dr2112 said:
In the APA you lag for the break!!! Oh but then, if you win the lag you are presented with another challenge. In 9 ball you make a ball you might be severely hooked on the next. NO PUSH, thus leaving your opponent the advantage. In 8 ball you might make a stripe on the break and solids may be severely better but you are stuck with no shot on your ball. If you are a 7 playing against a 4 in a 5-2 race your in deep &*#@
Click to expand...

those are odd rules.
 
I agree with Jason. It is critical that you know the speed of the cloth, especially if you are coming in cold. The lag gives you this advantage. If it wasnt for the lag you will probably miss position on your first shot or two.
Jason green for you my friend!
 
I wouldnt like that! Its been years since i played 8 but we always used bca rules.
 
In 3-cushion, we always lag for the break. I don't know that I've ever seen a coin flip. In fact, 3-cushion players traditionally practice the lag at the end of their warm-up to prepare for that critical deciding shot.

I flip coins all the time in pool, usually with opponents who know their chances are better with the coin from all my 3C lagging practice ;)

Robert
 
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