The following is from Chapter 4 of Lessons In 9 Ball. I will have to break this down into quite a few posts as there is a lot of information and several diagrams. Please wait until Post all of the information before posting any responses so that the material is posted uninterrupted. I wil mark the last thread with the word END.
Blackjack
Factors of Proper Execution
The safety is one of the most complex subjects in 9 ball. If you lack the ability to properly execute safeties, your game will surely suffer. Many beginners fail to recognize the safety option, and tend to go for the shot at all costs in all situations. Just as there are factors to running the rack, there are factors that come up when you are faced with no shot options. When faced with no option to pocket the object ball, we need an alternate solution that gives the table back to our opponent - but at the same time limits his options.
The factors that surround the execution of the safety are:
Table Speed
The Layout
Your Ability To Remain Calm when faced with less than desirable situations.
Table Speed
To properly send the balls to the desired locations, you need to know how the cloth is reacting to the surroundings and your stroke. Prior to starting the match, ensure that you check the cloth speed. Many tables play fast in dry heat in areas of the Southwest, but tables are sticky in the Southeastern States such as Louisiana and Florida due to the humidity’s effect on the cloth. Rails react differently in different weather also. In areas of the North and Northeast, I believe the table speed is more predictable due to the absence of humidity and dryness. Though many rooms attempt to protect the playing area with different climate control methods, I believe that areas such as Florida will always pose a special challenge due to the factors that the table conditions throw at the player.
When dealing with safeties, we need to gage the table speed for two important reasons:
1) We need to place the cue ball or object ball EXACTLY where it needs to be placed
2) We need to know how we are going to get there
It is one thing to know how and where the ball is going, but we also need to properly execute it. Testing a few multi-rail position shots prior to the match, or performing basic patterns and drills should give you a basic understanding or how the table is reacting. Understand that when playing pool at the top level, you need to have a good working relationship with the table you are playing upon. Understand how the table surface is performing and reacting, learn the speed of the rails, the cloth, and the pockets. Inspect the table for divots and settling around the racking area. Knowing the table is essential to winning any pool game.
Layout
When executing a safety, it is essential to inspect the layout of the table in relation to what you are going to do. Walls and clusters are obvious targets to send the cue ball or the object ball, but certain factors will determine which of the two you will send there. To determine which, we look at what the problem is in the situation we are faced with. Here are some questions we should ask when faced with the decision to play safe:
Am I faced with a positional dilemma?
Am I faced with a difficult shot dilemma?
Did I get in the wrong side of the ball?
Am I hooked?
Is the ball I am facing hidden?
Does the object ball have no pocket options?
Identifying the problem is the FIRST STEP in finding a solution to the problem.
Your Ability To Remain Calm
Many players get flustered at the first sign of trouble. To be able to make sound, sensible decisions that aid us in our quest, we need to remain calm when faced with adverse conditions at the table. Your ability to remain calm will reflect in your decision-making and the execution of your safety. If you are angry, flustered or nervous, your chances of being successful are extremely limited. Safeties are not only tools to use on your way towards the winner’s circle; they are also tools of frustration. You can either let the situation frustrate you, or you can use the situation to frustrate your opponent. Dwelling on helplessness solves nothing. Getting angry and reacting to the situation emotionally (as opposed to effectively) exposes a weakness to your opponent. Learn how not to react emotionally and learn how to react effectively. Answer every shot with a shot of your own. Never answer his shot with an emotional outburst. Controlling your emotions and remaining calm throughout the situation will help you think more clearly throughout the game and the match.
When To Play Safe
Knowing when and when not to play safe is half of the battle. Many players play safe in different situations and what they do depends on their skill level, their shotmaking ability, and their confidence. As I touched upon earlier, many younger players tend to “go for everything” and rarely play safe - and when they DO play safe - they execute it poorly. Familiarizing yourself with the different factors of when and when not to play safe is essential to making the proper choice.
One of the classic examples is after the break. Your opponent has broken the balls and has left you no shot on the 2 ball as a result of pushing out. The 2 ball is stranded on the end rail. There is a very low percentage bank shot on the 2 ball cross-table. (SEE DIAGRAM BELOW)
That is the only pocket availability option that we have on the 2 ball - and even then - we need some help from the 8 ball. There is also a cluster caused by the 4, 5, & 6. There is a mini-cluster caused by the 7 and the 8. We have the choice to:
a) Go for the bank shot
b) Pass the shot back to our opponent
c) Control the cue ball and place it behind a cluster
d) Control the object ball and place it behind a cluster
So what is the correct choice? Let’s break it down by looking at each available option and make our decisions by choosing the shot that holds the best percentages for success. We will first Identify whether or not there is a good chance for a run out. To do this, we must imagine that we have ball in hand on the 2 ball. We look to see if any ball is in trouble. The 5 ball causes a problem, but if we get right on the 4 ball and stay on the lower rail, the 5 ball goes in the top left corner pocket. The key to running this rack is getting straight on the 4 ball for a stop shot so that we can pocket the 5 ball. With the 5 ball gone, the 6 ball is a duck in 4 out of 6 pockets. The 7 and 8 are a mini-cluster, but both pass into the top left corner pocket very easily. Evaluating this layout tells me two important things:
1) There is a possibility for a run out
2) Whoever maintains control of the game CAN and WILL get out
3) My opponent should have played safe instead of rolling out - HE just made an error
4) I am in control of the table now and I need to make it count - and MAINTAIN control
Notice that I mentioned “maintaining control“. By that I mean that we need to be the “actor” as opposed to being the “reactor” during this game. He has pushed out and left us a lousy shot on the 2 ball. We can hit the 2 ball, and we have two separate safety options caused by a three ball cluster and a two ball mini-cluster. The 7 and 8 balls are more of an obstacle option than a cluster as the balls can be pocketed from where they are. The 4-5-6, though classified as a cluster, can be dealt with if handled with care. The 4-5-6 is also our largest obstacle on the table.
Blackjack
Unlocking the Safe
Factors of Proper Execution
The safety is one of the most complex subjects in 9 ball. If you lack the ability to properly execute safeties, your game will surely suffer. Many beginners fail to recognize the safety option, and tend to go for the shot at all costs in all situations. Just as there are factors to running the rack, there are factors that come up when you are faced with no shot options. When faced with no option to pocket the object ball, we need an alternate solution that gives the table back to our opponent - but at the same time limits his options.
The factors that surround the execution of the safety are:
Table Speed
The Layout
Your Ability To Remain Calm when faced with less than desirable situations.
Table Speed
To properly send the balls to the desired locations, you need to know how the cloth is reacting to the surroundings and your stroke. Prior to starting the match, ensure that you check the cloth speed. Many tables play fast in dry heat in areas of the Southwest, but tables are sticky in the Southeastern States such as Louisiana and Florida due to the humidity’s effect on the cloth. Rails react differently in different weather also. In areas of the North and Northeast, I believe the table speed is more predictable due to the absence of humidity and dryness. Though many rooms attempt to protect the playing area with different climate control methods, I believe that areas such as Florida will always pose a special challenge due to the factors that the table conditions throw at the player.
When dealing with safeties, we need to gage the table speed for two important reasons:
1) We need to place the cue ball or object ball EXACTLY where it needs to be placed
2) We need to know how we are going to get there
It is one thing to know how and where the ball is going, but we also need to properly execute it. Testing a few multi-rail position shots prior to the match, or performing basic patterns and drills should give you a basic understanding or how the table is reacting. Understand that when playing pool at the top level, you need to have a good working relationship with the table you are playing upon. Understand how the table surface is performing and reacting, learn the speed of the rails, the cloth, and the pockets. Inspect the table for divots and settling around the racking area. Knowing the table is essential to winning any pool game.
Layout
When executing a safety, it is essential to inspect the layout of the table in relation to what you are going to do. Walls and clusters are obvious targets to send the cue ball or the object ball, but certain factors will determine which of the two you will send there. To determine which, we look at what the problem is in the situation we are faced with. Here are some questions we should ask when faced with the decision to play safe:
Am I faced with a positional dilemma?
Am I faced with a difficult shot dilemma?
Did I get in the wrong side of the ball?
Am I hooked?
Is the ball I am facing hidden?
Does the object ball have no pocket options?
Identifying the problem is the FIRST STEP in finding a solution to the problem.
Your Ability To Remain Calm
Many players get flustered at the first sign of trouble. To be able to make sound, sensible decisions that aid us in our quest, we need to remain calm when faced with adverse conditions at the table. Your ability to remain calm will reflect in your decision-making and the execution of your safety. If you are angry, flustered or nervous, your chances of being successful are extremely limited. Safeties are not only tools to use on your way towards the winner’s circle; they are also tools of frustration. You can either let the situation frustrate you, or you can use the situation to frustrate your opponent. Dwelling on helplessness solves nothing. Getting angry and reacting to the situation emotionally (as opposed to effectively) exposes a weakness to your opponent. Learn how not to react emotionally and learn how to react effectively. Answer every shot with a shot of your own. Never answer his shot with an emotional outburst. Controlling your emotions and remaining calm throughout the situation will help you think more clearly throughout the game and the match.
When To Play Safe
Knowing when and when not to play safe is half of the battle. Many players play safe in different situations and what they do depends on their skill level, their shotmaking ability, and their confidence. As I touched upon earlier, many younger players tend to “go for everything” and rarely play safe - and when they DO play safe - they execute it poorly. Familiarizing yourself with the different factors of when and when not to play safe is essential to making the proper choice.
One of the classic examples is after the break. Your opponent has broken the balls and has left you no shot on the 2 ball as a result of pushing out. The 2 ball is stranded on the end rail. There is a very low percentage bank shot on the 2 ball cross-table. (SEE DIAGRAM BELOW)
That is the only pocket availability option that we have on the 2 ball - and even then - we need some help from the 8 ball. There is also a cluster caused by the 4, 5, & 6. There is a mini-cluster caused by the 7 and the 8. We have the choice to:
a) Go for the bank shot
b) Pass the shot back to our opponent
c) Control the cue ball and place it behind a cluster
d) Control the object ball and place it behind a cluster
So what is the correct choice? Let’s break it down by looking at each available option and make our decisions by choosing the shot that holds the best percentages for success. We will first Identify whether or not there is a good chance for a run out. To do this, we must imagine that we have ball in hand on the 2 ball. We look to see if any ball is in trouble. The 5 ball causes a problem, but if we get right on the 4 ball and stay on the lower rail, the 5 ball goes in the top left corner pocket. The key to running this rack is getting straight on the 4 ball for a stop shot so that we can pocket the 5 ball. With the 5 ball gone, the 6 ball is a duck in 4 out of 6 pockets. The 7 and 8 are a mini-cluster, but both pass into the top left corner pocket very easily. Evaluating this layout tells me two important things:
1) There is a possibility for a run out
2) Whoever maintains control of the game CAN and WILL get out
3) My opponent should have played safe instead of rolling out - HE just made an error
4) I am in control of the table now and I need to make it count - and MAINTAIN control
Notice that I mentioned “maintaining control“. By that I mean that we need to be the “actor” as opposed to being the “reactor” during this game. He has pushed out and left us a lousy shot on the 2 ball. We can hit the 2 ball, and we have two separate safety options caused by a three ball cluster and a two ball mini-cluster. The 7 and 8 balls are more of an obstacle option than a cluster as the balls can be pocketed from where they are. The 4-5-6, though classified as a cluster, can be dealt with if handled with care. The 4-5-6 is also our largest obstacle on the table.
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