What do you do when...
- Thread starter tomatoshooter
- Start date
This would be an interesting topic for a @dr_dave video. “Strategies for high inning 8-ball” or something along those lines.
Among other things I think it can be shown that if you’re playing someone who can’t avoid re-arranging the table at every turn, eventually the balls will migrate to the rails making the rack progressively tougher (the braking effect of the rails prevents a strong rebound if, for instance, an opponent clips the 10-ball with the cue ball after knocking in the 6-ball using way too much speed).
I think it’s one of the reasons “throwing off” works in handicapped league play. The weaker player gets lucky one rack, then breaks leaving 9 balls in the rack area and 3 more on the foot rail - which is a situation the better player isn’t prepared for, leading to a multi-inning game…with the weaker player re-arranging the table on every shot.
The weaker player is “used” to playing this brand of pool, and can often eek out a victory leading to an overall match win.
At the Fargo 600+ level it probably ceases to matter, but the vast majority of players aren’t at that level leading to these types of trap games.
Among other things I think it can be shown that if you’re playing someone who can’t avoid re-arranging the table at every turn, eventually the balls will migrate to the rails making the rack progressively tougher (the braking effect of the rails prevents a strong rebound if, for instance, an opponent clips the 10-ball with the cue ball after knocking in the 6-ball using way too much speed).
I think it’s one of the reasons “throwing off” works in handicapped league play. The weaker player gets lucky one rack, then breaks leaving 9 balls in the rack area and 3 more on the foot rail - which is a situation the better player isn’t prepared for, leading to a multi-inning game…with the weaker player re-arranging the table on every shot.
The weaker player is “used” to playing this brand of pool, and can often eek out a victory leading to an overall match win.
At the Fargo 600+ level it probably ceases to matter, but the vast majority of players aren’t at that level leading to these types of trap games.
Of just lack of experience. Which is ok, we all had to start somewhere. Takes most people years and years to learn to play. A lifetime to move real good.
soyale
Well-known member
i had the privilege of watching a 9 year old play his first game yesterday and i definitely had forgotton how tough it is at first just to form a bridge and hold a cue. the kid was struggling in ways i hadnt even thought about since i was probably his age. its easy to forget how difficult cuesports can be. Humbling.
DeeDeeCues
Well-known member
I had an off night a few years ago. Nothing felt right. I ended up winning 2/3 games in our non-handicapped cash league without sinking a ball. Yes, this was eightball. Guys I was playing were pretty decent (whether anyone believes itt or not), but they wanted glory and tried stupid things while I just moved balls where I wanted them.
DeeDeeCues
Well-known member
Great post based on what tomato is saying. It's a sign of maturity in one's game to change style based on what is actually happening and what might rattle your opponent.
In my previous post, the two guys who lost their games ended up playing well below their abilities for the rest of the night.
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I don't think the weaker player can assert himself in the manner you state.
He plays bad and one of the characteristics of poor play is unintended errors...aka: lack of control.
If the better player believes there is some kind of pool voodoo causing him to lose, that's self imposed.
DeeDeeCues
Well-known member
Pool voodoo...poodoo!
That’s another great point i forgot to mention.
Playing on the stall for too long can put you in a bad place, meaning sometimes it’s hard to come with it after a long stall. It’s not as bad for me now as it was when I was a B+ player. But stalling never helps you play better/stronger.
One trick I learned is when your on the stall, shoot what ever shot you choose(style of play) to the best of your ability. If you just get up and blast bast balls you can end up kinda out of stroke in the moment and make unintended misses/mistakes. So by hitting every shot with a effort to position the balls how you want them, it’s a bit easier to stay in stroke.
As you get stronger and stronger it’s less of a issue. But falling into a temporary funk from stalling is a real thing.
When your playing a equal or stronger player and have to play your best at all times, you don’t fall into that funk. Which is why I like playing stronger players or equal.
Best
Fatboy
If you think about it, 8-ball is really "one color," except that you don't get any points until you sink the eight. Maybe that's why Larry Schwartz always preaches to leave your balls on the table until you are ready to run out.
Willowbrook Wolfy
Going pro
If he is making clusters move your balls as far away from the clusters and leave him long with your shot. When he puts a ball in the pocket for his next shot to break out the cluster and run out make his ball before he has a chance or safety that ball with an open table safe. Miss a few on purpose and leave him long. That way he might relax a bit. Whenever you have opportunity make what you can then do it again.
I had a match that went exactly like that about two weeks ago. I crushed the dude, and wasn’t the one making the clusters…As a bonus, got my team to Vegas and it’s all recorded….
Most important to that strategy and the part I didn’t mention above is to get the 8 ball out and away from his clusters. The 8 is the one that type player will cluster around if they are actually good. It’s the only ball that matters. So hopefully that helps………
You’ll have to figure it out for yourself. I just gave you a basic strategy here. It will come the more you encounter this type shooter Tomato. His problem balls are your friend, intentionally taking fouls at the correct time, etc, etc. It might actually get easy after a while. The way I see it. Against a “good” strategy shooter in 8 you’re going to need a great offense that keeps him/her off the table or a superior strategy to win.
I had a match that went exactly like that about two weeks ago. I crushed the dude, and wasn’t the one making the clusters…As a bonus, got my team to Vegas and it’s all recorded….
Most important to that strategy and the part I didn’t mention above is to get the 8 ball out and away from his clusters. The 8 is the one that type player will cluster around if they are actually good. It’s the only ball that matters. So hopefully that helps………
You’ll have to figure it out for yourself. I just gave you a basic strategy here. It will come the more you encounter this type shooter Tomato. His problem balls are your friend, intentionally taking fouls at the correct time, etc, etc. It might actually get easy after a while. The way I see it. Against a “good” strategy shooter in 8 you’re going to need a great offense that keeps him/her off the table or a superior strategy to win.
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Speaking of pool voodoo...
Did y'all's pool room have Dufferins that lost the rubber bumpers but retained the screw and washer that affixed toe bumper?
It would make a really cool sound when the ball was struck or stick was shaken.
That's pool voodoo too.
Willowbrook Wolfy
Going pro
Haha. I remember!
Willowbrook Wolfy
Going pro
I’ve learned over time, if you aren’t “out” you might want to leave more than one ball on the table. Not every ball like stated above. Maybe 2 or 3 depending where they are on the table. Not only that. It’s not unheard of for a better player to do this crap knowing they’ll get into the head of whoever they are playing. They already know they’ve won at that point, why try hard.
I had a 9-ball money game going the other day. Dude smoked me the first set for $50. 7-2 I wasn’t playing “good” enough. So I stayed patient and hustled the 2nd set from him. 7-5 Afterwards I asked him where all the safes went and quit him. Lol. You guys are right. Patience is key sometimes. But also that was a one time deal, and next time we play I’ll probably have to go full speed…..that’s pool for ya.
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tomatoshooter
Well-known member
Yeah, I win, but it's like driving up a mountain road behind a convoy of RVs. I'm faster but I don't quite have the horsepower to blow by in the short passing zones.
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
I also have three speeds, I just never know which one will show up or for how long.
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
I just don't quite have the firepower to shoot my way out of these. I come out on top but It's a lot more work than it should be. Part of it is frustration and part of the frustration is that obstruction is only a legitimate strategy for a lower level player against a less lower level and loses relevance at a higher level, as does much of the counter strategy. I'm more motivated to raise my game. It's funny, one guy I play, our games always turn into safety battles and maneuvering even though when we play other people the games are often shootouts. These games are a lot of fun because we are making strategic decisions and there is the always the risk selling out. They are some of the funnest games I play.
My play is more like two speeds and a broken sprocket these days!
I do know what you mean about game style changing. I always hear play the table, not the player. Very rarely does that happen. A truly ridiculous run of games won without any losses involved a half dozen or less opponents that could break and run themselves and lots of bangers. I spotted the potential trouble players fast and made sure they had no chance from then on, I coasted a bit playing the no-hopers. It would be silly to swat flies with a sledge hammer and waste all of that energy.
I didn't try to run wide open every moment and kill myself on my day job, why should I during my evening gig?
Hu
When I’m teaching/coaching newer/lower rated players in eight-ball, I refer to their balls as their soldiers.
I tell them to be careful that they don’t kill all their soldiers early on, because they will likely need/want them later in the game
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