Winning a 9-ball match when spotting a lot of racks

[seymore15074]

and to the guy who said he loves giving out weight, but doesn't gamble?...why bother?...it's easy to say you play great, and give out the world for nothing.

I want to become the best that I can. I want to feel the pressure. I do not want to miss the five ball and not pay for that mistake.

 

[Omar]

It's just happened too often to me now to be a coincidence ... you spot 3 games to 8, or 4 games to 9 and after the match you lament how he got those lucky combos, 9-on-the breaks etc.. and how lucky a game 9-ball is, and how you never want to do handicapped 9-ball tournaments again.

Fact is, I must be playing the wrong strategy. I play the game the same way as if I was playing an even match against a B/A player. As the D player flies the 9-ball off 3 rails into a random pocket, or the 3-9 combo splits the corner pocket like a laser, I wonder what can I do to stop this? I'm thinking that perhaps if I have no clear run out or easy shot, I should immediately take a foul and move the 9 away from any danger? Or take a different kind of foul and position the balls so I can run out but the D player cannot? It is never a problem in 8-ball since you have to pot 8 balls to win, but in 9-ball, it just takes one shot. Any ideas on the best way to remove that one shot from the equation?

I play in a room where there aren't that many strong players. They have a handicapped tournament where the longest race is 7 games. I frequently end up in a situation where I have to give 4 or 5 games on the wire in a short race, and I am far from a run out player. Here are some strategies that I have been successful with.

This has really already been mentioned by other posters, but protect the 9 ball. When choosing a safety against bangers, favor choices that keep the object ball on the opposite side of the table from the 9. Obviously, lock them up tight if you can. But stay cognizent of what you are going to leave if you miss the hook. Distance safeties are often good enough. A D player is probably going to swing at the long bank, even though they have missed it the last 10 times they tried it.

One other thing. The worst thing you can do with these guys is run 5 or 6 balls and dog the 7. So don't do their work for them. Pick your opportunities. If you don't like the run out, keep squeezing them and force them to make the mistakes. Remind yourself that there is a reason you are giving them weight.

Be realistic. You are going to lose some of these matches. Stuff is going to
happen that you just can't defend against. You are going to run into guys that are under handicapped. Life isn't fair. Be smart and play the percentages.

 

[Snapshot9]

a few things to lessen the stress of weight IMO...

> underestimate YOUR game while overestimating the opponents game.

> don't give games on the wire....give a CALL ball spot....make em earn every game.

> get rid of the ego when matching up...there's nothing worse than making a bad game while barking, and realizing it while your racking AGAIN!


and to the guy who said he loves giving out weight, but doesn't gamble?...why bother?...it's easy to say you play great, and give out the world for nothing.

Gerry .... Where ya been ... good to see ya back ...

And as far as being the best you can be, grow some nuts, and play somone even for $1,000 a set, then you'll see how good you are.
I know a guy here in town that probably plays even with the best in town for $5 a game. I took $400 off him when he got a backer and jumped up in my face then.

 

[seymore15074]

And as far as being the best you can be, grow some nuts, and play somone even for $1,000 a set, then you'll see how good you are.

Tournaments will do that just fine, thank you. Listen, I'm not saying hey world you have the 5-out, I'm saying that I practice by playing sets with players that are obviously not strong, and in order to have to bare down and work for my wins, I have to spot them a lot. If I had better competition at the local hall, I'd play them...

I know a guy here in town that probably plays even with the best in town for $5 a game. I took $400 off him when he got a backer and jumped up in my face then.

So what? Congrats, I guess..

Do you play for the money or the ego? Are bragging rights what you play this game for? This sort of mentality reminds me of all the little drama queens from high school...