Your thoughts on '3 fouling' your way to victory?

[Coos Cues]

I have been three fouled and have three fouled opponents. It sucks when it happens to you, but you have to respect the skill required to pull it off.

Sometimes after a scratch break as the OP stated it's laying there like taking candy from a baby. 9 ball break where all the balls stay clustered and a scratch is the easiest of them all. Pretty silly to choose an impossible runout and a coin flip rack over the quick win.

 

[DaveK]

Sometimes after a scratch break as the OP stated it's laying there like taking candy from a baby. 9 ball break where all the balls stay clustered and a scratch is the easiest of them all. Pretty silly to choose an impossible runout and a coin flip rack over the quick win.

Yep. Just be sure to use your first ball-in-hand to set up a lock-up hook with your second ball-in-band. I've seen players try to 3 foul off an opponents break-scratch only to mess up by making their second shot difficult ... DOH!

Dave <-- learned this the hard way ... DOH!

 

[AtLarge]

Toastie got chicked !

Awesome.

Yeah, but she needed a lot more. 13-3 Toastie at the end.

 

[Bavafongoul]

I was in a my usual tournament event and there was an argument between two players because one guy decides to '3 foul' the other guy for the win. Personally, I don't have a problem with this and it has been done to me before and I've done it others.

There is one trigger that will cause me to 3 foul you. One of them is the break-scratch. Right off the bat you have fouled. I'm going to win this game.

What are your thoughts about this?

I won’t write that I enjoy 3 fouling someone but I enjoy when someone attempts it with me. And in return, leaving them with the best safety I can trying to return the favor. I played 3 cushions for decades on a larger table than a 9’ version.

So I understand and apply the Diamond System in my kick shots trying to pocket the OB and unsurprisingly, balls are
pocketed occasionally. For me, the real satisfaction comes from very seldom missing contact with the intended OB, even going 3 and 4 rails to do it. One and two rail kicks are relatively easy so ball in hand hardly ever happens. It’s the 3 & 4 rail kicks that are easy to figure out but harder to map because of other OB interfering with the CB’s intended route. So finding the starting kick point & how much English is the challenge since it’s usually needed under these conditions. If I’d played just 3 cushion billiards, you’d never hear me gripe. My high run is 7 but I always wanted to get to a double digit run.

 

[philly]

I won’t write that I enjoy 3 fouling someone but I enjoy when someone attempts it with me. And in return, leaving them with the best safety I can trying to return the favor. I played 3 cushions for decades on a larger table than a 9’ version.

So I understand and apply the Diamond System in my kick shots trying to pocket the OB and unsurprisingly, balls are
pocketed occasionally. For me, the real satisfaction comes from very seldom missing contact with the intended OB, even going 3 and 4 rails to do it. One and two rail kicks are relatively easy so ball in hand hardly ever happens. It’s the 3 & 4 rail kicks that are easy to figure out but harder to map because of other OB interfering with the CB’s intended route. So finding the starting kick point & how much English is the challenge since it’s usually needed under these conditions. If I’d played just 3 cushion billiards, you’d never hear me gripe. My high run is 7 but I always wanted to get to a double digit run.

Miss 3 cushion tables.
Love the game.
I would always spend an hour playing 3 cushion before heading over to a pocket billiard table.
3 cushion tables are disappearing form pool rooms.
Miss them.

 

[Black-Balled]

Yeah, but she needed a lot more. 13-3 Toastie at the end.

No doubt, re the longer run!

 

[The_JV]

I won’t write that I enjoy 3 fouling someone but I enjoy when someone attempts it with me. And in return, leaving them with the best safety I can trying to return the favor.

Ah, I think the above made me clue in to why some don't share my love of the 3 foul strategy. I tend to forget my audience at times and that not all the words bouncing around in my mind make it to the keyboard.

I don't make a habit or an effort to torture weak players. I mean all players are either weaker or stronger to some degree, but not day-olds trying out pool for the first time. I wouldn't dream of beating up on a <500 by 3 fouling them to death. That said, once you are competing with >600 players. 3 fouling them become more an accomplishment then an underhanded strategy. The difficulty of a successful outcome becomes exponentially more difficult as you move up the food chain. When I consider 3 fouls, I think of those accomplishments.

A month or so ago I managed a 3 foul win over a ~710 player fresh from the Philippines. Guy kicks like a mule. I was freak'n pumped after that rack. Not ashamed for feeling so.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Making a kick shot that travels the table hitting multiple rails, avoiding other object balls and just nudging the final OB resulting in a difficult shot for my opponent is frigging exciting. I get to watch the cue ball roll around the table for 5-6 seconds not being sure if it will just barely miss or hit the remaining CB. It is like sinking a 30’ putt on a sloped green. The exhilaration is equal to making a tough 3 cushion billiard. IMO, 3 cushion can become the most frustrating game of close calls that barely miss the last billiard ball. I love that game. 3 cushion is definitely a game not suited for the timid or uncreative pool players

 

[Coos Cues]

I won’t write that I enjoy 3 fouling someone but I enjoy when someone attempts it with me. And in return, leaving them with the best safety I can trying to return the favor. I played 3 cushions for decades on a larger table than a 9’ version.

I love the look that says "why the hell didn't I just run out" when they come back to the table in those instances.

 

[SBC]

I was in a my usual tournament event and there was an argument between two players because one guy decides to '3 foul' the other guy for the win. Personally, I don't have a problem with this and it has been done to me before and I've done it others.

There is one trigger that will cause me to 3 foul you. One of them is the break-scratch. Right off the bat you have fouled. I'm going to win this game.

What are your thoughts about this?

I do it when see a tough runout.
Sometimes playing to a cluster and shooting a ball out calling safe.
Sometimes after they have 1 foul.

Sometimes it's when im giving the 7 out a game and all the breaks....plus they don't kick well.

It is part of the game. I dont want to hear anything about their complaints. Learn to kick better.

 

[SBC]

Be

this

try playing at bars, I've been damn near assaulted physically for playing safe, lol

Been there when I am considering a full table draw or jump. The guys whose daddy told them that they could have turned pro really hate that stuff!

 

[Dunnn51]

I have been three fouled and have three fouled opponents. It sucks when it happens to you, but you have to respect the skill required to pull it off.

3 fouling a SL3 APA player? Or 3 foul someone who is completely competent and can kick.? One is pretty cruel; the other part of the game!

 

[Dunnn51]

1,000% correct.
Many players think the object of the game is to run out.
The object of the game is to win the game, any way possible.
Once a player discovers this fact their game jumps up immediately.

I know this thread is about 3 foul and rotation but it can be apllied to 8 ball also.
Nothing worse in 8 ball than to run out to one ball of your chosen suit on the table and the 8.
A surefire way to get into trouble.

Seems the story of my Life,

 

[Podunker]

I got three fouled out of a regional championship. Got 3 games in a row to tie 8-8. Scratched on break. Got 3 fouled. I thought he did the right thing and the move showed respect for my game. I 3 fouled our defending state champion late in the next state tournament. No way I wanted him on the table again. He whined like a baby. 9-6 win. He shoots again, I may not.

 

[KREE8TIV]

Looks like I will have to change how my feeling guilty about even playing a safety is okay , or how slop counts . I see how this is holding me back if a win is a win , point taken . Very interesting hearing this information from everyone

 

[ShootingArts]

Looks like I will have to change how my feeling guilty about even playing a safety is okay , or how slop counts . I see how this is holding me back if a win is a win , point taken . Very interesting hearing this information from everyone

Everyone is playing on the same tables and under the same rules. I don't think I have ever three fouled anyone that didn't use the strategy as part of their game. Safety, sissy pool! It was totally an accident that the cue ball ended up in the cluster! I hate rules that interfere with two way shots.

Hu

 

[boogieman]

I hate rules that interfere with two way shots.

I just ignore those rules.

If you (general sense, not you in particular SA) aren't shooting 2 way shots you aren't too smart!

What's fun or funny depending on the circumstances is when the light bulb goes off for someone and they first start realizing about 2 way shots. Usually it's the people who are complaining about luck in 9B... yeah it might be a bit of luck but I saw 3 chances to make 3 different balls and rolled the dice. Yeah, the CB is in a difficult spot for you too, but it wasn't an accident or an unlucky roll.

Protect the rock at all costs!

 

[Mikkes]

Totally ok for me, it´s a tactical part of the game.

In league games I check the table and situation.
- If there are more problems on the table to go for a clean game, I definitely play safe to foul out my opponent.
- If I know my opponent is bad in kicking, I definitely go for the safe.
- If I have a bad day on potting balls clean, I definitely go for the safe.
- If I am playing an offensive player who hates safe game, I definitely go for the safe to break his rythm an mind.

I had a league game years ago where I had to win to not relegate with my team in the next minor league. It was a tough game and went back and fourth to a 6:6 in 9-Ball. So the last game was the decider. I was totally nervous and shaky, every ball was tough and the layout in the last game was a mess. So I decided to 3 foul him out because I knew he was totally shaky too and not the best kicker. Short story long, I won that last game with three fouls of my opponent and we stayed in the league. Not nice for him but he exactly knew what i did in that last game and respected that.

I´ll never do this outside league games or training. Tactical play do not belong in bars or games for fun.

 

[AK-Stick]

My opinion I’d rather out shoot a person but if I can win by fouling an opponent out, I’d do so.

 

[WardS]

Yeah this one is easy to answer. Playing in bars where you get punched for not knowing the local rules is it's own discussion, but in any setting between two players who have any sort of respect towards each other or/and the game, 3-fouling is a part of the game and in no context should be seen as questionable.

I stipulate no 3 foul, if it’s a problem I don’t play