#289501 - 11/05/09 04:26 PM
Re: Teaching When To Play Safe?
[Re: Sid_Vicious]
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wolfdancer
Carpal \'Tunnel
Registered: 10/31/02
Posts: 8775
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Sid, after some 30 years of playing, I still often think...I shudda played safe, afterwards.
I think when and how are part of the learning process, the more you play, etc. Another 20 years I should have it figured out.
AS to how, the best tip that I ever read to begin the process on that, is to look for the wall of balls, which may be just one ball or a group of balls,as the place to duck and hide the cue ball, or maybe even the object ball. That's pretty basic stuff though along with the next option....distance.
As to when...your percentages idea's are a good place to start from
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#289615 - 11/06/09 01:24 PM
Re: Teaching When To Play Safe?
[Re: Sid_Vicious]
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1hit1der
journeyman
Registered: 04/06/05
Posts: 51
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It's certainly difficult to 'instill and instict' as we live in a culture of offense and aggression. Passiveness is rarely rewarded.
There are probably a couple ways to make them think about it though. Get a player to talk through their thought process. The more you can understand what they are thinking and point out the fallacies in their 'logic' (e.g. I'm going to pocket the 2 and go 7 rails for position on the 3!).
Certainly there are drills (or one-pocket) where the primary objective is not necessarily pocketing balls, but putting the cue ball in a poor position for the next shot (I do this naturally to myself a lot of the time). From this, they may realize that it's easier to play a safe than to try to get position.
Finally, maybe come up with a list of questions to go through as a pre-shot routine:
1. Which ball should I pocket?
2. Where is the cue ball likely to go?
3. Which ball can I pocket from there?
Or some variant thereof. I mean, that should be the general thought process anyway, but if you answer 'I don't know' to questions 2 and 3, then you play safe.
Well, I was typing about as fast as I was thinking so hope some of this makes sense. It's a great discussion point though.
Edited by 1hit1der (11/06/09 01:25 PM)
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#289619 - 11/06/09 01:58 PM
Re: Teaching When To Play Safe?
[Re: 1hit1der]
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JoeW
enthusiast
Registered: 03/23/07
Posts: 371
Loc: Negley, Ohio
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Funny you should bring this up. I just finished an article for John Biddle's Pool Carnival titled "Offensive Safety Play" or something like that to be published on Nov 15. He has asked us not post before hand so I should not discuss it.
His first Carnival should be interesting with several well known authors writing on pool strategy. Take a look when it comes out. It looks like the pool carnival is a very interesting idea.
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#289627 - 11/06/09 02:53 PM
Re: Teaching When To Play Safe?
[Re: Sid_Vicious]
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dg-in-centralpa
Carpal \'Tunnel
Registered: 01/15/03
Posts: 2850
Loc: East of Hershey Chocolate
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I have a friend who has played in a league for over 10 years. He HATES and REFUSES to play safe. Even when he gets BIH, he usually plays the QB where it lies. I can't get him to understand that playing safe is a legitimate way to play. I taught a guy to play safe in a one on one play. We went to a club and I spent the evening showing him how and when to play safe. He was from the old school of playing, and he was in his early 60's at that point. He learned and it has paid off. Try a one on one, there is no pressure from a game situation to win. Just a practice session.
DG
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#289673 - 11/07/09 01:02 AM
Re: Teaching When To Play Safe?
[Re: JoeW]
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wolfdancer
Carpal \'Tunnel
Registered: 10/31/02
Posts: 8775
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I look forward to reading that...my idea of an offensive safety, is to move a ball while ducking, to a spot where you either can win in one shot, or a good place to begin a runout.
And that reminds me of an article that I read many, many years ago in "The National Geographic", and wish i had copied and saved. I've tried a search, but with no luck.
The article was on checkers, and how the winning strategy, or primary objective is to gain control of the board. The key positions were near midfield on the board.
establishing control of the table, before you go all out to win....might be similar to your philosophy, but I'll wait to find out.
Oddly enough, moves in Checkers are called strokes, and there were a few named ones, but the only one I remember is "Wiley's Sidewinder, a classic multiple jump of the other guy's pieces.
(Wiley's Sidewinder is now a musical group...WT*)
C.J Wiley was on top of his game when I read the article , so it is ingrained in my memory (just don't ask me where the remote is, or my cell phone)
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#289691 - 11/07/09 07:28 AM
Re: Teaching When To Play Safe?
[Re: Sid_Vicious]
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Billy_Bob
old hand
Registered: 09/11/04
Posts: 1011
Loc: Oregon
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People have different intelligence levels (IQ)...
I have come to the conclusion that some people just do not have the mental ability to "think ahead", or consider the ramifications of what they are doing "right now", or imagine what their opponent might be able to do after they shoot. (The ability to plan ahead.)
This is like trying to get someone who is color blind to recognize colors! They just don't have that ability.
In my experience with people who are quite intelligent, you can explain to them ONCE the concept of safety play - show them specific situations/examples. Then they instantly "get it".
And they forever after that use this to their advantage when they can. They may sometimes "forget" to think about that option, but after shooting will say they should have shot a safety.
But with those who are less intelligent, you can tell them over and over about these things. Point out many different situations where a safety would be the best shot, yet they never "get it".
A good example is playing 8-ball where the person has just 1 ball left on the table and an impossible shot at their ball. And the 8-ball is at the far rail. And the only easy shot for their opponent would be if the cue ball is left at the far rail. Well time and time again, these people will attempt their difficult shot, not make it, and leave the cue ball at the far rail! (Then their opponent has an easy shot on the 8.)
As a matter of fact, you can guarantee that the "safety challenged" player WILL leave the cue ball in a good spot for their opponent every time in these situations!
Yet it is clear as daylight to the "safety capable" player that this it the last thing you would want to do...
_________________________
I have no financial interest in any billiard related businesses or schools.
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