Pieces Of Eight - Tip Of The Week

 

Number: 81 Jim Tellier May 2013 Summer 2013 Session

 

TOPIC: No Safety? Really?

CATEGORY: Beginner/Intermediate

 

INTRODUCTION:

Your opponent misses. Its your turn at the table. BUT you dont have a shot, and you want to play a safety.

Problem is: you dont see any way to play safe! Now What?!?!? (as Willie Mosconi would say!). Remember the idea of changing the advantage in the game: if you can do Anything that will cause your opponent to have to take an extra shot (hopefully without pocketing any balls!) when he gets back to the table, your are tilting the advantage in your favor! So, how can you do that?

TECHNIQUE:

First, dont be afraid of giving your opponent ball-in-hand if he/she has to do extra work to get the run-out, then youve done the best you can do under the circumstances.

Second, IF you can hit one of your balls first, AND at the same time make something more difficult for him. Thats ideal because you wont have to give up ball-in-hand.

So, what are the things you can do? Im just going to write a list of ideas, and you can take them as suggestions. File these away for the next time you encounter this situation, and try to imaging what your opponent would do, if you pulled one of these tricks out of your hat!

         Hit one of your balls, even if you cant pocket it, leaving it in front of a pocket that is important to your opponent.

         Using one of your balls, force one of your opponents balls to freeze on another ball. Ideally, one of his; but sometimes its even ok to make a cluster using your own as well. Plan it out carefully, and think about how he will play the rest of the rack after youre done complicating things!

         Hit one of your opponents balls directly, to create a cluster. Yes, you will give up ball-in-hand but it MAY be worth it. In this scenario, carefully consider what hes really able to do when he gets ball-in-hand.

         IF the 8-ball is already frozen to another ball, its often the case that it cant be pocketed in ANY pocket. Look it over carefully, and if that is the case, dont pocket your last ball (solid or stripe) before the 8-ball, unless, of course that you can guarantee that you will be able to break out the 8-ball, AND have a good shot on it afterwards! Play a safe instead!

         If you cant make a cluster for your opponent to have to deal with, send one of his balls down to the other end of the table. Youll give up ball-in-hand BUT, youll force him to have to run up and down the table to finish his run-out. Make it as hard as you can for him to do that!

Sometimes, its not about who can make the shots. Its about who gets the opportunities to make the shots. Ponder that its a big deal. And the important thing to realize is: you can make opportunities for yourself, AND you can take them away from your opponent EVEN if you have to give up ball-in-hand to do it!

 

A couple of very useful links to instructional materials are:

 

http://www.azbilliards.com/2000instruction.php

 

http://www.billiards.colostate.edu

 

Shoot well, and keep your opponent in his chair!

Capn Carom

ARRRR!!!! J