Opinions on safety shots
1/30/2014 10:11:05 PM
Opinions on safety shots
Hi all,
Been shooting for going on 6 years now, I can hold my own against most players now but there's still a lot I need to work on. That being said, while I was in a APA 8 ball league for two sessions, I enjoy a much more causal game play, so most of my shooting happens at bars on the weekends now. What I've been running into, now that my skill is getting higher,is guys doing repeated safety shots when I'm beating them badly. While when done correctly it's perfectly legal by the rules, to me it's the cowards way out in 8 ball, especially when you have many shots on the table that are makeable. While I understand the thought behind it, it seems so underhanded to do that in a bar setting, or at all IMO. What are all of your thoughts on this? Because personally if I'm getting whooped on and I get a chance to shoot I'm going try and run it out, not play hide and seek when I have shots on the table. Go out swinging I guess haha
Opinions on safety shots
Replies & Comments
Zeke on 1/31/2014 6:23:51 AM
Unfortunately, a good safety shot is just as much a part of the game as is a three ball combination - when done properly.
I must admit, I never got beaten by people that prefer a safety over most makable shots - but then, 8-ball is NOT a game I indulge in.
Perhaps you could cite the reason you suspect your opposition is using safeties to beat you? I cannot fathom such a defense working, unless other factors are at play; none of which make much sense without more details from you...
Cdubb on 1/31/2014 8:33:46 AM
Let me clarify that I can't remember the last time that this method worked to win the game for them. I can't understand why some would do such a thing, and it happens quite a lot.
I suspect they believe they may gain an edge by playing with your head? Perhaps an awesome masse shot is in your future?
I've always wanted to learn a masse shot, everywhere I shoot at says no masse shots though. I do agree with you zeke, I think it's a head game. I'm a offensively minded player, in fact looking at my APA record in 16 career matches (so like 60 games or more) I had 1 recorded saftey shot haha, no two players are the same but few I've ever played against are like me. Maybe that's why safety shots annoy me so much. But then again I like taking creative shots which a less than perfect safety would allow.
It would seem on occasion, the act of playing a legal safety could be more difficult than legally shooting one of their own.
I urge you to re-read the rules regarding APA 8-ball "safeties." Make sure your adversaries strictly adheres to the written rules. One of the biggest reasons NOT to use a safety is the rules that surround that choice. Merely calling, "safety" - does not cut the shooter any slack. In many cases, safeties are more difficult than normal shots because of the ancillary rules that must be met.
gibson on 2/4/2014 6:49:06 PMI think there is still room for defensive strategies in any game. I have never considered eight ball a real test of shooting ability since either player shoots at different balls than the opposite player. A weak shooter can beat a much better player if his balls are setup favorably. The more probable result is that the better shooter can normally clear his balls in less than three turns. I have seen some winning eight ball players over the years who were not terribly great shots but knew how to control the cue ball and never allowed their opponents to get a shot or run going because of how they leave the cue ball. As long as you hit a legal shot you can block pockets and opponents balls so they can't set up a key ball shot and a winning eight ball shot. Play one pocket, which I hear is on its way back and you will become a much more effective eight ball player since you have to play defensively in order to win.
RayMills on 8/21/2021 1:08:39 AMAs a big fan of defensive play, and I will highlight one point:
The better my opponent, the more incumbent it is upon me to not sell-out against him.
If I calculate that every shot available to me has high percentages of my missing and helping the opponent to win, I find a way to hide the cue ball and/or give him a bad angle on his remaining balls.
Eight-Ball is not a race; there is no need to pocket a ball every shot.
Opinions on safety shots
- Title: Opinions on safety shots
- Author: Cdubb
- Published: 1/30/2014 10:11:05 PM
