Risk management?

Question

My general rule of thumb for taking shots is if I can on average make the shot 4 out of 5 times, it's worth going for. My second rule is that if it's going to be equally hard to play safe as to play an offensive shot, I go for the offensive shot. What kind of guidelines do you have in terms of your shot selection and risk management? M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

Answer 1

Offensive only when I know that I can stay in line 3 balls at at time......if I can't get to the next ball staying in line for the next two....I "D-up"......I am  only  an above average player and run racks rarely....but working 3 at a time and staying in line is my approach and do fair with it.......the hardest part for me is when I am left out of line and then have to get back to the next line is where I experience the most trouble.....just try to walk the line!!

Answer 2

Really depends on who im playing--For real if a top ranked hot ill turn up the fire because likely as not your last shot will be just that.

If im playing Donald  sorry but i tend to toy with him because i know i will get a  ( few ) more shots.        May even feed him a couple of racks

My play varies from 75 cents --to My real game with lots of space in the middle

But for the money 70 % or i look for a safe shot if not take the shot and leave him the worst i can and still be on my ball in theory maybe i can go on out or shoot a better pos for him to get out of.

but 70% or play hide & seek

Answer 3

My rule is I must know I can make the shot (or the safety). If I don't already , in my mind; know the outcome I can't commit to the shot and that is near always fatal.

Luck

K

Answer 4

a good defense to play is to take a shot that u r not 100% sure u can make and play an offensive/defensive shot. play the cue ball in a position to where if u miss ur oponent will have to kick out or will not have a shot. allways got to keep ur head up. many players who can take a ball in hand and now they own the table for the next 5 racks but to increase ur percentage of staying at the table allways look ahead and look for safeties. i know my self if i see a cluster of balls that need to be broke out b 4 i can run thetable i will play a safety to get the object ball in a position to be able to play the ball in a pocket and break out another . just like in straightpool u cant allways go for the gold u have to look defensively cause you jus made 10 balls but now u missed a shot and ur opponent jus ran out 60 ............... allways keep ur head up and remember to own the table when ur approaching it !!!! good luck

Answer 5

My position play isn't where I'd like it to be yet, and I'm confronted more often than I like with 50% shots. And more often than I probably should, I take them. But generally, if I can't cut it, I don't bank it unless it's pretty dead, or I can play it two-way.  

It pretty much depends on my mood, though, I guess. I play safer if I'm playing someone tough, which I know isn't what you're supposed to do (play the table, not your opponent), but it ends up that way, which is probably why I end up losing to people I should be able to beat.

Darn, negative thoughts again...Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right :)

Thanks, Johnny :) You know that guy Cecil? Like in person, not the internet?