What are your criteria for an effective safety?

Question

I'm just curious what other people are thinking when they play safe. What factors go through your mind when trying to leave your opponent a hard shot? What exactly are you trying to leave them with? I know what I teach my students but I want to know what you're thinking.

Answer 1

Lost is right !! did she ever mention pool ??

But if I see trouble ahead and get a shot at a safety I try to lock the cue to the rail against an object ball I want ball in hand to break out my trouble spot  next is the hardest shot for them I can leave Always close as I can to one of my balls -Jump shots are deadly in the past few years-I hope im answering your question but my goal is always ball in hand but I do try to avoid a safe shot very rarely are they planned and I like a plan

Moral if you have to shoot safe make it a good one

Thanks Straight

Later Johnny

Answer 2

One  of the best players in my area made the statement that I am a h**l of a safety player....just can't run out!!....as I have always stated I am a little above average...."I would make the all-star team...just not a starter".....if I don't think that I can run out I will "d-up"....at my level I am just thinking about getting an easier shot or just can't get it from "A" to "B" or can't solve the run so I will do this to get this easier shot.....even if I am shooting on the 9 and don't think that I can make it....I will for example send it to the other end and let you solve it or maybe get you to leave me an easier shot....ie one too hard for a cut and not in line for a bank....will "spin" the cue ball....nicking the 9 and leaving it at the  same spot and put the cue ball on the other end.....now you take it and if you make it you earned it....I am not just going to "wack" it and leave a "duck" for you......do not really have the "game" to dance with you straight......will take my chances and make you earn it....or let me steal it!....will always try to put distance from the object ball with the cue ball ....and not distance from the cue ball with the object ball.

Answer 3

I know one main point Hubby has taught me is when possible, hide the cue ball, not the object ball (talking nine-ball for now). One shot in particular he's taught me that's come in handy a few times is when the one-ball, for example, is right next to another ball some inches off the foot rail or head rail (is that cushion? :) ), and the cue ball is just off the cushion...You jack up and knock the one-ball up the table, drawing the cue ball to the cushion, where it bounces off and settles behind the other ball...I used that shot in the ladies' tournament I played in this weekend and my opponent just handed me the cue ball without attempting to kick...I hope people can visualize it.  Hubby can leave a kick shot with three balls spread out on the table (including the cue ball), but it might be a while before I can do that consistently. Anyway, if I can't hook him/her, I try to leave shots that somewhat inexperienced players will try to bank (and miss)...if I knew the numbers of the diamonds, I'd give an example...as far as 8-ball safeties go, it's kind of rare, it seems, to have an opportunity to leave them safe where they have to kick, but I try it when I can. If they have a couple of balls near the corner pockets of the foot rail, I might try to leave the cue ball on the foot rail so they can't shoot those balls in those pockets...umm...did I answer the question?

--Lea

p.s. I added on a little bit about 8-ball stuff in my favorite game question after your p.s. Hope it makes sense :)

p.p.s. Mickey described it better (leaving a bank shot the other guy'll miss)-- can't cut it and not a dead bank. And I'll play safe on the nine, too, Mickey, using the same methods you described...

Answer 4

Hey Straight,

I don't know if I can list as many as Lost Soul did, but... here's my thinking. I look for a situation where my opponent has to kick out at least two rails.

That's not always possible the deeper into the rack you get. If I have one or two balls that are questionable on getting 'out', I may play safe even though I can make a couple.

If I have only a one-ball hook... I try to marry the cue ball to an object ball giving him the hardest one-rail kick possible.

Answer 5

Obviously, getting ball in hand after playing a safety is the best result , because ball in hand makes the game so much easier. I don't want my opponent to have any chance of a legal hit. If I don't have, say a 50- 50 chance, for a complete snooker then I may just try to leave him as tough a shot as I can( without leaving him an easy safety). It really depends on the situation, how many problem balls are there? Am I way ahead in the match? Am I way behind?Are we neck and neck? It all factors in. Thats one of the things I like most about the game, every time you break it's a different game , different situation , different train of thought.

Answer 6

I love this forum.  As a relative newbe, I find the answers extremely informitive.  I prefer ball in hand, so I try to tie up the cue ball.  I have no problem playing safe's until I can get that ball in hand either.

Answer 7

I never think past position its just that I play by the book and I play so many I dont even think about it.

Its like ok I cant make a shot but I can put him behind my 6 ball and just shoot without thinking about it.Its just second nature for me.

2 of the best Ive ever seen are Javiare Franco

And a old hillbilly at the top of this section

                            Thanks a lot Bobby

Answer 8

Common safety measures include:

> Visual examination for dangerous situations such as emergency exits blocked because they are being used as storage areas.

> Visual examination for flaws such as cracks, peeling, loose connections.

> Chemical analysis

> X-ray analysis to see inside a sealed object such as a weld, a cement wall or an airplane outer skin.

> Destructive testing of samples

> Stress testing subjects a person or product to stresses in excess of those the person or product is designed to handle, to determining the "breaking point".

> Safety margins/Safety factors. For instance, a product rated to never be required to handle more than 200 pounds might be designed to fail under at least 400 pounds, a safety factor of two. Higher numbers are used in more sensitive applications such as medical or transit safety.

> Implementation of standard protocols and procedures so that activities are conducted in a known way.

> Training of employees, vendors, product users

> Instruction manuals explaining how to use a product or perform an activity

> Instructional videos demonstrating proper use of products >

> Examination of activities by specialists to minimize physical stress or increase productivity

> Government regulation so suppliers know what standards their product is expected to meet.

> Industry regulation so suppliers know what level of quality is expected. Industry regulation is often imposed to avoid potential government regulation.

> Self-imposed regulation of various types.

> Statements of Ethics by industry organizations or an individual company so its employees know what is expected of them.

> Drug testing of employees, etc.

> Physical examinations to determine whether a person has a physical condition that would create a problem.

> Periodic evaluations of employees, departments, etc.

> Geological surveys to determine whether land or water sources are polluted, how firm the ground is at a potential building site, etc.

:)

Answer 9

Im not very good at doing it yet but im learning if i cant see a shot off the next ball iLL try a safe shot to hook them the best I can Im getting better at it even got Johnny a few weeks ago and that takes some doing .He really shot at it and I got ball in hand

                           Thank you moon

Answer 10

We were/are talking about this at the rec. sport. billiard newsgroup . My goal is to leave my opponent so tied up that they :

1. If I cannot run the rack, I play safe ,remember this always :

"*** If You Can't Run ........Hide ***"

2. Cant get a good hit  Can't see the object ball or at least have great difficulty trying to, and, give me Ball-in-Hand.

3. If I have balls clustered and/or my opponents are clustered I know that I have places on the table that I can use to my advantage!

4. When I do play safe I factor in his balls positions and calculate the "degrees of difficulty" and go for the percentage

of his chances of making those shots and also my capabilities of getting out from wherever ,and if I have to ,I will do it all over again until the table favors me the most !

I am an amateur player and play in 3 leagues and the occasional weekend tournament or two, I won a trip to Las Vegas twice ,Once for the APA and once for TAP.

I hope this helps ????????

I use www.recgroups.com to get to rec.sport.billiards and go by Ratchet there