Do you find safety game is boring in a match?

[vmax4steve]

Davis has certainly been the best safety player of all time. The only person that comes close to him in that department is Mark Selby in my opinion.

Wrong about that one, Reardon was the master, after all who did Ronnie go to when needing advice, and Selby's safety tends to descend into the negative far too often.

It's easy to play negative, containing safety, but attacking safety is what it's all about but it's no good just potting a red and colour and running away again when you get the chance you've created for yourself, you have to take the full opportunity and that means learning to pot and break build.

[shmeeko69]

I forgot about Reardon, but still think Davis was the best safety player. Until Hendry came along, he had everyone tied up in knots especially the late and great Alex Higgins.

[CoachGavin]

Do you find safety game is boring in a match?

personally i think Selby has now become the best safety player at the top of the game at present. lays some great snookers and really puts the opponent in trouble. what's also forgotten is that he can score so heavily. I remember when he knocked in six tons against Hendry in the World Championships. awesome.

[vmax4steve]

I forgot about Reardon, but still think Davis was the best safety player. Until Hendry came along, he had everyone tied up in knots especially the late and great Alex Higgins.

It's true that Davis had a great safety game but his main weapon when at his peak was the long red, sixty break and then taking no chances at all putting his opponent on the baulk cushion.
That was what got to Alex Higgins, the fact that Davis took no chances, didn't entertain the crowd with the shots they paid to see.
Though Higgins beat Davis a few times with his attacking game, the only time he gave Davis a taste of his own medicine was when he was 7-0 down in the UK final and came back to beat him in the final deciding frame.

He said at the end of that match that he had to play the sort of snooker that he hated in order to win, but just this once I had to show him that we can all do that if we want to, it's just that some choose not to.

or words to that effect.

What Higgins gave, and what he wanted in return, was a give all you've got and let's see who's the best, not run away every time something a little tricky crops up.
Two world titles playing that way is a pretty good return, White made six finals doing the same and we will remember them fondly for it.

[GeordieDS]

I remember twice seeing Davis in The Jameson International at Eldon Square Recreation Centre and he didn't lose a frame either time, his safety was the best i have ever seen.

[bolton-cueman]

Davis is / was probably the best safety player.

O'Sullivan's safety game is pretty awesome too and frequently overlooked.

[LittleMissAlexa]

There are two ways one is to become better at safety, the other is the Hendry way to become a better potter what being a strong potter does is it puts more pressure on your opponents safety in the days before Hendry etc safety was easier because you could leave tempters would you leave todays players tempters? here Judd a little Tempter for you now in the professional game you cant leave anything.

[Dozza19792]

Most of the time safety has its uses.....either to frustrate a potter or to regain control of the table so you get an easy red to start u off.....

What I do find frustrating is when u play someone who plays a safety shot rather than grabbing the bull by the horns....

What I have observed is (even in the pro game I might add) a bout of safety messes the balls up and stops breaks from occuring.

[Sidd]

I do not think safety is boring at all. It is indeed competitive and I enjoy snookering my opponents and trying to escape from snookers. All part and parcel of the game. I am also regarded as the best safety player in me club I think over the years I have developed a decent knowledge and understanding of the angles.

[mythman69]

For those that missed this frame. Boring? Nope.

[Master Blaster]

I don't mind watching safety on tv or playing it in league. What I do find is how long it can go on. What I would do is give the player ball in hand if his opponent fouls. This won't negate safety, it will make it more important but it would speed things up. No more of that having lots of attempts to get out of snookers and leave nothing on. First attempt would be their only attempt. We see them playing off angles and missing the reds all the time. They do it to get a feel for the final shot they do hit a red and also to leave nothing on. These guys are pros, with immense talent. They don't need 5 attempts, they can get out of snookers so ball in hand will be the incentive they need!

[ace man]

I don't mind watching safety on tv or playing it in league. What I do find is how long it can go on. What I would do is give the player ball in hand if his opponent fouls. This won't negate safety, it will make it more important but it would speed things up. No more of that having lots of attempts to get out of snookers and leave nothing on. First attempt would be their only attempt. We see them playing off angles and missing the reds all the time. They do it to get a feel for the final shot they do hit a red and also to leave nothing on. These guys are pros, with immense talent. They don't need 5 attempts, they can get out of snookers so ball in hand will be the incentive they need!

Yes they do need several escape attempts because snooker isn't 9ball pool and it is not played on a 9ft table. Some escape routes are simply too difficult on a 12ft table, several attempts may be needed...I don't care how good the player is.
If it were really introduced, you would see at least as many ball in hand occurences in snooker as in 9ball, perhaps even a lot of deliberate fouls, it would have been ridiculous.
I have played plenty of 9ball and I heavily disagree with introducing ball in hand rule.

[Byrom]

Is this or was this not the rule world snooker had in the shoot out in Blackpool?

[tedisbill]

Imagine that. You're miles ahead, then your opponent rolls up behind a ball and cuts off the one cushion escape and it's a nightmare to hit. You miss and he gets ball in hand. Sounds ridiculous to gain such a massive advantage from one shot.

[ace man]

Is this or was this not the rule world snooker had in the shoot out in Blackpool?

Yes, but there was also requirement of contacting a cushion, so no roll up safeties allowed.
And that was a shot clock tournament. I'm sure if pro snooker players played full season using rules like that, but without shot clock, they would eventually exploit them far more than they did at exhibitions like shoot out.
I would prefer the game not to be changed. There is nothing wrong with it.