Wasteing Precious Hours

[Shockerz]

i don't mind playing those who play safe when there is nothing on, however we have players in our club who can't make a 20 break and yet unless they are on a sitter , they play safety.
it really annoys me as most frames are taking half an hour plus. so i just end up going for everything just to have some sort of game rather than safety after safety ....boring game.

I must admit nowadays it's obviously nice to get a break but I always enjoy a tactical battle as well. If I'm playing someone who is tactical then it's surprising how many unusual shots are played to stop the other playing potting and looking for them to make a mistake.

Obviously you don't want really long frames with naff all being potted but even when you get a black stuck in a pocket surrounded by reds it's sometimes nice to see who has the best touch as they get closer and closer so I don't mind a bit here and there.

In one frame leagues there's plenty of that!

[Shockerz]

We've got an old boy in the Cov league who is still very good, I broke off against him this season and he knocked a long red in, made 30 then tucked me up behind the yellow.
Most nervous i've been on the snooker table in years and I was playing a guy in his 70's. Just about won 2-0 but he was more of a challenge than some of the youngsters i've played at SWSA who have no idea how to actually play the game but are decent potters.

I think it's great that an old boy who probably has fading eyesight can still get it on with really decent players.

I bet you felt good beating him and had a lot of respect that he's still giving it a go. What he lacks in past potting ability he's obviously making up for in experience, probably been there and done it ad won't be fazed.

I personally still like seeing that when they're older as they still love the game, although I know younger players are desperate for the breaks and don't want this sort of game they'll just have to smash them up and out pot them......that's why this game is so good!

[alabadi]

i have to say my safety is my best asset at the moment, its been developed from playing better players in the league because my potting isn't up to the standard i need to make my opportunities pay.

what i don't enjoy is players who will not go for anything unless its hanging over the bag....

[Shockerz]

i have to say my safety is my best asset at the moment, its been developed from playing better players in the league because my potting isn't up to the standard i need to make my opportunities pay.

what i don't enjoy is players who will not go for anything unless its hanging over the bag....

I know what you mean but that's what happens when the confidence goes or there's not enough practice. I used to practice safety first as my potting wasn't up to it when I first started again but then when you get an opportunity you can't make the most of it, now too far the other way so gotta find the balance.....still enjoy the practice either way.

[itsnoteasy]

I play the same way against everyone, no matter the situation. I play attacking( I'm not recommending it but I don't have an ego so winning or losing means nothing to me ,it's all about how I play, )I will more than gladly pick the balls out all day for someone good, I won't play a roll up snooker, no matter what the situation,comp or just in the club, I don't take misses , if at all avoidable,although always offer them. It's just fun for me, although I moan at myself a lot but that's part of my enjoyment , I smile when I win ,I smile more when I lose, I am always courteous and I am genuinely happy when I see a good break even though it means I have taken a pasting, I just love good snooker. Maybe it's because I took it up late so I realise it's just a game and not really important I don't know but I just play it for the love of playing it.

[markz]

I play the same way against everyone, no matter the situation. I play attacking( I'm not recommending it but I don't have an ego so winning or losing means nothing to me ,it's all about how I play, )I will more than gladly pick the balls out all day for someone good, I won't play a roll up snooker, no matter what the situation,comp or just in the club, I don't take misses , if at all avoidable,although always offer them. It's just fun for me, although I moan at myself a lot but that's part of my enjoyment , I smile when I win ,I smile more when I lose, I am always courteous and I am genuinely happy when I see a good break even though it means I have taken a pasting, I just love good snooker. Maybe it's because I took it up late so I realise it's just a game and not really important I don't know but I just play it for the love of playing it.

+1 INE, couldn't have put it better myself.

[Shockerz]

I play the same way against everyone, no matter the situation. I play attacking( I'm not recommending it but I don't have an ego so winning or losing means nothing to me ,it's all about how I play, )I will more than gladly pick the balls out all day for someone good, I won't play a roll up snooker, no matter what the situation,comp or just in the club, I don't take misses , if at all avoidable,although always offer them. It's just fun for me, although I moan at myself a lot but that's part of my enjoyment , I smile when I win ,I smile more when I lose, I am always courteous and I am genuinely happy when I see a good break even though it means I have taken a pasting, I just love good snooker. Maybe it's because I took it up late so I realise it's just a game and not really important I don't know but I just play it for the love of playing it.

I'm feeling a man hug coming on...........nice post.

[Cue crafty]

I play the same way against everyone, no matter the situation. I play attacking( I'm not recommending it but I don't have an ego so winning or losing means nothing to me ,it's all about how I play, )I will more than gladly pick the balls out all day for someone good, I won't play a roll up snooker, no matter what the situation,comp or just in the club, I don't take misses , if at all avoidable,although always offer them. It's just fun for me, although I moan at myself a lot but that's part of my enjoyment , I smile when I win ,I smile more when I lose, I am always courteous and I am genuinely happy when I see a good break even though it means I have taken a pasting, I just love good snooker. Maybe it's because I took it up late so I realise it's just a game and not really important I don't know but I just play it for the love of playing it.

Blimey, im getting all emotional on a Monday afternoon. Terrific post. ; )

[Big Splash!]

I play the same way against everyone, no matter the situation. I play attacking( I'm not recommending it but I don't have an ego so winning or losing means nothing to me ,it's all about how I play, )I will more than gladly pick the balls out all day for someone good, I won't play a roll up snooker, no matter what the situation,comp or just in the club, I don't take misses , if at all avoidable,although always offer them. It's just fun for me, although I moan at myself a lot but that's part of my enjoyment , I smile when I win ,I smile more when I lose, I am always courteous and I am genuinely happy when I see a good break even though it means I have taken a pasting, I just love good snooker. Maybe it's because I took it up late so I realise it's just a game and not really important I don't know but I just play it for the love of playing it.

I used to be like this but got fed up when others wouldn't respond in kind. So now I do play safety in practice and practicing safety for matches is no bad thing. I'll still take on long pots if I can get on the black, pink etc. I love shots to nothing, stunning round the back of the black, back up for a baulk colour. I'll still try to split the reds off the green, blue, black. I'll still attack the pack and spread em wide open. But taking on 1/10 crazy shots has to stop or you're giving your partner chances and breaks that they'll be lucky to get in a match; false hope.

*That said, it is important that you take on more risk in practice frames compared to match frames or how will your snooker progress? But not lotto sized risk. Ya feel me?

[markz]

I used to be like this but got fed up when others wouldn't respond in kind. So now I do play safety in practice and practicing safety for matches is no bad thing. I'll still take on long pots if I can get on the black, pink etc. I love shots to nothing, stunning round the back of the black, back up for a baulk colour. I'll still try to split the reds off the green, blue, black. I'll still attack the pack and spread em wide open. But taking on 1/10 crazy shots has to stop or you're giving your partner chances and breaks that they'll be lucky to get in a match; false hope.

How about if your high break was below 50 would you be concentrating on your safety game being great or the prospect of moving your game forward and trying to learn more skills and get that half century.

[Shockerz]

I used to be like this but got fed up when others wouldn't respond in kind. So now I do play safety in practice and practicing safety for matches is no bad thing. I'll still take on long pots if I can get on the black, pink etc. I love shots to nothing, stunning round the back of the black, back up for a baulk colour. I'll still try to split the reds off the green, blue, black. I'll still attack the pack and spread em wide open. But taking on 1/10 crazy shots has to stop or you're giving your partner chances and breaks that they'll be lucky to get in a match; false hope.

*That said, it is important that you take on more risk in practice frames compared to match frames or how will your snooker progress? But not lotto sized risk. Ya feel me?

Yeah, like the post and agree.

I think you have to take a little more risk in practice frames so you can try stuff you wouldn't normally do in a frame; if not, how do you learn to feel them if you don't feel confident to try them in a match.

1/10 crazy shots are as you say, crazy and don;t have a place anywhere if you want to stay at a decent level.

[itsnoteasy]

I used to be like this but got fed up when others wouldn't respond in kind. So now I do play safety in practice and practicing safety for matches is no bad thing. I'll still take on long pots if I can get on the black, pink etc. I love shots to nothing, stunning round the back of the black, back up for a baulk colour. I'll still try to split the reds off the green, blue, black. I'll still attack the pack and spread em wide open. But taking on 1/10 crazy shots has to stop or you're giving your partner chances and breaks that they'll be lucky to get in a match; false hope.

*That said, it is important that you take on more risk in practice frames compared to match frames or how will your snooker progress? But not lotto sized risk. Ya feel me?

Agree Splasher, there is a vast difference between attacking and stupid:stupid: although not far enough for me sometimes .
I avoid like the plague those players who think they are playing at the crucible during practice frames in the club, I haven't got the time to spend rolled in behind baulk colours, maybe we are just different characters and that's fine , they probably don't understand my way of thinking, I just don't understand why winning means that much to them, I would willingly give them a ten frame start if they would just relax a bit for the next ten, then they can get all excited about thrashing me, or what ever it is they think they get out of playing like that.

[Big Splash!]

Agree Splasher, there is a vast difference between attacking and stupid:stupid: although not far enough for me sometimes .
I avoid like the plague those players who think they are playing at the crucible during practice frames in the club, I haven't got the time to spend rolled in behind baulk colours, maybe we are just different characters and that's fine , they probably don't understand my way of thinking, I just don't understand why winning means that much to them, I would willingly give them a ten frame start if they would just relax a bit for the next ten, then they can get all excited about thrashing me, or what ever it is they think they get out of playing like that.

Oh Jesus, I've ditched the 30-40 minute framers. You're well out of it mate! I'd rather go for the 1/10 shots and lose a frame than play with them. Dreary. Play, express yourself and enjoy.

@Markz, we have to do both I guess. If your safety game is rubbish and you keep letting your partner have the best balls, a 50 is gonna be harder to make. Players below this level need to do some solo practice, long reds (to start a break) and some break-building exercises, plenty to choose from but the xmas tree is good. The best one for them is to play themselves; mr grinder v. mr potter; they get to various skills from both types of player then.

[ace man]

Well, I do roll up behind baulk colours when there's nothing on. Other choice would be to go for low percentage long pot into one of black pockets or insane cuts into the middle with no guarantee of position whatsoever. What about those reds down the long rail? Tempted?
If I start playing shots like that frequently, might as well go back to playing 9ball. No thanks, I've had plenty of that in the past.
For me it is all about playing the right shot. Besides, frames tend to go quickly if you keep the table tidy, regardless of safety play.

[markz]

Oh Jesus, I've ditched the 30-40 minute framers. You're well out of it mate! I'd rather go for the 1/10 shots and lose a frame than play with them. Dreary. Play, express yourself and enjoy.

@Markz, we have to do both I guess. If your safety game is rubbish and you keep letting your partner have the best balls, a 50 is gonna be harder to make. Players below this level need to do some solo practice, long reds (to start a break) and some break-building exercises, plenty to choose from but the xmas tree is good. The best one for them is to play themselves; mr grinder v. mr potter; they get to various skills from both types of player then.

Most guys that claim they have a great safety game just mean they have not learned the skills to break build and rather than improve that side of the game they stick to playing negative. I think Itsnoteasy hit the nail on the head, it's more about ego and trying to win every game. I've not been fussed either with winning since I returned to the game 5 years ago. My aim was to practice hard with solo, play a few frames learn and enjoy the game. Learning the potting/break building side is far more difficult than safety nudges just to stop your opponent. Do that once your at a decent level playing dangerous players that can clear in one or two visits.