How to deal with deadly accurate but no positional play opponents?

[mchpddl1]

In my last five handicap games i gave around 15-25 starts to the opponenets in the match.

They are deadly accurate but has no control of cue ball at all. Each time they missed a colour, the color sticks to cushion, no position on red. Almost the entire table no balls are on its original spots. Or after potting a red, they potted a really easy color, and after 10 minutes i find myself 40+ behind.

It also seems they have bigger chance of not leaving any chances by luck and not by skill.

Every time i played a good safety, there is a good chance that they do not leave anything nice but unintentional safety.

I find this type of players really hard to deal with and really get me frustrated. I know i shouldn't but can anyone provide some guidances on the mental/psychology part when facing these types of players?

[Robert602]

Everyone raises their game against quality opposition, and the reverse is just as true, so it's important to stop thinking of your opponent as someone who shouldn't be beating you. Think about their strengths rather than their weaknesses and give them as much respect as you can.

Don't think about their good luck, much of it is probably in your head anyway as it's human nature to start noticing their luck when you're frustrated. If you can't help it then don't watch them play. Just focus on playing the table as it is at every visit.

[cheebai]

In my last five handicap games i gave around 15-25 starts to the opponenets in the match.

They are deadly accurate but has no control of cue ball at all. Each time they missed a colour, the color sticks to cushion, no position on red. Almost the entire table no balls are on its original spots. Or after potting a red, they potted a really easy color, and after 10 minutes i find myself 40+ behind.

It also seems they have bigger chance of not leaving any chances by luck and not by skill.

Every time i played a good safety, there is a good chance that they do not leave anything nice but unintentional safety.

I find this type of players really hard to deal with and really get me frustrated. I know i shouldn't but can anyone provide some guidances on the mental/psychology part when facing these types of players?

i was in the same boat as you last time dude..i played with a pool player..at first..i underestimated him as i underestimate all the pool players in entire world..so i just gave my opponent 15 starts..and he beat me till i almost break up my cue...

to play this kind of player..all u need to do is stop underestimating and play tightly..as tight as possible..dont ever give him a chance to pot..dont ever...if u got no chance to pot..just play safe..PUT YOUR WHITE BALL AS FAR AS POSSIBLE FROM THE RED BALLS..once he makes mistakes..then punish him..!!if u think u cant pot that ball from the angle u dont like..DONT FORCE YOURSELF..just play safe!!be confident..and stop thinking that hes a chicken potter...think him as equal as u..or higher than u..

[bongo]

i was in the same boat as you last time dude..i played with a pool player..at first..i underestimated him as i underestimate all the pool players in entire world..so i just gave my opponent 15 starts..and he beat me till i almost break up my cue...

to play this kind of player..all u need to do is stop underestimating and play tightly..as tight as possible..dont ever give him a chance to pot..dont ever...if u got no chance to pot..just play safe..PUT YOUR WHITE BALL AS FAR AS POSSIBLE FROM THE RED BALLS..once he makes mistakes..then punish him..!!if u think u cant pot that ball from the angle u dont like..DONT FORCE YOURSELF..just play safe!!be confident..and stop thinking that hes a chicken potter...think him as equal as u..or higher than u..

Good post there cheebai.

[mchpddl1]

Thanks all, i will remember the key word "under-estimate" and treat everyone and every game with respect, hope i will improve this psychology part gradually.......cheers, happy snooker.....:snooker:

[poolqjunkie]

I would like to add that it is important to improve your potting power especially long pots and potting from the cushion and with the rest. When you are giving someone a head start, you need to score heavily in order to win.

He might have left you many "tough" shots or in some relatively safe positions, but if you can pot those balls, you can still score. That is why you need to practice those long awkward shots. Like going for the middle pocket with the cue ball on the cushion, or taking a long pot when the object ball is really close to the rail, or when the cue ball is close to the cushion, or cut a ball in with the rest...etc. Sometimes, those are the only thing you are presented with. You cannot just wait for your opponent to make mistake and give you easy shots, that is not going to happen with good players, and sometimes not even with ball bangers.

Edit: just want to add that with someone who cannot control his cue ball, he should not run too many balls on you even when he has a chance. Therefore, you should not worry too much about it, as long as you can score heavily when you get among the balls.

Somtiems, when i play with someone who can pot a few balls but have no idea how to put any sizable breaks together, I will go for more balls, because I know even if I miss he will not do too much damage, and I have the confidence that when I get in, I can always get ahead or even the score.

Although sometimes the colors balls are not on the spots and everything look a mess, these color balls still can be potted. It is more demanding for you to make them and to control your cue ball, but it is something you need to work on. It is very important that you train yourself to have excellent potting power, and to ba bale to score when the table doe snot look like something you are used to seeing.

[kevy62]

In my last five handicap games i gave around 15-25 starts to the opponenets in the match.

They are deadly accurate but has no control of cue ball at all. Each time they missed a colour, the color sticks to cushion, no position on red. Almost the entire table no balls are on its original spots. Or after potting a red, they potted a really easy color, and after 10 minutes i find myself 40+ behind.

It also seems they have bigger chance of not leaving any chances by luck and not by skill.

Every time i played a good safety, there is a good chance that they do not leave anything nice but unintentional safety.

I find this type of players really hard to deal with and really get me frustrated. I know i shouldn't but can anyone provide some guidances on the mental/psychology part when facing these types of players?

Hi there, just imagine giving 40 start to such players, (as i have to) they will just try to play the high colours safe & you are screwed (exscuse the pun) tough to deal with as you say!

The only way i have found to beat these players, is to raise my game,
create a positive mental attatude & maintain a high level of concentration throughout, you must not let their poor play affect your stratagy.

Try to get in early & score heavily when you do, "take control of the table", put the fear in 'em ! make sure you commit to the pot, also use time as your friend, eg: instead of 4 practice strokes before cue delivery, i will raise it to at least 6 or even 8 strokes, if they disturb colours from their spots, then use these loose ball pots to organise the frame structure to suit your needs,
eg: deliberately getting the pink replaced onto a baulk colour spot if several reds are on in baulk & developing other balls to suit as you go.

The longer you can stay in control of the table the more frustrated your opponent will become, (turn a bad table into a good one) capitalise on any mistakes made & punish them (hard), be deliberate be positive.
never play your opponent....."just play the balls".

Show no mercy in your game, don't feel any remorse if, after making only a couple of blacks & not being able to hold for a high value colour, potting the red ball on & playing into baulk, making sure you tuck tight in behind the low edge of the green, taking out any chance of escape without using at least two cushions (keep the pressure on your opponent) maximise your chances.

Playing this way is very hard mentally, but you will reap the rewards in spades as your skills develope, you will soon be knocking in decent breaks just off the baulk colours, by taking your time on your shots,you will end up concentrating more & maybe actually enjoying these frames....... good luck.

[poolqjunkie]

Hi there, just imagine giving 40 start to such players, (as i have to) they will just try to play the high colours safe & you are screwed (exscuse the pun) tough to deal with as you say!

The only way i have found to beat these players, is to raise my game,
create a positive mental attatude & maintain a high level of concentration throughout, you must not let their poor play affect your stratagy.

Try to get in early & score heavily when you do, "take control of the table", put the fear in 'em ! make sure you commit to the pot, also use time as your friend, eg: instead of 4 practice strokes before cue delivery, i will raise it to at least 6 or even 8 strokes, if they disturb colours from their spots, then use these loose ball pots to organise the frame structure to suit your needs,
eg: deliberately getting the pink replaced onto a baulk colour spot if several reds are on in baulk & developing other balls to suit as you go.

The longer you can stay in control of the table the more frustrated your opponent will become, (turn a bad table into a good one) capitalise on any mistakes made & punish them (hard), be deliberate be positive.
never play your opponent....."just play the balls".

Show no mercy in your game, don't feel any remorse if, after making only a couple of blacks & not being able to hold for a high value colour, potting the red ball on & playing into baulk, making sure you tuck tight in behind the low edge of the green, taking out any chance of escape without using at least two cushions (keep the pressure on your opponent) maximise your chances.

Playing this way is very hard mentally, but you will reap the rewards in spades as your skills develope, you will soon be knocking in decent breaks just off the baulk colours, by taking your time on your shots,you will end up concentrating more & maybe actually enjoying these frames....... good luck.

Excellent!
Very well said.

[kevy62]

cheers poolqjunkie..

[trigger666]

couldnt agree more !! pooljunkie

[RocketRoy1983]

A similar story I play one frame snooker once a week in the welywn garden city league. Its a scratch so theres no handicap but a lot of the players play one ball snooker (Just the pot with no positional sense) whereas I practice 4 times a week or so take it seriously as I want to make a century break more than once and continually improve.

It is deeply annoying and i sometimes cope with it and probably raise my game sub-consciously but other times such opponents can really drag me down and annoy me as they havent got a clue about position, dont cue straight, everything technically incorrect. However, these ppl can pot and although theyll never be as good as me (And thats a fact im reallynot trying to sound flash) ive realised never to take an opponent for granted. Again its experience.

[stephen23]

just out-pot them!!!
the easiest way!
they are deadly accurate beacuse they dun play positional play or dun mind to leave a chance for you coz they can't sense how bad it would be. show them why you can give points to them! I dun think your got this handicap only you have the short game!Everyone MUST BE ACCURATE even not DEADLY to play snooker as this is the fundamantal to play this game...........to pot the ball! just bang a long pot or give them a heavy break then I dun think they can be still such accurate. snooker is an interactive game, if you got a mind that you a unlucky or feel UNFAIR in your mind, you have lost already. Remember we are all DEADLY ACCURATE when we first play the game, then you MIGHT lose it when you need to have control on the cueball! After awhile you get used to it, then you will become even MORE acuurate and with heavier break.

[kevy62]

A similar story I play one frame snooker once a week in the welywn garden city league. Its a scratch so theres no handicap but a lot of the players play one ball snooker (Just the pot with no positional sense) whereas I practice 4 times a week or so take it seriously as I want to make a century break more than once and continually improve.

It is deeply annoying and i sometimes cope with it and probably raise my game sub-consciously but other times such opponents can really drag me down and annoy me as they havent got a clue about position, dont cue straight, everything technically incorrect. However, these ppl can pot and although theyll never be as good as me (And thats a fact im reallynot trying to sound flash) ive realised never to take an opponent for granted. Again its experience.

If i may make a suggestion, "sorry" observation! perhaps this can distract you from playing "the right shot" try make shot selection your priority, you should find this will help somewhat

[RocketRoy1983]

I dont quite understand the point here my good man but yes shot selection is very important indeed. You've just gotta play your own game even if you feel your being dragged down. Although playing against someone who keeps potting reds and then missing a colour by so much it goes safe can be very very annoying.

[The Statman]

It is one of the easiest things to say but one of the hardest things to do: play the right shot.

The right shot does not only depend on the state of the table and your own form, but also the opponent you are faced with.

I have a pretty good safety game, but one of my weaknesses is knowing when to use it in preference to a slightly iffy pot.

You can create far better chances by forcing your opponent into playing a pot that he might not get, than by going for a pot that you might miss!

I know it sounds straightforward, and I know it is not!