Subject: Re: Spinning rule origions Date: 1999/05/19 19:15:30 Author: Bruce Nardoci Newsgroups: rec.sport.table-soccer tao_foos@my-dejanews.com wrote: > > > Editorial comment: All of those shots can be accomplished (and done > > better in my opinion) without spinning, so the rules didn't really > > "have" to be changed. > > > > Hi, > I have a question based on this excerpt. Please bear with me as I give > some background to aid anyone in answering my question. > > I am a rookie who started playing competitively in DYPs about a year > ago. I have experimented with a wide range of shots. While I have > read that snake shots and pull shots are the most consistent and widely > used shots on tour, these are not my favorite shots. > > My favorite shot is a front pin shot which I shoot using a wrist snap, > not a rollover or palm roll (like Frederico Colignon {sp?} ). I enjoy > this shot because it allows me to walk the ball around, perform > reverses, hit angles, and execute banks. Clearly this shot series will > take me much longer to master, but I am willing to put in the work. I > am not in a rush, I only want to have fun. > > So my question is this: can this shot series be brought to a level > where it is as effective as a snake or pull shot? Or does it have > inherent limitations based on the mechanics of the shot and/or the > Tornado table/ball? > > Granted, I do play on the Tornado table and do like to compete, but I > am not looking to perfect a shot simply because it is more likely to > take me farther in a professional career. I do not have such illusions > of grandeur. I simply want a competitive shot series which is not a > trick shot, which may be harder to learn but very enjoyable to shoot. > > Thank you, > Ted Andrews > > --== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==-- > ---Share what you know. Learn what you don't.--- You're right on the money in virtually everything you said. The front pin series is much more difficult to learn and do well enough to score on good goalies than a pull of rollover (especially to do it without "telegraphing" what you're doing), but it can be developed to the point that it is as competitive of a shot as the pull or rollover (as opposed to some true "trick" shots that are to low of percentage to use seriously in a tournament). Proof of this is that it is the MAIN shot used in Europe in tournaments. One of the reasons it isn't a main shot in the USA is that the tables that have been predominant in the US large tournament tours since the early 1980's (Dynamo, Stryker, Tornado) are designed such that it is more difficult to do a front pin series well enough on them to be able to score on a good goalie. (Its much easier to shoot the front pin series well on a european style table like Bonzini, Rene Pierre, Jupiter, etc.). However, it is possible to shoot the shot effectively on Tornado, even against good goalies. It requires some significant adjustments from the type of shot motions used on the European style tables (as well as understanding the limitations of what can be done on a Tornado vs what can be done on a European table), but since it sounds like you haven't learned to play on a European style table you won't have to make those "adjustments". It actually will be easier to score on most Tornado goalies with a decent front pin than it would be with a pull or rollover, simply because Tornado goalies are not used to defending front pin series shots (similar to the way its easier to score a push shot than a pull, even though they're basically the same shot, because so few players shoot pushes and the defenses leave holes and play patterns they'd never think about doing on a pull shot. However, it is difficult to score on a Tornado table against someone who is used to defending the front pin series, due to the limitations in ball movement caused by the Tornado table. I know I've shut down several of the europeans when I played them on Tornado because I knew what they could & couldn't do on a Tornado, whereas they are very difficult to block on a European table when I've played them on that. But, since there aren't many Tornado players used to defending front pins, that really isn't a factor (but you will notice it will become harder and harder to score with it against people you play against all the time). As for whether to do it closed hand (wrist snap) or palm roll, my experience is that it really doesn't matter - both can be done equally effectively. You're also right that the front pin series has a lot of options (more than any other shot), which makes it a lot more enjoyable to shoot (one of the reasons I continue to shoot it, even though I know I'd be a more effective player if I switched to a rollover). Anyway, in answer to you basic question, yes, despite the limitations imposed by the Tornado table design, the shot can be done well enough for you to be competitive with anyone (but will be much harder to get there, and is probably not the shot to choose if you really want to be the best player you can become). Since you enjoy shooting it, you will probably have more fun playing using it than shooting one of the other shots (I know I do). Therefore, good luck developing your fun/competitive front pin :-).