Subject: Re: Shots in general (EDITED) Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1999 17:11:46 GMT From: David_Radack@Sabre.com Organization: Deja.com - Share what you know. Learn what you don't. Newsgroups: rec.sport.table-soccer In article <7kt9gg$11i$1@news.news.kodak.com>, rchapman@image.kodak.com (Richard A Chapman) wrote: > Free advice for rookies: > Snakes and pulls shots compromise 90% of all the shots done. > Good goailes see alot of these and therefore develop at least > a couple of different defenses for each shot. Good advice. This is a key to adjusting. Figuring out which type of defence gives your opponent the most trouble. It could be because of shot limitations (a weak side on the rollover or the inability to hit a square long on a pull) or just limitations of the mind. (they can't time a middle or they can't gauge their long if you use the outside two man). The key is adjusting to their shots, foosball is all about adjustments. > While developing your snake or pull, work on either a pullkick, > pushkick, or pushshot as a backup shot. These shots are seen > much less and therefore goalies do not have as much experience > blocking them. > > I have 4 or 5 different defenses for snakes and pulls. I only > have 1 or 2 against the other shots. If you can score against > my only pushshot defense, you will beat me. This can be your > advantage over all the other rookies trying to win. > > Disclaimer: I am not discounting the pull or snake shots. They > are good shots and can take you to the top, but I believe you > can get there quicker with something else. I guess this depends on what you deem "the top". If you are talking about excelling at rookie events, sure a good unusual shot may help you win a little more at this level, but in a way you are mortgaging your future for immediate results. This is certainly a theory i don't agree with. What really makes or breaks a player is learning to adjust. If someone is blocking you, figure out why and adjust, then its his turn. If you keep switching shots every time you aren't scroing, then you're not learning to adjust and eventually this will come back to bite you. Also you are cheating yourself out of the experience you need in reading defences, shooting your shot under pressure, etc. There is a reason why very few people shoot other shots. They are harder to perfect, the work necessary to have a decent push, or push-kick is better spent in getting really good pull or rollover. (imho) Under that same train of thought, it takes alot less practice to develop the other main shot (ie pull if you're a rollover shooter and vice versa) as a secondary shot than it does an off-color shot. If you feel you need a secondary shot I think that should be the course you take. The exception to this would be if you "grew up" shooting another shot. Then you've already put the time into practicing and learning it, you're not costing yourself any development in having that as a secondary shot. Of course i think a secondary shot should really be called the last resort shot, because thats what it should be. You need to try to work through your problems until you feel you're almost out of time, then try to work through them some more, then as a last resort you may want to switch shots. Just my opinion, comments? _David Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't. Subject: Re: Shots in general Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 16:25:37 GMT From: David_Radack@Sabre.com Organization: Deja.com - Share what you know. Learn what you don't. Newsgroups: rec.sport.table-soccer In article <377361B6.FB0C08CF@ix.netcom.com>, Rocky Willson wrote: > David, for the most part I agree with you, but I have had a few experiences > where the players went to their "last resort" and rescued themselves. > > There is no better feeling as a goalie to reach that magical point where you > are reading the opposing forward like a book--you know what shot he is going > to shoot before he shoots it, and you know exactly when they are going to > shoot it. With each shot they become more frustrated and more deliberate, > and even more readable. > > Oddly enough, I can usually only do this to a strong opponent because they > are the only ones with enough consistency to allow you to "own them". > > I imagine that a top goalie like Diaz, Swan, or Loffredo reaches this point > routinely. For me it happens only occasionally. > > Once you are bricking a forward because you are "in sync" with him, his only > option is the secondary shot, because if he tries to adjust, you are right > there with him. > > I have had a couple of very important matches where a toppish player has > gone to his secondary shot in frustration and saved the match because of > it--to my chagrin. > > Anyway, I have also been in matches where a top player has stubbornly kept > to his main shot and lost to me because of it. > > These type of wins are especially sweet beacause it is one of the few times > you as a goalie are winning the match AND you are actually BEATING a > superior opponent--not lucking into a win, but whooping ass on them. > > Bottom line is that if you don't want a goalie like me adding you to his > favorite memories list, you ought not wait too long to switch to your > secondary shot. "As a last resort" may be a bit too late. > > ..............................................Rocky Willson And how many time did you brick them for two games and then they lit you up three straight? Like i said, its a matter of knowing when is too late and trying to walk that line. You are correct though that you need to not wait too long, but i think it's more important (not necessarily for that match but your overall development) to make sure you wait long enough. And i definitely know what you're talking about being in the zone and reading them like a book, i may not be a goalie of a status of diaz, but i am a goalie. I find though that when i am so completely in their head it doesn't matter what shot they shoot. This certainly doesn't hold true all the time, but a decent percent of players may shoot different shots but they read the holes for the shots in the same way. To over simplify, if they shoot at the open hole with a pull they'll do the same with a roll over, if they look where the men are and wait for you to move out of a hole and shoot it they'll do the same with either shot. IE they look for the same type of patterns and react similarly no matter what shot they're shooting. This is why its important to know your defences and now what type of patterns you're giving them. Don't think of it as my "blurring pull - d" and my "move my men slow pull d" Think of it as the "bait and switch" or the "flutter, stutter, and stop" or the "dead man tease". Whatever, just so you know what you're showing them so you can offer a similar d for the different shot so they'll react in the same predictable way. -David Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.