Billiard Gods Productions

Intelligent Shooter Series™
Study for knowledge, practice for control.

04 Tactical dispositions

The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

To advance your skills requires discipline, study and training. This is how to become a tough and skilled competitor. What is not under your control is when or how your opponent makes mistakes. You can provide opportunities for him to make mistakes, but it is the opponent who must commit the error in skill or judgment. The majority of your wins occur because your opponent made one or more mistakes. (Rarely do you win solely on your offensive capabilities.)

Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.

Preparations can be made for many contingencies. Plans can be developed to handle any imaginable situation. But no level of preparation can cause an opponent to make an error. You must be alert for this prospect when it becomes available.

Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.

A player can be known for making skillful shots, but cannot often win.

Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive. Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.

Preventing your opponent from having easy opportunities is accomplished with defensive tactics. This is necessary until the table layout is within your abilities to complete to a win, when you are then able to take the offensive.

The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven. Thus on the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves; on the other, a victory that is complete.

When you are skilled in defensive tactics, you can easily deny your opponent any easy success. When an opening is finally available, you can pounce on the chance and drive to the win.

To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence. Neither is it the acme of excellence if you fight and conquer and the whole Empire says, “Well done!” To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength; to see the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight; to hear the noise of thunder is no sign of a quick ear.

What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.

To complete an easy table layout with balls close to pockets and a simple run-out pattern is not a sign of astute playing ability or a sign of skill. To pocket the winning game ball that an opponent left in the jaws is not a sign of a wise player.

The Intelligent player wins matches with effective choices. He can win without having to demonstrate great skills. He can win because he makes fewer mistakes than his opponent. He can win by playing defensive shots when required. He can win by limiting his opponent’s opportunities.

Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.

The Intelligent player possesses a prepared set of responses for many common table situations. This readiness allows opportunities to be immediately exploited when the opportunity is available.

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

The Intelligent player wins consistently because of self-discipline and patience. When beginning any type of competition, the conditions of victory are already in place. The Foolish player enters a match without plans and many of his efforts are ineffective.

The consummate leader cultivates the Moral Law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.

The Intelligent player strives to improve skills, and gain both experience and knowledge. Practice time is dedicated to improving discovered deficiencies. To develop analysis skills, time is devoted to observing matches, identifying and selecting responses and comparing those selections to the results. Both physical and mental skills are continuously practiced.

In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory. Measurement owes its existence to Earth; Estimation of quantity to Measurement; Calculation to Estimation of quantity; Balancing of chances to Calculation; and Victory to Balancing of chances.

The factors in successful competitions are:

• Accurate self-knowledge of skills, limitations, and capabilities.

• Accurate observation and analysis of opponent's abilities.

• Designed strategies to fit your opponent.

• Clever tactics to advance your table development and restrict your opponent’s options.

• Accurate analysis of the table layout.

• Effective pattern development.

• Correct determination and application of cue ball speed and spin.

• Proper body positioning.

• Precise and correct stroke execution.

• Consistent and rhythmic game play.

A victorious army opposed to a routed one, is as a pound’s weight placed in the scale against a single grain. The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep. So much for tactical dispositions.

Properly considered plans, executed with skill and discipline, provide an impetus towards victory. Each game win adds to your momentum. As strategic plans and tactical ploys succeed, you will gain confidence in your judgment, and likewise discourage your opponent.

Return to TOC