X on blocking the far wall passing series

The far wall passing kills me mainly b/c a)I have to get so close to the table to freakin' see all the way to the wall on my side (yes - I'm short!!!) and even so - its just not visually comfortable to me

Well I have no answer for you being short, other than a booster seat. But here are my tips from experience:

- I won't flutter the 5 like I would against a near wall passer. I guess more and use slower movements with lots of pausing (flicking the toe a bit to make them think I'm moving). I know for sure it's going to be a brush up, down, or fast wall. So it's only 2 choices.

- They won't normally do stick lanes or off the walls...even if they do those, it is more just to throw you off...so don't worry about anticipating those. And plus, those have slightly different takeoffs, like a fast tic tac to get the speed up...so once you see it once, you'll know what to look out for the second time.

- For whatever reason, I make myself move opposite to what I think they are going to pass. Like...if I think wall...I'll fake to the wall, and just stay on the lane...even when it's REALLY close to the wall, I'll still stay up in lane...and they'll hit it into my man. Same with the wall pass...if they move the ball slowly...let it come off the wall...I'll still stay on wall and let them hit it into my man. Hard to explain, but my best suggestion in simple terms is to leave your men where you have them for an extra few seconds. Still - you need to shake, or flick your toe a bit to make them THINK you're moving...but still stay on the hole.

- Most do up brushes close to the wall, and down brushes far from the wall. That's about it. And like the push, or any defense philosphy...it's not THIS easy. You can't just follow these rules and expect them to work, you have to mix it up a bit...change things from time to time...be random when you know they aren't going to pass...and then make your move when you're ready. That is key. Keep in mind the above tips, and use them in conjunction with each other.

This covers from rookie to pro for me...a PM far wall series is just nasty, and you better have a good goalie. :P Actually, I find the same tips work, slow and pause a lot and make yourself stay on holes....but it really becomes a guessing game, and they are PM's so they will probably win.

X on blocking the Push

The push concept that I do know is that its harder to square on the average so you can leave bigger middles, but is that it?

- I would say that helps me shut down 99.9999% of all push shooters. And it's not that I LEAVE the middle open for them to see...it's that I show them what they want to hit...the straight and long...and when they go, I'm there and the middle is open. Since they can't really react to that middle, it makes baiting every hole that much easier. I'll show them the long for a bit, then take it away to show the straight, then just leave a blaring middle...and since they really only look at 2 holes...then follow your baits easier. But for the most part, I'll hover around the middle while I think they're looking at the D, and when they move, I race to the long.

- I ALWAYS give them the standard...every now and then, I'll throw in the reverse, just to get them to look for that sneaky slider they think you aren't looking for...but I'll just flash the reverse for a second or two. - A lot of times leaving the standard goalie man posted will make them go for the straight. Bob with the post a few times, then just stick it to the wall hard...and flick your man when you think they want you to bob...they'll almost always hit it into your man because they know they can ALMOST hit deadman...so even a slight movement on your part off the wall will open up the hole for them.

- Like any other shot, you have to use your head...you can't just say "oh leave them the middle." You really have to change things up, but keep in mind all the principles of blocking, like avoiding a pattern...knowing what count the shooters go on. Most don't quick shoot either...and if they do, it's long. Hope this helps! :-)

- And just cause they MIGHT shoot a middle...they're just doing it to throw you off and try to make you stop covering long and straight. :-)

X's Worlds tips for rookies

Yah yah, I'm not a pro (yet) so listen if you want, or ignore my advice and lose, and wonder why you lost.

1. Learn to block hacks. Position your goalie men is ways that your opponent won't be able to score a lot from the 5 bar. I have 3 strong hacks I use when I see certain holes open...and when I see them open, I just do them automatically until they close. You'd be amazed at how many people won't change up their defense even though I just scored 3 hacks in a row. Rookies hack...especially when they can't pass on you. Personally, I place my goalie men to cover the short and middle holes, and leave a short middle split, and the long hack. Those are the hardest holes to hit in my opinion. Know the holes you're leaving...so when you're blocking the 5, you don't let hacks get past your 5. If your opponent hits them a lot...put a hand back there to block...DON'T let hi m keep getting easy goals.

2. Learn to shoot hacks. Most rookies have a hard time blocking hacks, and adjusting to them. They don't have the experience to play with one hand on the goalie rod(s), so if you score a few, and they have to resort to that method of D, it throws them off your game. Scoring 5 bar shots sure helps you when you're getting all nervous like all rookies do. If your 5 is freezing up...just hack it! Don't hack blindly...find the holes...otherwise it's just a turn over.

3. If something's not working...stop doing it. I know this sounds like common knowledge, but it's not. When you're playing, you sometimes just get stubborn about things, and don't know how to adapt. Take shooting out fo the back. I had this problem...I'd keep trying to score from the back, but I couldn't shoot well enough to break his zone...and just end up turning it over TIME and TIME again. I wanted to shoot myself...then I just tried clearing the ball, and stopped trying to get the point...and it'd work! If you're hacks aren't working...stop. If your race defense isn't fast enough..stop. If your long isn't on that game...stop trying it even though the hole is there.

4. Play people slightly better than you for money. 5 bucks a game at least. Most rookies can play well in the bars, and in the first few rounds, but once they feel the pressure, they can't handle it, and crumble. Until you get the experience to play through it...the best way to practice and get used to the nerves is playing someone for money. Yah, you might lose 10 or 20 a night...but pretty soon, you'll get used to playing with something at stake.

5. Find your opponents weaknesses. Trust me, at the rookie level...EVEYRONE has them. Most likely, the wall pass will be their strong pass. Very few rookies have dominant 5 bars in which all passes blend well together. If your opponent is tic tacing the ball around..he's probably going wall. If he slows it up, he's probably going brush. If the ball gets a certain distance to the wall...he'll go wall. All these little giveaways will help you win, even if you're not better than your opponents. Does he go pullside most of the time on the snake? Push? Push and Middle? Is the take off for a pull different than his push? Does he shoot within 5 seconds each time? Can hit hit every hole, including the straight? Sometimes people can hit every hole, yet can't READ every hole. Don't just let him score, and drop the ball without thinking why he scored. Think about things...don't let him have the same shot over and over...read his giveaways....rookies DO HAVE THEM! :-) One of the best rookies in Denver has strong giveaways and tendencies...He brings the ball down slower when he wants to brush up. He likes the pullside and middle. Yet I'd put my money on him everytime against any other rookie because they don't pick up on those things.

6. Bring power bars, healthy snacks, and lots of asprin and bengay.

7. Don't play pick up games...no matter how much smack the other guy is talking. You're going to be playing in RS, RD, SS, SD, OS, OD, NPD, FSO, GW...and other events...don't spend energy on pick up games. You'll get your chance to play. I say don't play in the smaller draws either or in the specialty events. It's doubtful as a rookie you're going to win anyway against Goalie king Loffredo, or Terry Moore. :P The No Pro Draw is a good investment though...for 10 bucks, you could draw someone like me..and win 300 bucks.

8. Walk around, and scout out other players. Know their tendencies before you play them. Know what quick trick shots they like to shoot. Well...everyone else feel free to add some tips on...I know the rookies could use the help. It might just make the difference in winning or losing.

X on rollover blocking

Asides from Pro Master rollers...I block this shot pretty good. The key to blocking this shot, is to how good the shooter is. Some people you can race, some people you can bait, some people just get all flustered if you give them a hectic defense. Whatever you do, you don't want to show them a pattern. Here are some tips I have learned:

1. First off, you want to find their strong side. Don't just HAND them a free goal...but usually whatever side they shoot first or second is their strong one. Also, you can tell by the speed of their shot. If it's pretty wicked, it's probably their strong side. You'd be amazed how many people I saw in NM that ONLY went pull-side...and KEPT scoring with it! Make them show you they can go everywhere. This includes the middle, too. Sometimes, they have to slow down, and stop the rocking before they shoot a middle...you can race this sometimes.

2. If they wait you out for a while...move your men around really fast! For a few seconds at least...then go back to your normal D. Personally, I use a slower mental defense...so for me to speed it up, really changes the holes.

3. Every now and then, move your men together in sync.

4. Every now and then, bring in the other man on the 2 rod. Just when I'm cracking a defense, they'll bring in the other man on the 2bar, and I'll have to rethink things.

5. Every now and then, stop your men...one or both. As a shooter, I'm looking at the holes, and when you stop a man, for some reason, it just makes me look at it for a second, before I look elswhere...it's just a good tactic to use. Sit on a hole for a second...fake off it...then back to it...

6. Use your head. Just like any other shot, it's a mental game. Know that if you're jumping off a hole a few times, the shooter's going to zero in on it. Learn his timing...is he a quick shooter? Does he always take his time? If you know his timing, you have an advantage. It's a lot harder to block someone when they're shooting at 1 second, AND 15. Don't move your men randomly...that's the mistake most rookies make. You need to out think them.

7. As well as learning their strong side...see if they have any small giveaways. I played this one guy in NM who had a killer push side with a slow-still rock, but he had to rock it fast to get a good pull. Well that was easy...I wouldn't give him the push, and once I saw him rock it fast for the pull, I'd take that hole away. You'd be amazed at all the little giveaways and signs shooters who aren't pro's give.

Hope this helps. X