The Weakest ‘Perfect’ Player

Ding's consistency.

I love that this thread has been derailed by some disagreement with the original post

If I had to choose, with a gun against my head, about one of the top players getting out of a snooker... Ronnie would be my first choice.

Anthony Hamilton's speed of play.

Iranu wrote:So far I’ve been accused of saying he’s the weakest top player at escaping, and that he misses more than most top players.

I said neither of those things.

I said he misses more often than MANY. Selby, Higgins, Williams, Ding, and possibly Judd and Robbo, in my estimation. That’s not most.

The weakest top player at escaping snookers is Murphy, by some distance.

I think that’s cause you watch Ronnie’s matches more than other players so you get this false impression, it’s similar as people say Trump get more flukes than others. For one, I remember MJW has lost several matches when his opponents needed snookers and he failed to escape. I don’t remember Ronnie lost any significant match doing that

Iranu wrote:I said he misses more often than MANY. Selby, Higgins, Williams, Ding, and possibly Judd and Robbo, in my estimation. That’s not most..

I just don't think that's true.

carayip wrote:

Iranu wrote:So far I’ve been accused of saying he’s the weakest top player at escaping, and that he misses more than most top players.

I said neither of those things.

I said he misses more often than MANY. Selby, Higgins, Williams, Ding, and possibly Judd and Robbo, in my estimation. That’s not most.

The weakest top player at escaping snookers is Murphy, by some distance.

I think that’s cause you watch Ronnie’s matches more than other players so you get this false impression, it’s similar as people say Trump get more flukes than others. For one, I remember MJW has lost several matches when his opponents needed snookers and he failed to escape. I don’t remember Ronnie lost any significant match doing that

That’s entirely possible.

Here are the entries so far that I think would qualify:*

Judd’s concentration
Drago’s rest play
Robertson’s propensity for getting bogged down
Murphy’s cannoning ability
Doherty’s breakbuilding
Ding’s consistency
Ali Carter’s temper
Ronnie’s break-off

*Again, this is based on a weakness that would still be strong enough that, in itself, it wouldn’t stop a player winning tournaments. Some entries don’t qualify either because I think they’re too poor (e.g. Lisowski’s shot selection) or because they’re not a weakness as such (Hamilton’s speed of play).

Alex Higgins' cast

carayip wrote:

Iranu wrote:So far I’ve been accused of saying he’s the weakest top player at escaping, and that he misses more than most top players.

I said neither of those things.

I said he misses more often than MANY. Selby, Higgins, Williams, Ding, and possibly Judd and Robbo, in my estimation. That’s not most.

The weakest top player at escaping snookers is Murphy, by some distance.

I think that’s cause you watch Ronnie’s matches more than other players so you get this false impression, it’s similar as people say Trump get more flukes than others. For one, I remember MJW has lost several matches when his opponents needed snookers and he failed to escape. I don’t remember Ronnie lost any significant match doing that

Judd does get more flukes, come on.

SnookerFan wrote:

carayip wrote:

Iranu wrote:So far I’ve been accused of saying he’s the weakest top player at escaping, and that he misses more than most top players.

I said neither of those things.

I said he misses more often than MANY. Selby, Higgins, Williams, Ding, and possibly Judd and Robbo, in my estimation. That’s not most.

The weakest top player at escaping snookers is Murphy, by some distance.

I think that’s cause you watch Ronnie’s matches more than other players so you get this false impression, it’s similar as people say Trump get more flukes than others. For one, I remember MJW has lost several matches when his opponents needed snookers and he failed to escape. I don’t remember Ronnie lost any significant match doing that

Judd does get more flukes, come on.

You play more matches, you are on TV more, you get more flukes

FLUKANATION

Judd could make one shot and get more flukes than everybody else in history combined.

SnookerFan wrote:Judd could make one shot and get more flukes than everybody else in history combined.

I fully expect him to pot all 15 reds on the break off at some point.

Gerard Greene’s nationality

Dan-cat wrote:

SnookerFan wrote:Judd could make one shot and get more flukes than everybody else in history combined.

I fully expect him to pot all 15 reds on the break off at some point.

If it happens to anybody....

Why the hell are you saying Murphy is rubbish at escaping snookers?? I saw him do a 3 cushion escape once.

Judd once had two flukes in a row against Robbo! (2019 CoC final)

Conclusive proof.

Dan-cat wrote:Judd once had two flukes in a row against Robbo! (2019 CoC final)

Conclusive proof.

Yeah, but that was only because he had so many matches. Or something.

Badsnookerplayer wrote:Why the hell are you saying Murphy is rubbish at escaping snookers?? I saw him do a 3 cushion escape once.

Joking aside, he got out of some ridiculous snookers in the last final he was in.

Iranu wrote:Every player in the game has got out of 4 cushion snookers. He’s also failed to escape simple one cushion snookers.

And as I said, I don’t think he’s BAD at it. Just not as good as others part of his game.

Like DC, HC and a few others, I completely disagree. Ronnie is very good at escaping snookers. And he sees the angles pretty much effortlessly.
BTW, on many occasions, one cushion snookers are far harder to escape than 4 cushion snookers.
It's not just about hitting the intended ball, but also about getting some kind of safety. In most cases where you have to use 4 cushions, the ball that you intend to land on is close to or tight on the cushion. So as long as you get the desired path and speed, you have a good chance of leaving it safe.
Now, when the targeted ball is in the middle of the table and you use one cushion, figuring out the angle and leaving it safe is a whole lot harder.
I also see the break off as the weakest part of his game.

I actually think the weakest part of Ronnie's game is his break building.

Iranu attempted to start a nuanced debate and laid out the criteria very clearly.

So if was always going to end in disaster.

Ronnie’s patience...

Johnny Bravo wrote:I also see the break off as the weakest part of his game.

Yeah I went with the consensus and added it to the list

Hendry's long potting. Awful.

Hendry's safety game.

Graeme Dott's cueball control

Dan-cat wrote:Hendry's long potting. Awful.

John Parrott was rubbish off the cushion
Jimmy White’s rest play
Alan McManus round-the-table nous

Pink Ball wrote:Alan McManus round-the-table nous

Hence the nickname Mangles McManus.