(l) don’t be surprised by the unsuspected
- you can’t rely on it, but it is surprising how often even the best players stuff up
- never give up, and don’t be surprised when it actually happens – take care and then make the most of the opportunity
(m) stymying
- hitting away gives opponent an opportunity for a miracle shot, no matter how far
- a good stymy removes any chance
- remember that a stymie that blocks clearing your other ball, and/or running the hoop, may still allow opponent to get their ball on-side at the next hoop
- stymies on indifferent lawns usually lead to heartbreak
- practice stymies (improve your percentage)
(n) promoting your partner ball
- not my first choice – usually too inaccurate to justify leaving your other ball behind out of play, but sometimes forced on you because striker’s ball is blocked by partner ball from anywhere useful, but be very conservative
- can be devastatingly effective if your balls are close enough to be very accurate in where you send your partner ball (practice to improve your %!)
- beginners often want to hit their partner ball through when it is jawsed in an odd numbered hoop. This will score the hoop, but it is unlikely to get close enough to the next hoop to be better than waiting and letting the partner ball itself run this hoop down to the next hoop– the exception is if opponent is about to clear the jawsed ball and you can’t stop opponents’ ball doing so
(o) running hoops backwards
- not my first choice – looks easy but all too often you end up jammed against the back of a hoop, or only half way through (ie not live), or you run it so well that you haven’t blocked opponent
- there are however times when opponent is ready to run the hoop with their ball next, and you have no other option
- sometimes running a hoop hard backward may be better than just rolling through (eg if they can jump you if you just roll through the hoop & block, but you can clear them with a decent shot)
