I just want to start with a disclaimer, saying I'm no Pro-Master. But I think I have a bit of advice on 5-bar Brush-passing that might help some players avoid the traps I've fallen into, and have struggled to get out of. What I have to share is really aimed at those who mainly Brush-pass the ball. You Stick-passers...go stick it! LOL!
In the past, when I used to play regularly, I would sometimes get some nice compliments on my 5-bar passing. A couple times I was even given the High Praise of being asked, "Are you left-handed?" *Swooooon*
But even after the nicest of words, and even when I would have nights where I would get a high percentage of my passes through, I would tend not to take it too much to heart. Why? Because just as proficient as I would be one game, match or night, I would run into players who could/would shut my FIVE down. Just put it in the Deep Freeze. ***Ice City***
And for the longest time, I couldn't figure out why I would struggle against some people, even when I would seem "on" in most of my matches.
Just a self review of what my 5-bar is about for reference. I do a lot of fakes, trying to get my opponents to go where I want them to go. To the wall, or off the wall. Fakes and Jukes and mis-directions. When I'd be at my best in some matches, I'd feel like The Puppet Master, getting my foe to go where I wanted them to, getting deep in their heads and just making them be at my mercy... "Go_to_the_wall...*BEEP!* Uphill! Race_to_the_lane...*WONK!* Wall!"
And then...I'd play someone, usually an experienced player or someone with very fast reflexes, and I wouldn't ever get the ball. It would leave me somewhat perplexed, to say the least.
But I think I figured out where I went wrong, and that's what I want to pass on to any and all who might benefit from my long and hard learned lessons.
When I would pass after the well executed fakes, the pass would be too slow. I first started thinking about how there are those who play Foosball who are the Bruce Lee types. Just gifted with incredibly fast reflexes A player I put in that category is Colorado Pro-Master Robert Mares. He is cat quick, and has all the knowledge and skill to go with it. When I would shoot Pull-kicks, I'd shoot a slow dink and I might see it get past the Goalie I was playing, but I wondered if it would get past Robert Mares. I kinda doubted it. His fast reflexes would have recovered and he'd have came back to block it. Plus, it's rare you "fool" a great player, and you certainly don't do it more than once.
So... With my 5-bar Brush-pass Series, I would run into the seasoned or quick players, or WORSE...the Experienced Player with GREAT physical skills, and I'd be stoned like a Hippie at a Dead concert; ***Cough cough... Wow man, you're bogarting the ball!***
Fakes and Jukes and other ways to disguise the take-off of your pass are all good, but they can all be for naught if your pass crawls to were it's going.
Most of the time you'll see a player's Uphill/Lane pass be the one that suffers from a lack of speed, making it raceable and easier for the Defender to catch up with. There's no great mystery as to where in that five inches of passing-area you're trying to go with the ball. If they can tell when you pass because you have tells or a readable take-off, or they can react fast enough to recover and catch up to it because it's too slow...YOU'RE FUQT.
It's easy to get comfortable doing the easily executed Lane Brush pass. Most newer players struggle to block it. You just get them over-protective of the wall after a few possessions, and then they leave too much space to recover to block the Uphill. But if you plan on being able to pass on players like Robert Mares in this Foosball World, you'd better think about how you're going to add some speed to your passes...
'Cuz players of that ilk are not going to let Barroom Speed passes like the ones that work on Joe Foozonceaweek get through. Uh uh. Ain't gonna happen, no way, no how.
Just like a baseball pitcher with a great change-up and a slow fastball isn't going to get many outs.
So, to wind things up. Whatever style you use in your Brush series, whether it be a Moving Constant Hover, or a Quick Toss to a Pass Point, you have to make sure you read the Defence properly to pick the right hole, and then you need to put some speed on the ball with a nicely executed CRISPY pass... NO SOFTNESS! NO BABYING! You want to train yourself to play like there is a Robert Mares or Dan Hooper or Randy Hicok on the other side of the table from you, and there is NO WAY those guys are letting a slow one get through. ***NO WAY.***
As you practice, by yourself or with your friends and usual practice partners, train yourself to do what it takes to beat the BEST. Don't be satisfied with reaching the level of skill it takes to beat Bob Beerhound at the Local DYP. There is a place for guile and craftiness in Foosball, but as the level of competition goes up, so must your speed of execution. Be crafty like a LIGHTNING BOLT. ***FLASH! BANG! THE BALL'S ON YOUR 3-BAR!***
Ask yourself... Would that pass or shot have been fast enough to get past Todd, or Terry or Robert? Would Billy or Tony or Rico have caught up to that one?
You must keep in mind that along with doing it properly...FASTER IS BETTER. Feel the need...THE NEED FOR SPEED!
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"I can only hope to imagine..."