Topic: 5 Man shot is legal but unethical?

[WiFoos]

I live in Wisconsin and at the bars most players believe that it is illegal to shoot and score from the 5 man.  Thanks to this site, I now know that it is legal.
Where does this misconception come from? 
Even though it's legal do you consider it unethical?
I think I have a great 5 man shot and mix it in every once in a while.  Is this ok both from an ethical standpoint (considering it's kind of frowned upon at the places that I play) and from a strategic standpoint?
Do any top players shoot from the 5 man or is it considered a disadvantage?
What are your thoughts?

[Yags]

  Hey WiFoos,


The main reason I find people getting mad or saying that it is illegal when its really a legal shot. Alot of people tend to find it cheap and yes unethical. If played alot of really good foosers and when they do a five bar shot, I frown because I know they can score from there three bar. BUT its part of the game.

By the way, I am located in Wisconsin. I play at alot of bars that are in the Appleton area... Familiar at all???

[Rocker]

I have friends who are adamant about not shooting with the five man, and others who are pretty much shameless.  I think it's a matter of experience and opportunity.  The less experienced players rely on it more, while the more experienced players know the best way to get the ball in the goal is with the three man, and the five man is the way to get the ball to the three man.  If a five man shot is open, there is no reason not to take it.  But just slapping at it and seeing what happens if for beginners.  Check out some of the fiveman shots in this clip.  Kind of a weird little movie, and I don't know what they're saying, but the ball play is pretty good and the guy uses a solid five man shot (against a five man defense that isn't very good though).
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4159589322834190967&q=foosball&hl=en

[Chase Pennell]

I say this.....Drill the 5bar shot to make them mad....LOL!!! I use it...i feel that anything that is skillful people will respect....so if u have a good tick tack 5bar shot people will say that it is ok...most people just dont like to get beat.....

[SumnerH]

I live in Wisconsin and at the bars most players believe that it is illegal to shoot and score from the 5 man.  Thanks to this site, I now know that it is legal.
Where does this misconception come from?

Lots of games have bizarre "bar rules" that are different from the real rules.  Go into most bars to play pool and people will have a number of odd rules, including things like "on fouls you have to put the cue ball behind the head string and shoot at a ball in front of it" instead of normal "ball in hand anywhere, shoot at anything"; you'll have people saying "you have to call combinations/banks/caroms/etc" instead of the standard call-pocket or any legal shot rules (for 8-ball/9-ball respectively), etc.

Common bar rules for foosball that are not real include:
1. 5-bar shots don't count (though usually if you stuff their goalie from the 5-bar that's allowed)
2. The ball gets tossed randomly into the table instead of being served by one team or the other
3. Shots with the goalie rod count for 2 points
4.  "Clean shots" only, if you hit their man or a bank it doesn't count

I have no idea how they got popular, just like I have no idea how the "fouls in the kitchen" pool thing became normal despite making it so that fouling can actually be to your benefit.

Even though it's legal do you consider it unethical?

No.  In doubles, it's usually a bad choice but it's not unethical; I'm happy if my opponent takes to 5-bar shots because it means I'm almost certainly going to win.  In singles, transition is a huge part of the game and the top pros will gladly shoot off the 5-rod if the opponent isn't guarding it--if you didn't, they could get a big advantage by playing left-hand on the 5-rod, right on the 3-rod (doubles positioning) in singles.

I think I have a great 5 man shot and mix it in every once in a while.  Is this ok both from an ethical standpoint (considering it's kind of frowned upon at the places that I play) and from a strategic standpoint?
Do any top players shoot from the 5 man or is it considered a disadvantage?

In doubles, it's usually low percentage, but if it's open they'll certainly take it.  All the top players (Billy Pappas, Frederico Collignon, Tony Spredeman, etc) will use 5-bar shots extensively in singles--normally not as the primary option, but worked into the rest of their game and disguised to complement their passing series.  And they'll take them in a heartbeat if there's an obvious opening.

Legal and ethical.

[deadbarfoos]

usually i do a "5" to "open" up holes for passing, or get the opponent off his original game plan ,so he may take a "5" shot at me and i want to make it where his game is predictable ,and anything goes in foosball dont they say??

[BBPushin]

I think that it depends on the tempo of the game.  Sometimes it seems to be unethical, but can change the pace of the game to your favor.  The other advantage of shooting a 5bar shot is it can make your passing more effective later in the match.  As soon as the other player knows you will and can score from the five, they have to respect that.  and might not be able to detect certain passes.  And besides it feels good sometimes to rip a 5 bar shot and catch people of guard.

[Rocker]

All good points...

[JimWaterman]

On Tour... it's certainly legal and "accepted as ethical for competition"....
When foosing locally... if there are house rules... then i'd urge ya to follow the house rules.
No sense in showing up to a local foos hotspot as "the new guy" and forcing your "Pro Rules" onto a social group of foosers.  Learn the house rules... adapt to them.. and try to kick their butts with their rules.  (If that means they all give you the evil eye after your amazing tic-tac-tic-smash 5-rod shot --- reconsider using it).  Once you integrate into their little group, you can share with them alternate rules formats, or official USTSA rules, or a crazy set of Bar rules if appropriate to help you and your growing foos group to keep things fun and ... "growing".

So... "when in Rome!"... ... ...
or.... "when in your bar".... ... ...
but... "when on Tour... WATCH OUT FOR THE HACK!" 

[foosballer864]

At least with the new rules there won't be anymore drop serve hacks... Darn it!!! My second best shot 

[grandmaster]

To quote and old pro "If you ain't got a hack, you ain't got nuthin'!"