Some players rely on attacking strokes to power past opponents, while others are content to soak up pressure from the back of the court, lobbing the ball back onto the table with heavy amounts of spin.
Explaining what they do tick by tick on a continuous basis has as much value as trying to come up with a rational explanation why the ball landed on the 9 on the roulette table in Bellagio instead of 10.
Despite showing plenty of confidence on the ball and signs of a team who were third in the Championship table after the afternoon matches and could have gone top with a win, they were unable to create any clear-cut openings.
But the home side dominated possession putting together spells of neat and patient build-up play which just lacked an incisive final ball - perhaps an indication why Rovers season will finish in mid-table obscurity rather than the play-offs places.
Bristol kick off their play-off campaign at home to Worcester on Sunday and Grieve has identified ball retention and ball placement at the breakdown as key areas they need to work on before tackling the Championship table toppers.
But with 10 minutes remaining Lee Grant failed to collect a cross from Chris Cohen and Blackstock showed quick reactions to stab the ball home from close range to ensure Forest remain only one point behind the second-placed Baggies in the Championship table.