mosconiac's "death triangle"

[mosconiac]

I hesitated to call this thread that, but I find it kind of funny...funny in the sense that this nobody in the game (me) might have a useful idea.

Some background first. I've been playing 14.1 for more than a decade and in that time, its made me laugh & cry (not literally, but my soul cries a little every time I throw away a promising run by dogging off a hanger ). Further, give me a decade to think about something & I might come up with something useful.

I recently taught a 14.1 primer for my latest league season to help the new players (some of which have NEVER played 14.1 before) understand the basic concepts of the game. Like then, I will preface this discussion with: "I am no expert & I don't proclaim to be...but that won't stop me from voicing my opinion anyway".

In preparing for that session, I thought of a nice tool to explain how & where to "enter" the rack when breaking. I like saying "enter" because you need to think about the break in two phases...(1) the entry & (2) the exit.

For a successful break, you need to understand how your CB is going to enter the rack & FOR SURE need to know how your CB will exit it. This is the only way you can predictably spread the balls & retain control of the CB to ensure you end up with a shot.

Here's my teaching tool...the "death triangle". I explain that the "death triangle" carries the bulk of the weight within the rack & will punish you if you try to take it on. I believe this tool helps people visulaize how the corners of the rack are "weak" & easier to exploit.

What do you think of the idea?

 

[Dave Nelson]

Good thinking Mosco. Of course if you have a stroke like Thorston Hohman even that triangle of death wont stand up to it.

Dave Nelson

 

[3andstop]

I think this is a good graphic example of where the mass of the rack is. I wouldn't necessarily call it the death triangle though ... It's a matter of explaining how to enter it rather than totally avoiding it because you can get good results hitting this area too.

 

[rikdee]

It's likely a good introductory point to beginners. It introduces the idea that breaking a rack involves some consideration.

 

[Fastolfe]

Interesting idea. At least your "triangle of death" representation gives the player a chance to think about what they're going to hit with the cueball.

However, I should point out that, provided the breaking position is favorable, I personally will happily go for the center of the rack instead of the wing balls: usually the idea is to free up balls on the other side of the rack. The trick of course is to enter the rack with plenty of draw or english to get the hell out of here after striking the rack, contact a rail and get into position in front of the freed-up balls on the other side.

 

[sausage]

a little more power is needed when going into the second ball but the results are generally better especially if you can hit with just a tad of draw with flush hit on that second ball. when i go into that thrid ball, more often than not, i have to hit with follow, then worry about a corner scratch. with behind the rack breaks however, the death triangle lives up to its name. i was on 84 balls when i was confronted with that break. i scratched.....

 

[Vahmurka]

It's likely a good introductory point to beginners. It introduces the idea that breaking a rack involves some consideration.

I agree. And the name is there to emphasize the importance of the idea behind and to add touch of thrill to make them interested :wink:

 

[Ratta]

Sorry Mosconiac,

it s just depending on the angle and quality of your stroke after hittin the break-ball- even on *both 2nd* balls in the rack you can break good with very good chances on reproducable following shots.

 

[sausage]

Sorry Mosconiac,

it s just depending on the angle and quality of your stroke after hittin the break-ball- even on *both 2nd* balls in the rack you can break good with very good chances on reproducable following shots.

i agree.... my only problem hitting that second ball on a side break is keeping the opposite balls from going to the rail then back into the pack.

i was listening to jim rempe on a video. he said that mosconi took offense at rempe calling him a "putter". LOL! by "putter" rempe was referring to the way mosconi chipped away at the rack rather than smash it open with a lot of force. if you are, in fact, a putter, then the death triangle is your nemesis. without a lot of power, chipping balls from the edges of the rack is your only option.