How I Play Shape

[BeiberLvr]

I'm still in the beginning stages of this, so I won't make any claims that it's fool proof or better than anything else out there. I just know that personally it's helped my position play.

First I view the table as shown in the first picture. Then I just decide which coordinates will provide the best angle to get to the next shot. As you'll see in the example, most times there will be multiple coordinates that will work.. Most of the time as long as you fall somewhere in between them, you'll end up okay.

 

[softshot]

not worth it

 

[fathomblue]

I don't get it.

 

[ChrisBanks]

I don't get it.

I didn't want to be the one that said it.

 

[evanlockhart]

Ahh yes, I love trapezoids :grin-square:

So do you go, "I need to fall between B:0-2, C:-01" on shots?

 

[quadrary]

so where is the cue ball now or do you fave ball in hand if so i wouldnt shoot the 8 to land in your zone and if that is the position you are aiming for off the 7 for the 8 i guess its ok id like a little more cut angle on the 8 so that i have it easier to roll straight up table off the short rail for the 9

 

[vapoolplayer]

Unless you have some sort of system to get from say A2 to E3 this is just a more detailed/complicated way to show a position area.

Several books and teachers will show position play as an area you can safely make the next ball from, the areas will obviously be smaller the closer to the object back and larger the further you move away.

Most players already invision this in their minds, all you would be doing is giving coordinates to verbally define this area.

 

[Dunnn51]

I'm still in the beginning stages of this, so I won't make any claims that it's fool proof or better than anything else out there. I just know that personally it's helped my position play.

First I view the table as shown in the first picture. Then I just decide which coordinates will provide the best angle to get to the next shot. As you'll see in the example, most times there will be multiple coordinates that will work.. Most of the time as long as you fall somewhere in between them, you'll end up okay.

I am making an assumption here based on the fact that you posted that this is where you want to be (with the CB). I also use the diamond system, as I find it interesting (It does force you to think about the shot/s though).

So you are saying that you prefer the CB to land (presuming you just shot the 7 not shown),in square B/C 0-1, and half of B/C 1 &2 ??

 

[CreeDo]

Guessing the funky nevada shape where he wants his cue ball to land after sinking the 7.
I don't know if assigning numbers or letters to an area is helpful in terms of actually GETTING to that area. But I guess it might be helpful communicating the area to others.

I can imagine a systematic approach using this grid. If you had CB at the middle of the table for example and cut the 9 into the corner, it would be nice to already know in advance "ok, with low right I hit the long rail at "B". With just right or draw I hit around "C". With just centerball I hit around "D", and so on.

(That's just an example guys, don't come at me with "actually centerball should land HERE but low left would go THERE". You get the idea.)

One of the more valuable videos I've seen on youtube deals with reference lines. You can memorize where the cue ball goes with natural follow after certain common shots. Then you just adjust from that known path when a similar shot comes up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT1MXlzyBLI

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Guessing the funky nevada shape where he wants his cue ball to land after sinking the 7.
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As a rule, I always want my cueball to land in Nevada.

 

[BeiberLvr]

Guessing the funky nevada shape where he wants his cue ball to land after sinking the 7.
I don't know if assigning numbers or letters to an area is helpful in terms of actually GETTING to that area. But I guess it might be helpful communicating the area to others.

I can imagine a systematic approach using this grid. If you had CB at the middle of the table for example and cut the 9 into the corner, it would be nice to already know in advance "ok, with low right I hit the long rail at "B". With just right or draw I hit around "C". With just centerball I hit around "D", and so on.

(That's just an example guys, don't come at me with "actually centerball should land HERE but low left would go THERE". You get the idea.)

One of the more valuable videos I've seen on youtube deals with reference lines. You can memorize where the cue ball goes with natural follow after certain common shots. Then you just adjust from that known path when a similar shot comes up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT1MXlzyBLI

I always had trouble seeing the "zone", so I came up with this and it's helped me out a lot. Here's another example. If I can get the CB to spots B3, C2 or C3, then I wouldn't have any problems getting to the 9 ball. I could also end up somewhere in between those spots, and still be okay.

And I think those reference line videos are good stuff. I've watched them a few times.