4 possible shots, which is best?

hang-the-9

hang-the-9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Match between SanSoucci and Zion Zvi.

Ginky is on the 3, from what I see, he can either play a combo to the 5, bank the 3 (the 4 is in line so if he banks the 3, he has shape on the 4), try to cut the 4 past the 7 (looks like it may go) or play safe, probably put the cueball behind the 7 and 9. He took a bit of time shooting this so I know he was not too sure of the obvious shot.

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For me, I'd go with the bank on the 3. Taking the combo risks getting funny/hooked over by the 9 unless you do something for the leave, which makes the shot more difficult. Banking the 3 leaves it natural and a miss could leave it rough for the opponent.
 
Aggressive: bank the 3 in and run out.

Defensive: bank the 3 over by the 4 and roll the cue ball behind the 7/9.

Efren: play the carom to pocket the 5 (cue ball one cushion off the side rail) which moves the 9 by the pocket. On the next shot, play the carom from the 3 to pocket the 9.
 
Safe wouldn't cross my mind given the layout of the rest of the rack and given the standard of the shooter.

Bank would be my 3rd choice. Shape on the 4 can be easily gotten with the pot to left corner (if it passes, kinda looks tight but those length of table shots are deceptive to the nearest corners).

To the left corner would be my 2nd choice. If it goes, which I'm assuming it does its very tight. Slightly more speed than pocket speed with 1-2 tips of draw would leave you nice on the 4.

I'd be looking at the 3/5 combo first though. Again slightly quicker than pocket speed and enough draw to avoid getting close to the 9. Highest risk in terms of leaving the 5 even more over the pocket if you miss playing at that speed but I'd give myself the highest percentage out of all shots of making a ball and running out after.

Depends on a players strength though. I wouldn't trust the full table bank, its probably a 50/50 for me. Left corner has to have laser like accuracy and that's more like a 60-70% chance of success for me. I'd expect to make the combo all day long, so I'd give my self a 90% + chance on that.
 
Pidge said:
... if it passes ...
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Given that the shot gave Ginky pause, we have to assume that the 3 does not fit easily to either corner pocket. Also the OP did not list "shoot the ball straight in" as an option.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Given that the shot gave Ginky pause, we have to assume that the 3 does not fit easily to either corner pocket. Also the OP did not list "shoot the ball straight in" as an option.
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Yeah the OP confused me slightly. He said cut the 4 past the 7 and play safe behind the 7 and the 9. Its hard to tell what the ball by the 9 is, I'm assuming its the 7 since he said play safe behind 9 and 7. So I'm guessing when he said cut the 4 past the 7, he meant the 3 past the 7.

I think I may have confused my self further with this post. So many numbers!
 
OK, what about this idea...

Bank the 3-ball to the top left corner with topspin rolling the cue forward trying to pocket the 5-ball with the cue ball.

Ye olde two-way shot. :)
 
If the 3 goes in the bottom left corner, then he should just cut it in there and run out. If it doesn't go, then I agree with Bob's assessment of Efren's choice, combo the 3-5 and take the free ride on the 9.
 
I play safe all day. Bank the 3 up and try to sneak it between the 4 and the rail, and roll the cue ball behind the 6 and 9. I wouldn't even consider another shot. I think the safe is high percentage, and everything else is asking to sell out.
 
Shoot 3-5 combo. Rail first the 3 into the 5. Hit the cb stun draw back to center table-ish. From there the 3 should be available. The 3 should head toward the corner opposite the 5, then stay in that area, possibly fall, maybe collide with 7 and stay in the area, or 2 rail out of the corner and head toward the side?

If the 3 remains in play, the 4 likely also remains in play.

Thinning the 3 to get under the 7-9 doesn't fit my eye.

Otherwise, I like Bob's cb carom off 3 to 5, but less sure of 3 availability, especially if you hit 5 full and leave cb down low on the rail.

Curious what the shot turned out to be.

Pretty sure, it won't be my suggestion.

but, with cb near the middle, assuming the 5 pockets, there should be options for playing safe or shooting the 3.

heck, I don't know-I'm guessing.
 
Cutting the 3 in past the seven is what I like, if it's available. I think you run into the five at that angle, and can possibly make it if the three doesn't fall. Also, if you miss the 3 full, you have a good chance of getting some relief from the 7 or even the nine.

I think it's too difficult (at least for me) to get the cue ball up close enough to the 4 or 8, while banking the three to the head of the table, to avoid leaving a relatively easy jump to the 3, which would be somewhere in the vicinity of the top left corner pocket (from our view).

I definitely don't like the combo unless it's at enough speed to avoid getting tangled up in with the 4-9, and that's all a little too wild and wooly for my taste.

I watched this match some years ago and I remember that layout. Unfortunately I don't remember with certainty what he did, and I'm studiously avoiding the temptation to cheat by watching the video again before before posting, but I think the Ginkster cut the three when all was said and done.
 
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If the 3 doesn't pass straight in you can just cut it thin to the side rail and play behind the 6/9. If I'm efren I could run out a few ways...lol
 
Baxter said:
I play safe all day. Bank the 3 up and try to sneak it between the 4 and the rail, and roll the cue ball behind the 6 and 9. I wouldn't even consider another shot. I think the safe is high percentage, and everything else is asking to sell out.
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That's the shot. Ridiculously easy safe with 2 big balls to hide behind and will likely result in a tough multi rail kick for your opponent.
The combo looks good, but is deceptively tricky and almost sure to sell out unless you make it pefectly. You also have to slow roll it to keep shape on the three and that will increase contact throw making it harder to judge the cut angle.
 
knock the 3 ball up-table putting the cue under the 6-9 would be the highest win % in my book.

where is this 7 ball everyone is talking about? :confused:
 
Baxter said:
I play safe all day. Bank the 3 up and try to sneak it between the 4 and the rail, and roll the cue ball behind the 6 and 9. I wouldn't even consider another shot. I think the safe is high percentage, and everything else is asking to sell out.
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victorl said:
That's the shot. Ridiculously easy safe with 2 big balls to hide behind and will likely result in a tough multi rail kick for your opponent.
The combo looks good, but is deceptively tricky and almost sure to sell out unless you make it pefectly. You also have to slow roll it to keep shape on the three and that will increase contact throw making it harder to judge the cut angle.
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Safe would be about my last choice, especially if I played as well as Ginky or Zion. Allowing your opponent back to the table is what is 'asking to sell out'.

Ball looks like there is a pocket on the low L) of the picture. Make that one and the rest is pretty simple.

Or you could tell your opponent it is 8b and you got stripes. Outski.
 
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