Cut, bank, or "other"?

CreeDo

Fargo Rating 597
Silver Member
An old Mosconi Cup situation.
What shot do you like here?

I see four options.
• Cut in corner
• Cut in side
• Bank combo
• Safe

zapNikJ.jpg


I personally like banking soft into the 6, soft enough that the 4 hangs near the hole.
The bank will pick up natural roll since I didn't slam it, and IMO both balls are very likely to go.
Soft speed should also decrease the odds of being hooked by the 5.
Draw and a full hit with right spin to hold the cue ball so it slides up a bit, but (ideally) isn't near the rail.

This is a (tightened?) brunswick btw.

What do you think most pros would do here?
 
No idea what most pros would do ;) , I like the bank option to but my gut tells me I'd cut it in the side and take out any chance of something odd happening. Like balls jarring or something. Virtually any miss is a sure sell out on that table, I would not leave anything to chance.
 
I'd probably back-cut the 4 and go for the easy combo to follow up.

For the bank, you're cutting against the bank, so it makes it a little tougher. Also, it's still a bank and not a short straight-back, so you could just as easily miss it and leave either a combo or a carom. Too many ways for the bank to go wrong, imho, unless I'm really feeling it.
 
I'd opt to cut the 4 into the side pocket. I think that has the best possibility of getting shape on the 5-6 combo.

Regarding the bank, I think the 5-ball will be in the way of just about any CB leave.
 
I would cut that in the side all day long. I'm very consistent on back cuts and I would be very sure about making the shot. I'm a good banker too, but the cut is my strong point.

Some pros might shoot a leave and put the cue ball up table and the 4 behind the other balls.
 
Yeah I also like the side the combo could go screwy if hit just slightly hard and hit half of the six the four could lay up by the five.


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I agree that cutting it into the side is prob the 'pro' shot, but I am side pocket retarded, so I cut it in the corner.
Cutting it to the corner means you will not run into the 5 w/ cb, so basically anywhere other than behind the 9 is shape for the combo.

Of course, I am also combo retarded too, so I am prob gonna end up banking the 5 after the combo anyway, dammit.
 
And now I see the 8...

I am still 70% to the corner cut, but the safe, leaving cb and 4b on side rail and opposite ends of 8/9 just became pretty easy to execute.,
 
I don't like the side cut. Side pockets suck period. Looks like there are several potential hazards for the CB with the side cut. I'd go corner cut with some draw with enough speed to bring it around 3 rails to get on the 5. I'd consider the bank, that 6 hanging there could make that pocket rather big.
 
I don't like the side cut. Side pockets suck period. Looks like there are several potential hazards for the CB with the side cut. I'd go corner cut with some draw with enough speed to bring it around 3 rails to get on the 5. I'd consider the bank, that 6 hanging there could make that pocket rather big.

I don't think one can hit the rail above the side pocket and cut the 4 into the corner.

At least I don't like having to do it every day...
 
i would cut that in the side all day long. I'm very consistent on back cuts and i would be very sure about making the shot. I'm a good banker too, but the cut is my strong point.

Some pros might shoot a leave and put the cue ball up table and the 4 behind the other balls.

xxxxx 22222
 
Cut in the side at make speed has the highest percentage for run out.

Shooting the bank-combo as a two-way shot ((1) bank-combo or (2) safety behind 8/9) is bad as you will be hooked if you make the combo. So you have to shoot without a two way. But, missing the combo leaves an easy return and you lose.

Cutting in the corner requires 2 rail position above the 8/9 to get to the 5/6 combo. But again, missing will leave an easy reply.

Shooting in the side allows you to play either inside or outside english to get where you want on the 5. And shooting in the side has another upside of potentially leaving a tough cut shot into the corner.

IMO, shooting in the side has the best chance to win the game if you are in the mood to shoot. Another option is to bank the 4 two rails behind the 8/9 and run the cue ball 2 rails up table.

-td
 
I might be over zealous here but there is also a 2-way shot. Cut the 4 in the side and have the cue ball come around behind the nine. Then from there looks like the 5 and 6 have the chance to go in at the same time and from 8 in the side and 9 in the corner. jmo
 
I am not a pro. I don't shoot like a pro. I don't think like a pro.

that said...I cut the 4 in the side, w/slight overcut , with no english.

Speed may take me into the 9 as a stopper. If not, should get good on 5 anyway.


I know the bank looks good..but it's tougher for me to slow roll and/or 'english' the bank on the 4 while holding the cb for the next shot (4 still on table?/or 5).

Of the options, I like the back cut to the side on the 4 ball. It's missable, but so are other options. Pick your poison. Commit to the shot.:eek:
 
The pro in this case, Boyes, went for the cut in the corner. Missed and sold out.
Someone commented they felt most pros would cut it there.
I do like that better than the cut in the side. The side cut is really thin.
A hair over 70 degrees. The corner is about 60 degrees.

Both let the cue ball go a little, the CB maybe smacks into the 8b if you cut into the corner.
But you can see & make the 5/6 from almost anywhere.
Basically if you make the cut you're out.

If you shoot the bank you've got the uncertain combo outcome.
But I think the bank's an easier shot since it's a "big pocket" with the 6.

So I guess what I'm asking...

A. is the bank easier than the cut in anyone's opinion?
I think it is because the 6 makes the pocket play big.

B. even if it IS easier, do you pass up a 10% easier shot,
if the leave is uncertain?

Remember it's the mosconi cup... short race, lots of pressure.
 
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I'm cutting it in the corner. The way I'm looking at it, cutting it in the side is just begging to crash into something, shoot over something, or wind up behind something. The 8 and 9 are just too big. I don't like the bank, especially with the 5 there, because I usually won't hit the 6 quite where I intend to. I like the 4 in the corner with a touch of left, going across table and back between the 8 and 9. I don't think it's the easiest option, but that's the only shot where I feel that I'm guaranteed position and can run out without rearranging the balls.
 
So I guess what I'm asking...

A. is the bank easier than the cut in anyone's opinion?
I think it is because the 6 makes the pocket play big.

B. even if it IS easier, do you pass up a 10% easier shot,
if the leave is uncertain?

Remember it's the mosconi cup... short race, lots of pressure.

Nah, don't like the corner cut at all. Still think the bank leaves too much chance.

Like I said, cut in the side is a pretty easy cut shot, offers natural CB position for the run out and if you miss, pretty good chance your going to leave something long or off angle....leaves a bank, super thin cut or long cut down the rail.

IMO.
 
You guys are missing the obvious 3-way shot. Just bank the 4 short of the 5 and stop your rock. If the 4 happens to follow the 6 and the 5 goes cross corner, you'll end up with perfect shape on the 8.

ezgameamirite

UVpgaB-q777ueVujyrlJ.png
 
You guys are missing the obvious 3-way shot. Just bank the 4 short of the 5 and stop your rock. If the 4 happens to follow the 6 and the 5 goes cross corner, you'll end up with perfect shape on the 8.

ezgameamirite

UVpgaB-q777ueVujyrlJ.png

Nice, but you still aren't seeing the whole picture. The shot you diagrammed, the 4 also drops with the 6. So....when you bank the 4, you draw back and also make the 8 in the side, leaving you almost straight in, if not straight in, on the 9 to the corner. Two shots, rack done.:D

Seriously though, I'm cutting the 4 in the side all day long. For those that have trouble with that cut, you know what to practice on.;)
 
The way it's diagrammed, I would cut the 4 in the corner, bringing the cue ball past the 8 to the opposite side rail and back out to the other side for the clear 5 ball shot. For me this shot is one I'm pretty good at. I like the chances of making it and running out. The side pocket cut would be my second choice - I don't like the collisions that could occur and cause complications.
 
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