Table Layout Situation

Thanks for the all the replies so far. I am going to summarize what I think is the prevailing opinion on this:

If I am a master at shooting into pocket facings with great accuracy and confidence, then I shoot the 1. Otherwise, take another route and don't risk it. If it feels iffy, then it is probably the wrong shot to take when you have other options.

I can live with that. I'm happy to report that my instinct was as such. I took the shot because it was practice anyway, and I wanted to see if I could hit the facing square on. I grazed the 2 ever so slightly and missed -- needed to borrow more of Sean's WD-40 I guess.
 
Greetings. Having studied the scenario of the table layout, for me, there is little doubt that the ten ball is the way to go here. But, before shooting it, I would have to consider my safest options for clearing the balls and getting to the break shot.

Sure, the ten, five, two is a nice way to start clearing these balls. But, here is another option.
I believe that my plan could be to pop the ten in with intentions to shoot the three next. My reasoning is that the five is a very strong key ball and I’d hate to shoot it, if I don’t have to. It appears that cinching the ten gets me on the three safely enough that I can plan on a play for the seven next and leaves the five intact for my key ball. Solving the dilemma of the one and two balls should be attainable off the seven ball. That means I will pop the ten in the upper corner, using a slight bump on the five to help stop the cue ball. Thus, leaving an angle on the three, where all I have to do is pocket it and follow to the rail and off again with my cue ball, using a high English or I might even attain an almost straight in angle too. Either/or, the angle to the seven should now give me the opportunity to make one of two plays for the two ball. One, is pocketing the seven and following up between the one and eleven to a point where I can shoot the two down into the corner. Two, is pocketing the seven with enough inside to carry my cue ball between the one and two where again, I can shoot the two in the corner. I believe that these are both good plays. My intentions for the two is shooting it in the corner and allowing the cue ball to bounce off the rail, in order to play the one next. The speed needed on any of these shots should not be anything more than a light to moderate stroke. The angle I can create on the one up in the corner should allow me to control the cue ball enough, so that I can play the four and eight ball off and easily get on the five, to get on the eleven.

Most of these shots are simple follow or stop type plays, where controlling the cue ball is easy.

And that is this straight pool buff’s take on the scene my friends. Good luck.
 
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The 5 is the only problem I see, get that out of the way and hope to get the 3 > 10 > 11 break shot. :)

1, 5, 2, 4, 8, 7, 3, 10, 11 break. The less the cue travels, the easier the run. ;)
 
Depending on the table would really put me at odds at not taking the 10,5,2 then the 1. If the pockets are tight and they are deep pockets, you my end up rattling the 1in the pocket and ending your run. I would think a higher percentage shot would be the better route also giving more options for position to clean up the mid table and lower table for your 11 break shot.
 
Thanks for the all the replies so far. I am going to summarize what I think is the prevailing opinion on this:

If I am a master at shooting into pocket facings with great accuracy and confidence, then I shoot the 1. Otherwise, take another route and don't risk it. If it feels iffy, then it is probably the wrong shot to take when you have other options.

I can live with that. I'm happy to report that my instinct was as such. I took the shot because it was practice anyway, and I wanted to see if I could hit the facing square on. I grazed the 2 ever so slightly and missed -- needed to borrow more of Sean's WD-40 I guess.

Shoot the 1 with high ctr. OVERCUT it slightly and allow the collision induced throw to cut the ball into the pkt. I would bet you unknowlngly "threw" the 1 into the 2.

Practice this shot!
 
If the 1 is tight like it sounds, I like playing the 10 in the corner and then 5 in the side for position on the 2. If the shape is right, I'd probably go ahead and play the 1 in the lower right corner (other end of table) on the diagram. Otherwise I'd play the 4 in the corner, then 7 in the corner and then the 1. Then I'd play the 8 in the corner and the 3 would be my key ball onto the 11. I believe this run would provide natural angles and require little English.
 
Love these types of posts !!!

With all the different feedback it just goes to show you that there isn't just one way to run a rack.

It's all based on ability and comfort zone !!

-Steve
 
Love these types of posts !!!

With all the different feedback it just goes to show you that there isn't just one way to run a rack.

It's all based on ability and comfort zone !!

-Steve

Problem is almost noone got the op's question.
 
Problem is almost noone got the op's question.

;) I find that these discussions usually take on a life of their own, expecially when you present a table with scattered balls. Actually the real layout was probably not too far off from what I presented, but all I cared about was the position of the cb, 1,2, and to show that there were other options, yet no dead easy options immediately available to bump the 1/2 cluster.

In any event, it still beats arguing about what some road player might or might not have said about some other road player's girlfriend... or maybe it was a horse. Whatever!
 
Problem is almost noone got the op's question.

I liked the direction of the thread....if one feels that it was wrong to play
the OP's shot. Straight pool is about patterns and decision making.

Sometimes it's wrong to answer a direct question...any lawyer will tell
you that.


I feel that shooting the 1-ball was taking an unnecessary risk.
 

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