Watching a tournament last night I was surprised how often a particular configuration occurred. I haven't seen it specifically addressed in training videos and saw some pretty amazing solutions conjured up by some novice players. There are a couple of variations but it always involves the 8 ball near a pocket. One occasion a player rattled the 8 and left a very tough 3 ball run out with one of the balls blocked from its best pocket by the 8. I was thinking how I would get shape for the run out when the player, surprisingly to me, slam cut his ball into the 8. There was not enough room to make the ball and he hit it much harder then I would have considered for the result he achieved so I was curious. He managed to displace the 8, get his ball behind it (with a hard hit), go two rails with the cue ball and bury the cue ball glued to another of his balls. I understand it was mostly co incidence but it got me thinking about this type of situation.
Another variation is a ball is next to or even frozen to the 8 and both are at or very near a pocket. Sometimes it is your last ball and sometimes you are shooting the 8 ball. I saw this happen 3 times out of 9 games. The players tried a variety of safeties and maneuvers to free up their ball without selling out. Some had great success others, not so good. Often it became cat and mouse with several turns passing back and forth before someone made a mistake or got very lucky.
My question is does anyone know of a training video which specifically addresses these end of game 8 ball hanger type safeties or breakouts?
Another variation is a ball is next to or even frozen to the 8 and both are at or very near a pocket. Sometimes it is your last ball and sometimes you are shooting the 8 ball. I saw this happen 3 times out of 9 games. The players tried a variety of safeties and maneuvers to free up their ball without selling out. Some had great success others, not so good. Often it became cat and mouse with several turns passing back and forth before someone made a mistake or got very lucky.
My question is does anyone know of a training video which specifically addresses these end of game 8 ball hanger type safeties or breakouts?
