9 ball, what would you do?

Straightpool_99

Straightpool_99

I see dead balls
Silver Member
It's not often I'm stumped playing 9 ball, but this situation came up in a tournament, and I just couldn't see any good, high percentage options. Bear in mind this was a big tournament, I had gotten deep and my opponent wasn't missing a shot. I hadn't made any errors apart from breaking dry, yet he was on the hill and I had just 3 games. I thought I was dead until he miscued and left me this so I was happy just to be at the table. The rails were super bouncy and the cloth was fast, btw. Also I was having nerves (big time) and didn't feel confident in my touch.

I was looking at the cross corner bank, but I think there is a kiss. If not, I'd love for someone to tell me how to shoot it.

Second option was the 8. On these cushions I thought it was too tough of a shot. Keep in mind the 7 is frozen and the eight is off the rail. There is a chance you'll get snookered on the 7 or have no good shot on it, as well.

Third option was the one I chose, trying to float behind the 9. I left him an easy jump (just edge of the ball) and he ran out.

There is a fourth option to go through the 7 and stick the cueball on the 8. I was worried the 7 would come out too far. The table was insanely fast and the white is not in a perfect position for this, I think.

Looking at the diagram, I see that I could just punt the 7 down to the short rail diamond 0,5 or 1, but remember I'm playing a monster here. He'd stick me frozen behind the 8 or bank and run out. I don't think this option is even worth considering.

I'm looking forward to learning something here. A video would be awesome (you'd be a shoe in for green rep:smile:).
 

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How about a soft 1/2 ball hit on the left side of the 7, with draw. The plan being to send the 7 safe to the middle of the end rail, and the cue ball somewhere on the midline of the table. The hit on the 7 must be hard enough to get it away from the corner pocket. But not so hard that it lands open for the opposite corner.

RL
 
I was watching Mike Sigel give a group lesson one time. He showed a safety on the 9 ball where you send both the 9 and the cueball four cushions around the table and they end up back on opposite ends of the table.

Then someone moved the cueball even further away from the 9, so that the 9 and the cueball were both nearly frozen on opposite end rails.

"What do you do from here?" he asked. "From here?" said Sigel. "From here, you lose."

I don't know if your diagram is one of those times, but sometimes there just is no good shot.
 
poolblues said:
I set this up on my GQ #3.
I took the 7 across corner, took the 8 across corner in the same pocket as the 7 which left the Q ball down table leaving an almost straight in shot on the 9 in opposite corner.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

Wow. Are you sure I wasn't playing you? Lol:). Ok, guess my banks need some work.
 
RED LITE said:
How about a soft 1/2 ball hit on the left side of the 7, with draw. The plan being to send the 7 safe to the middle of the end rail, and the cue ball somewhere on the midline of the table. The hit on the 7 must be hard enough to get it away from the corner pocket. But not so hard that it lands open for the opposite corner.

RL
Click to expand...

Hmm...Maybe. Sounds interesting. I'll have to take it to the table tomorrow.:)
 
PoolBum said:
I was watching Mike Sigel give a group lesson one time. He showed a safety on the 9 ball where you send both the 9 and the cueball four cushions around the table and they end up back on opposite ends of the table.

Then someone moved the cueball even further away from the 9, so that the 9 and the cueball were both nearly frozen on opposite end rails.

"What do you do from here?" he asked. "From here?" said Sigel. "From here, you lose."

I don't know if your diagram is one of those times, but sometimes there just is no good shot.
Click to expand...

I tried to model my straight pool game on Mike Sigels. I've watched every video of him I could. One of my favourite players to watch. Love the story.:smile:
 
Straightpool_99 said:
It's not often I'm stumped playing 9 ball, but this situation came up in a tournament, and I just couldn't see any good, high percentage options. Bear in mind this was a big tournament, I had gotten deep and my opponent wasn't missing a shot. I hadn't made any errors apart from breaking dry, yet he was on the hill and I had just 3 games. I thought I was dead until he miscued and left me this so I was happy just to be at the table. The rails were super bouncy and the cloth was fast, btw. Also I was having nerves (big time) and didn't feel confident in my touch.

I was looking at the cross corner bank, but I think there is a kiss. If not, I'd love for someone to tell me how to shoot it.

Second option was the 8. On these cushions I thought it was too tough of a shot. Keep in mind the 7 is frozen and the eight is off the rail. There is a chance you'll get snookered on the 7 or have no good shot on it, as well.

Third option was the one I chose, trying to float behind the 9. I left him an easy jump (just edge of the ball) and he ran out.

There is a fourth option to go through the 7 and stick the cueball on the 8. I was worried the 7 would come out too far. The table was insanely fast and the white is not in a perfect position for this, I think.

Looking at the diagram, I see that I could just punt the 7 down to the short rail diamond 0,5 or 1, but remember I'm playing a monster here. He'd stick me frozen behind the 8 or bank and run out. I don't think this option is even worth considering.

I'm looking forward to learning something here. A video would be awesome (you'd be a shoe in for green rep:smile:).
Click to expand...

Looks like a pretty tough spot... I think the best you can do from here is shoot the ball into the 8 (freezing the 7 close to where the 8 is on your diagram) and allowing the cueball to float across table behind the nine on the top rail close to the pocket.
 
Tough spot and not many good options.

I like thinning the 7 not to make it cross corner but between the first and second diamond for it to finish near the middle of the head rail. Hard enough for the cue ball to go between the 8 & 9 back to the other end of the table. Ideally behind the 9 but at least with difficult distance.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
RED LITE said:
How about a soft 1/2 ball hit on the left side of the 7, with draw. The plan being to send the 7 safe to the middle of the end rail, and the cue ball somewhere on the midline of the table. The hit on the 7 must be hard enough to get it away from the corner pocket. But not so hard that it lands open for the opposite corner.

RL
Click to expand...

I think I'd try a safe like this. I'd also like to see a video of the two cross-corner banks in a row. Miss one and you probably sold out. Johnnyt
 
Straightpool_99 said:
It's not often I'm stumped playing 9 ball, but this situation came up in a tournament, and I just couldn't see any good, high percentage options. Bear in mind this was a big tournament, I had gotten deep and my opponent wasn't missing a shot. I hadn't made any errors apart from breaking dry, yet he was on the hill and I had just 3 games. I thought I was dead until he miscued and left me this so I was happy just to be at the table. The rails were super bouncy and the cloth was fast, btw. Also I was having nerves (big time) and didn't feel confident in my touch.

I was looking at the cross corner bank, but I think there is a kiss. If not, I'd love for someone to tell me how to shoot it.

Second option was the 8. On these cushions I thought it was too tough of a shot. Keep in mind the 7 is frozen and the eight is off the rail. There is a chance you'll get snookered on the 7 or have no good shot on it, as well.

Third option was the one I chose, trying to float behind the 9. I left him an easy jump (just edge of the ball) and he ran out.

There is a fourth option to go through the 7 and stick the cueball on the 8. I was worried the 7 would come out too far. The table was insanely fast and the white is not in a perfect position for this, I think.

Looking at the diagram, I see that I could just punt the 7 down to the short rail diamond 0,5 or 1, but remember I'm playing a monster here. He'd stick me frozen behind the 8 or bank and run out. I don't think this option is even worth considering.

I'm looking forward to learning something here. A video would be awesome (you'd be a shoe in for green rep:smile:).
Click to expand...

I'm not at the table and am not certain this would work, but there is a shot I think I'd prefer.

I'd shoot a safety with the intent to leave the cueball and seven on opposite end rails. Here's how:

I'd shoot the 7 as if I was playing it straight into the corner, smooth stroke, low with a touch of right spin. My plan would be to draw the cueball back to the bottom cushion. And if I'm seeing this right, the 7 would hit the 8 ball somewhere close to half ball, and hopefully would carom to the end rail. Possibly behind the 9.

I shoot this type of shot and just create distance often. Sometimes I sell out a shot. But under the heat of battle, almost no one wants to be shooting off the bottom rail, so even if you sell out some long cut shot at least you make them earn it. And oftentimes I can come up with a hook here or leave them a very difficult return.

I am NOT in favor of playing any cutesy safety that leaves the cueball on the same end of the table as the object ball, as if you miss the hook you are simply cooked. And, as others have said, lagging it to the end rail may not leave a straight in shot, but if they're close to the 7 and can see it they simply have too many options.

Nope. Put them on the end rail and force them to prove it, either with a kick, a long distance safety, or a heck of a shot off the rail for the win.

PS- if this is bar box none of this applies. I'm assuming this is 9 foot. If this is a box then distance is pointless.
 
i dont know if i would try this, but its an idea.....shoot like you are trying to bank the 7 to about 1.5 diamond point....it will double kiss...try to double kiss the cue to the back rail, area behind 9....might double kiss 7 towards the 8....or you can do this thinner, still trying to double kiss cue ball to back rail, but trying to get 7 more towards middle of table.
 
Straightpool_99 said:
Third option was the one I chose, trying to float behind the 9. I left him an easy jump (just edge of the ball) and he ran out.

There is a fourth option to go through the 7 and stick the cueball on the 8. I was worried the 7 would come out too far. The table was insanely fast and the white is not in a perfect position for this, I think.
Click to expand...

Tough spot to be in. My initial thought was your 3rd and 4th options but both are risky for the reasons you mentioned.

One option could be to hit 7 ball in cushion (with draw) in such a way 7 hits outside edge of 8 ball and floats onto short rail (may be behind 9) and leave cue ball near the foot spot area.

This is risky as well but If you are lucky you might combo 8 in the pocket ;-) and you don't have to shoot very soft.
 
1.There are 5 pockets to make the 7 in.

2.There is the 7-8 combo.

3.There is the carom off the 7 to make the 9.

4. There is a safe behind the 9.

5. There is a safe to far end rail with cb on 8.

6. Safe to far end rail with cb to end rail by 8-9.

Under do or die situation, and touch not really being there, I'm going for the easiest option which is # 6. It gives him an open bank, but that is better than being off a little and leaving an easy shot.

edit: 3 more options-
7. Follow through the 7 and make the 8.

8. Skim the 7 and spin back off the end rail behind the 8.

9. This is the "punt" option. Carom off the 7 to the end rail, and then kick the 9 at break speed. You have 6 pockets to get lucky in. Guaranteed to show that you are in desperation mode here.
 
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Cut the 7 softly into the 8 with a ton of left or high left, spin behind the 9.

Never mind. I thought the spot was the cueball
 
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poolblues said:
I set this up on my GQ #3.
I took the 7 across corner, took the 8 across corner in the same pocket as the 7 which left the Q ball down table leaving an almost straight in shot on the 9 in opposite corner.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
It looks like the 9 is in the way of banking the 8 ball to the lower left corner. Also, it looks like there is a kiss in the 7 bank unless maybe you hit it hard enough to cross. How did you get on the 8?
 
Can you go rail first right below the side pocket and brush the 7 down towards the 8, with the cue ball spinning towards the opposite side and come underneath the 9 ball? If you get lucky you either hide the cue ball behind the 9 or tie up the 7 and 8
 
All things considered with table conditions and your confidence and your deficit I would probably have tried the 7-8 combo, not an easy shot but I would say less difficult than a safety that your opponent couldn't jump out of. No matter what you try you would have needed a good helping of luck.
 
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