McMinn/Wrong Kick Shot

Island Drive said:
When the score was 69-69 going to 70, with Shane at the 8:35.08 time line, he had this kick shot, I think he might of done better going head rail/long rail, your thoughts?

Chris Reinhold vs Chris Robinson race to 70

This weekend was the Chris Reinhold vs Shane Mcminn race to 70. Everyone take what happened?
forums.azbilliards.com
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Possibly i guess. He could have hit it but got no-rail on that shot too. Tough spot. He hit it bad for sure.
 
The 2 rail path would have had the CB go across table and the 1 near the 4, and have a good chance of getting safe. But very low chance of pocketing the ball. He was going for the 1 in the side. Considering his choice, he actually didn't miss the kick by much. A hair more over on the CB and he could have pocketed the 1.

I personally would have gone 2 rails for the safe. But I'm a banger:) Or, two rails and blast the hell out of it if playing luck (which they were not).
 
I think one rail was the right shot, especially with the pressure. The thing that made it tricky was that he had to put right english on it in order to be able to hit the ball. There was a ball that was in the way with the straight kick. Having to put a slight touch of right english made it a little more difficult. In that scenario, you have to put just a little bit more english than you think just to ensure you hit the ball.
 
CJBCoug said:
I think one rail was the right shot, especially with the pressure. The thing that made it tricky was that he had to put right english on it in order to be able to hit the ball. There was a ball that was in the way with the straight kick. Having to put a slight touch of right english made it a little more difficult. In that scenario, you have to put just a little bit more english than you think just to ensure you hit the ball.
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True, but the other ball that was in that line of track of the 1 ball, does not allow the shooter a natural, rolling cue ball.
The two railed shot is a natural/rolling feel shot, that all top players are very good at.

The spinning cue ball hitting the head rail, the grab of the rail nose is relative to dirt, humidity, cue ball speed and ball conditions.
I don't think he even looked at the two railer.
And like another said, could of gone one rail off the long rail before the side pocket for the hit, another more natural shot than his slow spinning cue ball off the head rail.
If you set that shot up ten times, a good player going two rails natural would likely hit it every time, unless they added cue ball spin.
Remember hitting a fat ball, meaning being able to hit either side makes the contact area double.
 
Island Drive said:
When the score was 69-69 going to 70, with Shane at the 8:35.08 time line, he had this kick shot, I think he might of done better going head rail/long rail, your thoughts?

Chris Reinhold vs Chris Robinson race to 70

This weekend was the Chris Reinhold vs Shane Mcminn race to 70. Everyone take what happened?
forums.azbilliards.com
Click to expand...
The best chance to pocket the ball and get natural shape was the one rail. Shane needed a touch of right, he just missed judged it. I'm sure you've practiced drills spinning the cue ball one rail, two rails, for sixty years. Hitting the ball two rails was easy but would have required luck to not sell out or make and get shape. Skill vs Luck, Shane came up short on Skill, but it was the best shot to win on.
 
He never even looked at other options on the Case game.
He just got up and made a fairly quick decision.
I know Alex P. on the case game for ALL THE CASH, would of NEVER been that fast.
When It's crunch time, one should look at ALL options.
He never did.
Even the one rail/long rail kick before the side pocket, could of gotten great ball separation and put that ball down by the table foot where there were other blockers BUT that, never was a concern.
 
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It kinda felt that way to me also/give up shot. He never even went to the head rail, to pick an exact spot for contact. And the spin came off the cue ball before rail contact.
 
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Sometimes your emotions take charge in difficult situations. He was looking like the winner a few games earlier and didn't close it out and Chris made a perfect safety on Shane and he jumped at the one railer. I agree with all the posts that the two railer might have been the better choice. Step back and look at the options then make up your mind.
 
The score was 66-64 when Shane kicks the 4 ball 1 rail into the side pocket & got out from there. That effort had to have some influence on his decision making in that last rack.
 
jtompilot said:
The best chance to pocket the ball and get natural shape was the one rail. Shane needed a touch of right, he just missed judged it. I'm sure you've practiced drills spinning the cue ball one rail, two rails, for sixty years. Hitting the ball two rails was easy but would have required luck to not sell out or make and get shape. Skill vs Luck, Shane came up short on Skill, but it was the best shot to win on.
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I also think he went with the shot that game him the best chance to win. I think the two-rail had no chance to pocket the ball.

A particular problem with that kind of shot for me is that I usually play/practice it with more speed. That lets the side spin stay on the cue ball. If you turn the speed down and don't put a little extra on the cue ball, it's got nothing when it gets to the rail. Maybe he ran into that.
 
What's interesting about coming two rails, your contact target is over 6.5'' in width. 2 1/4 + 2 1/4 2 1/4.
That's a huge kick target to ''make sure of ball contact''.

And looking at his kick/closely if it was a full hit of the 1 ball at his chosen speed, he might of rolled up on that 7? ball as the spin came off, and hooked himself.
But it appeared he had no spin upon rail contact, because whitey scratched directly in the corner pocket.
 
Island Drive said:
What's interesting about coming two rails, your contact target is over 6.5'' in width. 2 1/4 + 2 1/4 2 1/4.
That's a huge kick target to ''make sure of ball contact''.

And looking at his kick/closely if it was a full hit of the 1 ball at his chosen speed, he might of rolled up on that 7? ball as the spin came off, and hooked himself.
But it appeared he had no spin upon rail contact, because whitey scratched directly in the corner pocket.
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The hit is more reliable, the rest of it would be pure luck.
 
True, but his pre-shot fidgetiness of bridge hand and NOT picking a spot on the head rail, had ''tell'' written all over it.
 
Remember Tom you're a one hole player, I'm not. :)

But a final comment and your idea is not flawed but my closing thought, related to an earlier poster.
Since his opponent is in good physical shape, prepared for long play that's extremely important in a match like this.
Another had said about the comeback that Shane did to tie it up, that takes allot out of a player to accomplish.
His shot choice may have been good, but him being worn out showed up in thee most important part of the match.
He never had any r/h spin on the cue ball when it hit the head rail, he wanted to make sure/one dimensional thinking/being a worn out player.... that he did NOT hit the ball before the one.
When a player is on tilt mentally, his thinking is ''one dimensional''. His bridge hand fidgeting was a tell.
 
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