I sent the link to all our league members. The guy who is the best player in all the leagues said he really enjoyed it and it should be required viewing for anyone who wants to play in our leagues.
I am still not done watching it. I liked when Danny said even though you are a 150+ ball runner, you are still trying to get better. I wish I could inoculate the guy I played last night with some of that. "It's just a game...you made a nice shot...why are you getting so serious about it?"
At around 22 minutes in, after you did the break shot that kind of stunned and the cue ball almost scratched, I thought you would shoot that shot on the rail and go forward, leaving yourself perhaps a shot in the side, to be followed with a break shot up above the rack. Instead, you tried to draw the cue back and came up short and had to make that tough cut on the nine. Why didn't you just go forward? it looked easier and it looked like you could have possibly shot any one of the four open balls thereafter.
Dennis, I think i was flatter on this ball than it looks, and therefore was concerned about getting on the 11 in the side. I do think that is my only reasonable next shot (no way I was getting on the two balls by the side, and if I play for the other open ball (looks like the 12), then I lose my only solid break shot). While it's true I could have maneuvered to a position where I might have been able to use one of those balls in the side as a break, I think it's a few awkward shots in a row to do so.
So the key is that, if going on the assumption that with topspin the only reasonable ball to play next is the 11, then unless I get perfect I am in at least some trouble. If I get too far under it (which is likely considering how flat I am on the current shot) then I have some serious problems as the 4 and the 9 do not pass one another into the side. If I somehow get over it, I'll be forced to use it as a break ball, which I would find awkward at that angle as well. There are some rail problems as well with the topspin shot, as I am likely to end somewhere close to the right side cushion.
Also, the draw path - if I hit it even halfway decently - allows me a shot at all four open balls. The topspin, there's only one that I would even want to play for, and unless I get really good on it, it could easily be the end of the run.
Obviously, some of my defense on this point is marred by the fact that I did get so bad with the draw. Perhaps the shot was harder than I figured, perhaps I just didn't hit it well. But I definitely liked the idea of getting to center table after one shot, rather than two.
Oh, by the way, thanks for sending out the link to your league members, Dennis.
- Steve
