14.1 - Situation I had today...

[Blackjack]

Here is a situation I had this afternoon.

I had run 40 balls, and had planned to use the 2 to set up a break shot on the 3. I had played position on the 14 because I felt it was easier to get on the 3 for my break ball due to the position of the two. Instead of getting where I wanted to on the 14, I got kind of funny and had this layout...

CueTable Help

It looks as if I ended up dead on both the 14 and the 3, but I had the slightest of angles on the 14 - and it prevented me from being able to stop the cue ball. If I would have shot the 14 in the corner, I would have had to (probably) go 2 rails to get on the 2 ball - and I just didn't feel comfortable doing that. The 3 was also a hair high on the rack, but dead in from here - so I shot it in and set up the 14 off the 2. I was on the 50 yard line with which ball to shoot - and I think I made the correct choice. I labored over the decision of whether to shoot the 3 or the 14 for the longest time. The fact that I had to do too much with the cue ball if I had shot the 14 was what prompted me to shoot the 3 instead. Plus - I don't like having my break ball that high unless I have no other options - so I consider this a lucky break - a screw up that worked out for me in the long run. This run ended at 87...Poor contact with the stack off the break shot - ran a few and locked the ball in the pack while trying to spread them out.

 

[StevenPWaldon]

87 -- nice run (I'm still gunning for a 50, myself). Good thing you had three decent break balls for the next rack.

Here is a situation I had this afternoon.

I had run 40 balls, and had planned to use the 2 to set up a break shot on the 3. I had played position on the 14 because I felt it was easier to get on the 3 for my break ball due to the position of the two. Instead of getting where I wanted to on the 14, I got kind of funny and had this layout...

CueTable Help

It looks as if I ended up dead on both the 14 and the 3, but I had the slightest of angles on the 14 - and it prevented me from being able to stop the cue ball. If I would have shot the 14 in the corner, I would have had to (probably) go 2 rails to get on the 2 ball - and I just didn't feel comfortable doing that. The 3 was also a hair high on the rack, but dead in from here - so I shot it in and set up the 14 off the 2. I was on the 50 yard line with which ball to shoot - and I think I made the correct choice. I labored over the decision of whether to shoot the 3 or the 14 for the longest time. The fact that I had to do too much with the cue ball if I had shot the 14 was what prompted me to shoot the 3 instead. Plus - I don't like having my break ball that high unless I have no other options - so I consider this a lucky break - a screw up that worked out for me in the long run. This run ended at 87...Poor contact with the stack off the break shot - ran a few and locked the ball in the pack while trying to spread them out.

 

[GADawg]

Looks like a good decision to me. Did you play the 2 in the corner or in the side? I'd love to run 87, or 47 for that matter.

Here is a situation I had this afternoon.

I had run 40 balls, and had planned to use the 2 to set up a break shot on the 3. I had played position on the 14 because I felt it was easier to get on the 3 for my break ball due to the position of the two. Instead of getting where I wanted to on the 14, I got kind of funny and had this layout...

CueTable Help

It looks as if I ended up dead on both the 14 and the 3, but I had the slightest of angles on the 14 - and it prevented me from being able to stop the cue ball. If I would have shot the 14 in the corner, I would have had to (probably) go 2 rails to get on the 2 ball - and I just didn't feel comfortable doing that. The 3 was also a hair high on the rack, but dead in from here - so I shot it in and set up the 14 off the 2. I was on the 50 yard line with which ball to shoot - and I think I made the correct choice. I labored over the decision of whether to shoot the 3 or the 14 for the longest time. The fact that I had to do too much with the cue ball if I had shot the 14 was what prompted me to shoot the 3 instead. Plus - I don't like having my break ball that high unless I have no other options - so I consider this a lucky break - a screw up that worked out for me in the long run. This run ended at 87...Poor contact with the stack off the break shot - ran a few and locked the ball in the pack while trying to spread them out.

 

[eales]

I like your choice...

Did you stop the q and shoot the 2 in the corner or draw back for the 2 in the side? I think I would have gone with the former.

Jim Eales

 

[Blackjack]

Did you stop the q and shoot the 2 in the corner or draw back for the 2 in the side? I think I would have gone with the former.

Jim Eales

CueTable Help

Here I popped the 3 in and rolled forward maybe half a ball.

CueTable Help

This gave me a nice shot on the 2 ball up in the corner and an angle to just slide over parallel to the 14, leaving me this:

CueTable Help

(green & Blue lines show cue ball path after resulting break shot - Hopefully they show up - lol)

I have been practicing getting this type of set up consistently - and I have been working on manufacturing break balls out of the stack. For a few days this week I was losing my cue ball off the break shots - having it spray into the corner pocket - Danny Harriman gave me some suggestions when I spoke to him a few nights ago and the adjustments seem to be working in my favor - for now. In the past few weeks I have had a couple of 100+ runs - some of them were ugly - some of them were not so ugly. I need to work on planning more carefully and perhaps not spreading the balls out so much on the break - I think that is what is killing my consistency lately. I''m playing well, but I know I can be playing better.

(Some of the lines went haywire - I played the 3 in the corner, and the two up in the lower right corner)

 

[bruin70]

you're right, imo. 3 - 2 was the correct play because the position was already there with very little cb movement. having two breakball options gave you the insurance. ervolino liked a bigger angle on the break , and he just drove the cb through the rack.

 

[Gregg]

87 -- nice run (I'm still gunning for a 50, myself). Good thing you had three decent break balls for the next rack.

Nice Run!@#?

Don't you know who Blackjack be?@# He eats 87 ball runs for breakfast!

Just kidding around here.

My high run is the same as Blackjacks if you remove the eight in front of the seven.

Blackjack, where is some of that information you used to have on your website that you used to offer when you posted more on the EPT? I still hand out copies of your "second ball in the apex" eight ball break, and even some good players were able to learn something about this rail break, and how to position the cue ball after breaking the rack open.

 

[Blackjack]

Nice Run!@#?

Don't you know who Blackjack be?@# He eats 87 ball runs for breakfast!

Just kidding around here.

My high run is the same as Blackjacks if you remove the eight in front of the seven.

Blackjack, where is some of that information you used to have on your website that you used to offer when you posted more on the EPT? I still hand out copies of your "second ball in the apex" eight ball break, and even some good players were able to learn something about this rail break, and how to position the cue ball after breaking the rack open.

I took down that website about a year ago. I have a new site that is currently under construction where that material and my books will be available for download in pdf format. I will stil have free samples (as always) and I will be posting free instructional material through my website as well as myspace. I will keep the website up as long as people support it by purchasing the material that is is for sale.

Stephen, I watched your 14.1 videos - I have some advice that can double and triple your runs - just some small adjustments in strategy and shot selection and you'll be stringing them together.

Here is the beginning page from Dissecting The Rack - this book will be available for sale on the website in the next week or so - this is the first page - its a "walk through the rack" - shot by shot.

 

[Gregg]

Thanks Blackjack!

I really appreciate your help, and find your to be a rare gem around here who both is knowledgeable and willing to help people of all skill levels.