8-ball situation in league 9.09.09

[mapman72]

Wow, these are a lot of shots to go over so I'll just begin with the first one. I'm not fond of how you approached this. It's not a bad idea, it's just not my preference and I'll explain why. It's a high demand shot while still leaving an opportunity for your opponent to win the game. All this work, bank-in his remaining stripe while holding the cueball to leave a bank still leaves a very makeable bank.

EDIT: I just remembered you played another shot. I'm not fond of that idea either simply because you're hiding behind a ball that's frozen to the rail. Even though it's in close proximity to the ball you're contacting, that 8ball provides very little coverage. This shot would be more of an option if the cueball were closer but with the distance you have to shoot combined with the fact that you're kinda on the wrong side of the 5ball to hit it very thin, it's just too hard with little reward.

I like this idea - the primary objective is to hide the cueball behind either the 1 or the 5 and because of their close proximity, it actually makes this a fairly large target. The bonus is making the 9 which REALLY locks him up.

I'm not saying this is an easy safe but a common safe you can develop a feel for with some practice.

CueTable Help

Jude, I always like your analysis but I disagree with this one. Even for strong players I think you're 60/40 to not get safe here. There is one way to pull it off. Hit the bank perfect. If you do, you leave the 7 in the hole and get safe. If you don't, the 7 pops out a bit and you don't get the cue ball safe.

I have a theory and it goes like this...if you're between a difficult safe and a difficult offensive shot, take the difficult offensive shot because it provides the opportunity to win the game without your opponent getting back to the table. On an 8 foot table, a SL-7 should be able to cut the 7 in and get out unless you're playing on a triple shim.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Jude, I always like your analysis but I disagree with this one. Even for strong players I think you're 60/40 to not get safe here. There is one way to pull it off. Hit the bank perfect. If you do, you leave the 7 in the hole and get safe. If you don't, the 7 pops out a bit and you don't get the cue ball safe.

I have a theory and it goes like this...if you're between a difficult safe and a difficult offensive shot, take the difficult offensive shot because it provides the opportunity to win the game without your opponent getting back to the table. On an 8 foot table, a SL-7 should be able to cut the 7 in and get out unless you're playing on a triple shim.

Well, this is my justification, not saying it applies to everyone. This is a safe I'm familiar with. In 9-ball, it's very common to park the low-ball on the end-rail and hide behind a cluster of balls on the head-rail. This particular situation is very similar, the only difference is you can pocket the stripe.

You have two objectives - hide behind the cluster and pocket the stripe. If you accomplish either, your chances of winning are huge since if you hide the cueball, you're leaving a difficult kick and if you pocket the stripe, you're blocking the natural pocket for the 8ball. I'm sorry but I'm certain (at least for me), the chances of accomplishing this safety is much much greater than any offensive option available and I'll play this safety against anyone, especially an s/l 4.

 

[mapman72]

Well, this is my justification, not saying it applies to everyone. This is a safe I'm familiar with. In 9-ball, it's very common to park the low-ball on the end-rail and hide behind a cluster of balls on the head-rail. This particular situation is very similar, the only difference is you can pocket the stripe.

You have two objectives - hide behind the cluster and pocket the stripe. If you accomplish either, your chances of winning are huge since if you hide the cueball, you're leaving a difficult kick and if you pocket the stripe, you're blocking the natural pocket for the 8ball. I'm sorry but I'm certain (at least for me), the chances of accomplishing this safety is much much greater than any offensive option available and I'll play this safety against anyone, especially an s/l 4.

I hear ya. That's the great thing about pool though. We play to our individual strengths. Keeping punting :grin: Couldn't resist after that game last night. Lots of punts.