9-ball: Seven Rail Shape - Did I Play this Right?

[sjm]

In a rack of nine ball today at Amsterdam Billiard Club, suffice it to say that I didn't hit the seven ball very well, and I left myself the awkward position shown below. I looked at my opponent and said "this might require seven rail shape" and the path I took is shown below.

My question is "Did I play the right shot and, what were some of the other options available?"

CueTable Help

 

[DeadPoked]

I like the shot that you chose. Depending how much angle you have, a kill shot with a lot of inside english might have killed whitey off the second rail and left you with decent shape on the 9. But that makes the cut more difficult and it might not be possible to hold it.

I'll take a mental note of that shot.

BTW... is this shot reallly for advice or just showing off?

 

[cubc]

Considering how you got shape on the 9 it can only make someone wonder what the heck happened getting on the 8

 

[sjm]

I like the shot that you chose. Depending how much angle you have, a kill shot with a lot of inside english might have killed whitey off the second rail and left you with decent shape on the 9. But that makes the cut more difficult and it might not be possible to hold it.

I'll take a mental note of that shot.

BTW... is this shot reallly for advice or just showing off?

Actually, I'm still wondering whether this was the right shot. I gave serious consideration to banking the eight into the side, cutting down the angle to the point that I wouldn't have to go around the world with the cue ball. What I noted after the fact was that I didn't beat the three rail scratch by much, which left tme wanting to evaluate some of the other options. But what were they? .... that's what this post is all about.

 

[ABall]

I would have banked the 8 ball back into the side pocket with low left, playing to hit it long if i miss. You should be able to hold the cue ball for short side position on the 9. If I do miss, the cue ball will be on the bottom rail and the 8 will hopefully be past the side pocket, which will leave a tough shot or safety for my opponent. I just think that the seven rail position will only work if you hit it perfect, and that will only be a small percentage of the time. Otherwise you could risk scratching or missing the 8 ball.

 

[Fragged]

Considering how you got shape on the 9 it can only make someone wonder what the heck happened getting on the 8

He got out of line very evidently-Thats not real hard to figure. Ive seen pros snooker themselves with 2 balls on the table about a zillion times.It even happened to me once.

 

[sjm]

I would have banked the 8 ball back into the side pocket with low left, playing to hit it long if i miss. You should be able to hold the cue ball for short side position on the 9. If I do miss, the cue ball will be on the bottom rail and the 8 will hopefully be past the side pocket, which will leave a tough shot or safety for my opponent. I just think that the seven rail position will only work if you hit it perfect, and that will only be a small percentage of the time. Otherwise you could risk scratching or missing the 8 ball.

An excellent recommendation, ABall. I considered something very similar, but your attention to detail here is greater than mine was when I encountered this position. Thanks.

 

[cubc]

He got out of line very evidently-Thats not real hard to figure. Ive seen pros snooker themselves with 2 balls on the table about a zillion times.It even happened to me once.

I know that but if he played 7 rail shape on the 9.. he should definitely be a good shape player SO it must have been one frightening shot from the 7 to the 8

 

[Franky]

I know its hard to reproduce the angles on these little tables from the memory of a game, but I tried this and went one rail with extreme right english. Not trivial to make the ball, but shape seems easy if you do.

CueTable Help

 

[sjm]

I know its hard to reproduce the angles on these little tables from the memory of a game, but I tried this and went one rail with extreme right english. Not trivial to make the ball, but shape seems easy if you do.

CueTable Help

Very interesting, Franky. Though I toyed with the idea of trying to run into the nine with the cue ball, I never considered the possibility that I could clear it with maximum reverse english on the first rail. As you said, making the ball becomes pretty tough, but this is clearly one of the options to study here. Thanks.

 

[SoundWaves]

In a rack of nine ball today at Amsterdam Billiard Club, suffice it to say that I didn't hit the seven ball very well, and I left myself the awkward position shown below. I looked at my opponent and said "this might require seven rail shape" and the path I took is shown below.

My question is "Did I play the right shot and, what were some of the other options available?"

CueTable Help

Well I know that running into things that you don't need to is generally a bad idea, but I had no problem slowing down the shot and with a tip of right I was able to run into the nine and get out a few times in a row. Your shot was great, I can see myself on the hill, making the shot, going around the table then slowly rolling the cue ball onto the pocket.

 

[sjm]

Well I know that running into things that you don't need to is generally a bad idea, but I had no problem slowing down the shot and with a tip of right I was able to run into the nine and get out a few times in a row. Your shot was great, I can see myself on the hill, making the shot, going around the table then slowly rolling the cue ball onto the pocket.

Interesting. When this position arose, I really couldn't get a clear sense of how often running into the nine would produce a shot. Your input appreciated, SoundWaves.

 

[Hal]

I've shot this about 8 times and it's really hard to screw it up. Very nice shot sjm. Rep to you.

 

[sjm]

I've shot this about 8 times and it's really hard to screw it up. Very nice shot sjm. Rep to you.

Hal, where were you? I knew you'd be along soon. I know you love the stroke shots! Thanks for the kind words.

 

[SoundWaves]

I've shot this about 8 times and it's really hard to screw it up. Very nice shot sjm. Rep to you.

I guess I need a faster table, I am strugling with his shot, I have to hit it way to hard. I will try this at the pool hall my next visit.

 

[Hal]

I've been toying around with this shot. But it aint gonna happen. Not on my table anyway.

 

[Mike_Mason]

Not an easy shot...

I just set this up on my table...and it looks a lot tougher on a real table than in the diagram lol...

I used inside english like Franky says and it came out just like his diagram...that was on my second try...the first try was an airball...I missed the object ball completely...so that was my mulligan...

I would be real nervous about sending this cue ball around the table...and that's something I generally do more than most players. I'll take Franky's way on this one.

Mike

 

[vagabond]

In a rack of nine ball today at Amsterdam Billiard Club, suffice it to say that I didn't hit the seven ball very well, and I left myself the awkward position shown below. I looked at my opponent and said "this might require seven rail shape" and the path I took is shown below.

My question is "Did I play the right shot and, what were some of the other options available?"

CueTable Help

Hi SJM,
You are a master in this game and you don`t need an advise.However I do have a comment.
The only time I play those 7 or 9 rails is when I wear pink glove,play with pink cue,wear pink beads around my neck,with pink shoe laces,carry a pink case dressed in pink shirt and pair of black pants only to look like an idiot and make the rail birds think that I got lucky with that shot.One of the many of my hustle moves.
If I am not in a mood for hustle I will just hit the cue ball at 6`O clock position with an elevated cue to get a well contolled draw and make the that 8 ball into the side pocket.This is also a stroke shot.The cue ball will not even hit the side rails and will come to a comfortable position to the 9.

 

[lewdo26]

Hard to tell from the diagram, but I wonder if you can kill it with low inside and hold it ON THE OTHER SIDE of the 9. That is, the long side. You'll be left with a thin cut but I don't know which shot takes more nerves.

 

[sjm]

Hi SJM,
You are a master in this game and you don`t need an advise.However I do have a comment.
The only time I play those 7 or 9 rails is when I wear pink glove,play with pink cue,wear pink beads around my neck,with ack me up.my hustle moves.
If I am not in a mood for hustle I will just hit the cue ball at 6`O clock position with an elevated cue to get a well contolled draw and make the that 8 ball into the side pocket.This is also a stroke shot.The cue ball will not even hit the side rails and will come to a comfortable position to the 9.

Vagabond, you crack me up!