Jude Rosenstock said:
I mean, it's not a BAD idea but even if I had BIH on the 2-ball, I wouldn't like my chances at caroming in the 9-ball. However, as a general rule, it's good to make these considerations. I think getting shape on the 3 isn't as difficult as you think, especially when you consider you don't NEED to pocket the 3-ball. You can play safe on the 3, too.
For once, Jude and I agree on something. Playnig the carom is too risky, if you sell out, you're not just giving your opponent a chance to run out but a chance to end it quick.
All you have to do is get down table. If you roll too far, you HAVE to play safe on the 3. No one said you have to pocket it. In fact, I'm not even sure I would unless I was confident that I could pocket it AND roll down table leave myself somewhere between the bottom side pocket and the diamond immediately to its right.
If you can get there, you can pocket the 4 in the corner with a little low left sending you two to three rails for shape on the 5. Two rail shape is best here (between the short rail and the 5 ball) as it allows you to send the 5 up table and hide the cuebehind the 6, 7, 8 cluster. This safe
could yield Ball-In-Hand at which point you should be out. If you
DON'T get BIH, you'll still likely get back to the table.
Andrew Manning said:
What is it that makes the safety Tony played more solid than the one I would have?
The safety that you are playing here requires that you roll the CB the perfect distance down table to the rail, on a table that we are told is super fast and we are having ahrd time adjusting to. To deliberately play that position against someone who you know can run out if they get back to the table is pointless.
And should you get that position, you
DO have to worry about a double kiss. And if you get that double-kiss, you might not hit the 9. You might leave the 2 near the 9. You might sell out just trying to play safe, leaving your opponent a shot on the 2 and a chance to safe YOU on the 3 or the 5. OR WORSE, you may leave a 2,9 combo. Anything could happen. I think Jude's point is,if your safe is a low-percentage or difficult shot to pull off, its not that 'safe'.