A Snooker Question

[fast&loose designs]

So I was watching the 2014 WSC, and noticed that on several occasions, Selby and O'Sullivan passed up easy rail cut shots and opted for what I considered to be significantly more difficult 50-60 degree cut shots to the middle pockets.

My question is: are rail cut shots, even 1-2 foot ones, difficult to sink? Do the jaws of the curved pockets reject them often enough to pass them up for such difficult middle pocket cuts? Seemed very strange to me.

 

[Pidge]

You are exactly right in what you say. Curved jaws reject a lot of balls. Its easier to make a frozen ball than a ball just off, so they will rather play to break into the frozen and near frozen balls from say the pink or black rather than play position to pocket them directly if they need that red to win the frame.

The likes of Selby and O'Sullivan don't see 50-60 degree cuts as too difficult. Its slightly harder than a 15 degree cut and slightly easier than a 70% cut to them. Especially if its in open play away from cushions. It must be nice to not view a thin cut as difficult, but that's why they're world class in their field. They often choose a pot based upon the best suited ball to get to the next colour rather than what ball is easiest to pot.

 

[Straightpool_99]

..............

 

[fast&loose designs]

Thanks guys. There was one other thing: what is this rule about a "respotted black ball"? This came up in the 7th frame of the Masters.

 

[pt109]

Thanks guys. There was one other thing: what is this rule about a "respotted black ball"? This came up in the 7th frame of the Masters.

In the case of a tie game, the black ball is re-spotted and a coin is flipped...
....the winner of the flip has the choice of shooting or not...he usually
gives the shot to his opponent, who shoots from the 'D'.

 

[lewis_rva]

So I was watching the 2014 WSC, and noticed that on several occasions, Selby and O'Sullivan passed up easy rail cut shots and opted for what I considered to be significantly more difficult 50-60 degree cut shots to the middle pockets.

My question is: are rail cut shots, even 1-2 foot ones, difficult to sink? Do the jaws of the curved pockets reject them often enough to pass them up for such difficult middle pocket cuts? Seemed very strange to me.

In snooker the rounded pockets make shots down the rail very difficult. A pool table's pockets angle the ball in to the pocket vs the snooker pockets which require a near perfect hit. On the other hand the rounded middle pockets make shooting a ball into them at an angle easier. It's as if the points of a pool table side pocket are cut out in snooker.

As a pool player that's one of the first things you discover playing snooker - those steep cuts into the side/middle pocket which are tough in pool are much easier than a shot down the rail into a corner.

Lewis