Another "What would you do?"
- Thread starter Koop
- Start date
i think i would clip the left side of the 6 with some top and try to drive the cue up above the 9 and try and leave the 7 between the cue and the 6. if i hit the 6 lightly id be afraid i would either not drive a ball to a rail or accidentally leave either a cut on the 6 or an easy safe.
Since your close to the 6, I'd thin it leaving the c/b just above the 9 close to the rail as possible. It's ok if the 7 moves a little , leaving just the top half of the six. What are they going to do there? A thin hit and getting the c/b to the rail shouldn't be to hard to do at that range.
Rod
Rod
I would hit the 6 fairly full with tops on the left side so that the six goes down to the rail and the seven and 9 end up being blockers, chances of not getting a hook are slim, the least the guy would have to make is a kick and that is if the seven does not block even that which it can do if hit right.
With that shot there is no way to really leave an easy shot for your opponent, he is gonna have to earn it. Sure the combo bank looks close to wired and for fun I may shoot it but if there was cash on the line there is no way I am shooting that as I currently have control of the table and the crazy shot is a good way to lose a game you should win from there.
With that shot there is no way to really leave an easy shot for your opponent, he is gonna have to earn it. Sure the combo bank looks close to wired and for fun I may shoot it but if there was cash on the line there is no way I am shooting that as I currently have control of the table and the crazy shot is a good way to lose a game you should win from there.
Isn't there a risk that the 7 will kick the 9 out if you hit it full? I'd go for a 1/4 hit on the lower side of the 6 with top left, to try and do the same thing others have said: nestle up against the 9 with the soft speed off the short rail. Hopefully the 7 will block the guy's kicking lane and the 6 may even set up for an easy combo on the 9 in the top righthand corner pocket. Of course, none of that's guaranteed, but the chances of at least getting a hook seem good.Celtic said:
*with fingers crossed* 
Thin cut on the 6 with heavy low left.
If it follows the plan, it will play off the rail and hide under the 9 and the cue left down table.
Dave
Thin cut on the 6 with heavy low left.
If it follows the plan, it will play off the rail and hide under the 9 and the cue left down table.
Dave
lewdo26 said:
At the speed I would hit it and the angle shown the 7 would go straight into the 9 and double kiss it off the rail while the cueball would go straight to the rail and get behind them. I assure you from that position I get my opponent trying to kick the six in with poor chances for shape on the 7 even if they make it.
DDKoop said:
The correct play is to use the 7 & 9 as blockers. If you can have the cue-ball reach the footrail on a half-ball hit, you should be able nestle that cue-ball right behind the nine, even if it rebounds off the rail by a few inches. This is a soft hit, two rails behind the 7/9, sending the 6-ball up table.
Going the other way is a good option if it weren't for the kick-factor. Unfortunately, you're destined to leave the 6-ball very close to the corner-pocket with ample room to kick. Any experienced 9-ball player is going to like his chances on making contact and possibly pocketing the ball.
Sending the cue-ball to the other side of the table is a solid play but one that requires a lot of speed which may open up the table. If you know you can control the outcome, this may be a better option simply because ducking with distance creates more problems for your opponent. If you see the outcome as somewhat random, you should consider the first two options.
Fishing is not an option. If I were in the chair, that's exactly what I'm hoping for.
DDKoop said:
Dave, nice going on posting the wei image rather than just the wei text. Actually, in general, it's a pretty good idea to also include the wei text in your post even when your post contains the wei image. That makes it far easier for others to prepare a reply that includes a wei image, as they can start from the position you have presented.
sjm said:
BINGO Blackjack...
Good point SJM and note taken.
Although everyone has great ideas and what I chose to do probably wasn't the most prudent, I sank the 9 cross corner. I looked for quite a while and just realized if I hit right the 6-7 combo would combo the 9 cross corner as long as everything got out of the way. Luckily it did or I would have sold out big time.
Thanks for all the responses.
Dave
DDKoop said:
LOLOL! Why did I know that was coming! Of course, there are situations where you should/have to go for it. Say you're blowing your opponent away and wish to add on to the pain, the low-probability combo-bank would be a good plan. Had it been hill-hill, I would definately play safe.
Jude Rosenstock said:
Hey Jude,
Thankfully it wasn't hill-hill but I'm afraid to admit that even if it was I may have still tried it
I sat there and stared at it long enough and just figured what the heck. If I can give Johhny Archer weight I can make this easy 3-ball combo
Koop
DDKoop said:Hey Jude,
Thankfully it wasn't hill-hill but I'm afraid to admit that even if it was I may have still tried it
I sat there and stared at it long enough and just figured what the heck. If I can give Johhny Archer weight I can make this easy 3-ball combo
Koop
Well Dave,
If you couldn't see what else to do then it definately was a good play. No matter what you do (right or wrong), you must have a plan and be willing to execute that plan. I know on many occasions in my days, I've been victim to the non-commitment shot. Neither committed to offense or defense and ending up selling out all the same. Being convinced that what you're doing is right even when it's wrong is sometimes better than being convinced that you're wrong even though you're right.
Also, I have the luxury of playing in the same city as some of the best defensive players in the world so I get to see some pretty creative stuff on a regular basis. You can say I've had some training in the field.
Jude Rosenstock said:
Thanks Jude,
That was basically my point. I just didn't see anything else too appealing and I was afraid of playing a poor safety and selling out. I'd rather go down swinging.
And yes you do have some of the greatest safety players I have ever seen. That's one of the reasons I go to the tournaments is to try and pick up little tidbits here and there.
Regards,
Dave
DDKoop said:
Ok Dave,
I tried all of the suggestions out. None are fail-safe and all have some pitfalls to consider.
For starters, attempting to thin the ball on the left-side and sending the six to the footrail just won't cut it. Not only is there a strong possibility you will leave it open for you opponent, there's a great opportunity for him to leave you locked up.
The distance safety was another fine option that yielded mixed results but you will definately leave a shot albeit, a very long, tough, thin shot.
The freeze safety (going into the six directly) I found to be a stall tactic. Yes, you will leave your opponent in an uncomfortable situation but he will likely have options for a response.
My suggestion (hitting the right side, avoiding the corner and hooking behind the 9) yielded the best result but it comes with the greatest risk. Thin it too much or don't hit it with the right speed and you risk scratching in the corner. You must also hope for the probable event that a ball will stay near the rail. However, get it right and you'll likely freeze him to the 9. Keep in mind, on my first attempt, I scratched and in the real world, you only get a first. You want that nine to rebound and get kissed back to the rail which is easier than it sounds. If you know the nine will miss the kiss, the safe doesn't exist.
In sum, it's a very difficult situation to be in. In the words of Tony Robles, "Sometimes you gotta hit 'em hard and pray to God." Results aside, you may have taken the best shot available.
LastTwo said:
If I see the shot, I go for the shot; if I don't see the shot, then I start to look for the safety. Once I see the shot, I don't talk myself out of it and start looking for a safety, I look for my position options. A good safety can be just as good a great shot if it is executed correctly. A poorly executed safety can be just as bad as leaving the object ball in the pocket. In Dave's situational diagram, I saw the combo-bank right away. That's the first thing my mind saw was the offensive shot. When I went back to look at the safety options, I could not see an option where I would make contact with the six and not move the 7 and the 9 balls at the same time. If figured that if everything was going to move anyway, I might as well give myself a chance to win. Even if I miss the combination, I know that I didn't face the situation with fear, or in a defensive posture, who knows, the roll might go my way and he might be left with a very tough shot.
Another rule I follow with safeties, is that I try to control the object ball, or ... I try to control the cue ball. I try to stay away from shots where I have to do both especially if there is a large amount of difficulty. I also never put the object ball in line with 9 ball (from any direction) when executing a safe. If I do that, my opponent comes to the table and is forced to kick, he might just kick that 9 ball in. That's never good.