Bad Roll? Bad Shot? Bad Play?

[DrCue'sProtege]

here's another example of something that frustrated me quite a bit this past weekend. you can see the lay of the land below, and i decided to hit it high and come up table for position on the '2' Ball. that seemed to be the best alternative to me.

the '1' Ball had a slight cut to it, hopefully the diagram shows that. so, i pocketed the '1' Ball, and the cue ball followed down to the short rail, and headed back up table towards my intended target at Point A. however, i hit it just ever so slightly too hard, and ended up at Point B with no shot.

after going about 15 feet i was just about a half inch away from getting perfect position on the '2' Ball. i was oh so close to another runout, but i messed it up by 1/2 inch. things like this really frustrate me!

DCP

p.s. the cue ball didnt show up, but its at the point where the red line starts.

CueTable Help

 

[sixpack]

here's another example of something that frustrated me quite a bit this past weekend. you can see the lay of the land below, and i decided to hit it high and come up table for position on the '2' Ball. that seemed to be the best alternative to me.

the '1' Ball had a slight cut to it, hopefully the diagram shows that. so, i pocketed the '1' Ball, and the cue ball followed down to the short rail, and headed back up table towards my intended target at Point A. however, i hit it just ever so slightly too hard, and ended up at Point B with no shot.

after going about 15 feet i was just about a half inch away from getting perfect position on the '2' Ball. i was oh so close to another runout, but i messed it up by 1/2 inch. things like this really frustrate me!

DCP

p.s. the cue ball didnt show up, but its at the point where the red line starts.

CueTable Help

This not meant as criticism, but just an observation: You seem to get in trouble when you are going 'across the line' for position. I usually try to find a position shot where the CB can travel a farther distance through the position zone. In the shot above, the way you played it would be an option I'd avoid if at all possible.

First, I would look at the path of the CB off the one. The window between the 8&5 is actually larger than the window between the 5&9 because of the direction the CB could travel. If I could stop the CB off the one and play the 2, that would be my first choice. If I could play the one with inside top and follow two rails and get the CB moving between the 5&8 towards the 2, that would be my second shot. If the angle on the 1 is too much, then I would play left english with Draw or stun to play off the top rail and come back under the 7 or between the 7&8.

If none of those were there, then I might play the position that you played, but I would play a little more top or slight inside to add another rail and come more between the 6&5 CB moving towards the top (2 side) of the nine.

All of those options are IMO better because you don't put yourself in a position where a 1/2" error in speed causes you to lose the game.

Cheers,
RC

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

This not meant as criticism, but just an observation: You seem to get in trouble when you are going 'across the line' for position. I usually try to find a position shot where the CB can travel a farther distance through the position zone. In the shot above, the way you played it would be an option I'd avoid if at all possible.

First, I would look at the path of the CB off the one. The window between the 8&5 is actually larger than the window between the 5&9 because of the direction the CB could travel. If I could stop the CB off the one and play the 2, that would be my first choice. If I could play the one with inside top and follow two rails and get the CB moving between the 5&8 towards the 2, that would be my second shot. If the angle on the 1 is too much, then I would play left english with Draw or stun to play off the top rail and come back under the 7 or between the 7&8.

If none of those were there, then I might play the position that you played, but I would play a little more top or slight inside to add another rail and come more between the 6&5 CB moving towards the top (2 side) of the nine.

All of those options are IMO better because you don't put yourself in a position where a 1/2" error in speed causes you to lose the game.

Cheers,
RC

the slight cut that i mentioned made stopping there for the '1' not an option. it would have ended up behind the '8' and '7' ball.

your option of playing with inside to go two rails back towards the '2' and between the '5' and '8' would be a very difficult shot, at least for me. that long of shot, hit with some speed, using inside english - i would think that would be somewhat difficult.

the shot is almost straight, so using draw or stun off the short rail isnt an option.

at the time i didnt see any good options other than what i tried. and i watched that cue ball rolling down table, and i was yelling at it to STOP!!! it did, but about 1/2" too far.

speed is so important.

DCP

 

[sixpack]

the slight cut that i mentioned made stopping there for the '1' not an option. it would have ended up behind the '8' and '7' ball.

your option of playing with inside to go two rails back towards the '2' and between the '5' and '8' would be a very difficult shot, at least for me. that long of shot, hit with some speed, using inside english - i would think that would be somewhat difficult.

the shot is almost straight, so using draw or stun off the short rail isnt an option.

at the time i didnt see any good options other than what i tried. and i watched that cue ball rolling down table, and i was yelling it to STOP!!! it did, but about 1/2" too far.

speed is so important.

DCP

Possibly playing it the way you played it, but just to come off the end rail and give yourself a long shot on the two between the 5&8?

Cheers,
RC

 

[longhair]

Possibly playing it the way you played it, but just to come off the end rail and give yourself a long shot on the two between the 5&8?

Cheers,
RC

I agree completely. A foot off the end rail will do everything you need to do. When I am struggling or nervous I have to remind myself that I don't need to be close to every ball. This is a great example.

 

[renard]

Sometimes you have to ask yourself what would happen if I kept it simple instead of trying to be perfect with so many variables...