Common Shot/Scratch Potential

[Snap9]

Louis,
Haven't played with the cue table yet I will wing it with a description. I hope you remember this shot from this past weekend.

Owner of Diamonds showed you the shot that Vita made numerous times. The object ball is sitting aproximately 1 diamond from side pocket and anywhere from a half a diamond to a full diamond out from the rail. The cue ball is sitting midway between the side pockets. The shot was to cut the cue ball into the corner pocket. You made it easily the first three times while talking the entire shot. Intended target of the cue ball was to go back and forth side rail to side rail at speed while maintaining within the one diamond from the sidepocket. Hope that description juggled the memory.


Now I understand the inside english to maintain the cueball position and assist with not scratching. My question I guess deals with the speed, throw, squirt and all the items within to consistently pocket the ball.

The inside english should throw the object ball to the inside of the pocket. Is this thinking wrong? Is the speed of the shot trying to compensate for the throw? Or is the speed maintaining the projected holding of the cue ball from scratching?

This shot gets me from time to time. Normally if I am hitting inside at a slower speed the english does not grab and scratches in the side. If I use outside english in a nutshell I normally always make the shot and miss the scratch, but go below the side pocket.

Can you go over the proper technique of setting up, adjusting to the throws(english) of this shot and the proper speeds to pot the ball and maintain the back and forth shape.

Thanks, Scott

 

[Louis Ulrich]

Hey Snap,

I think that this shot would be best practiced without trying to factor in throw, squirt, etc. The difficulty in the shot lies in the degree of the cut.

When I was shooting this shot, I played it with about 1 tip high and 1 tip right to keep the cue ball out of the side. If you are using inside english on this shot and are still scratching then you need to put a little more side spin on the ball.

For aiming on this shot, start off by taking aim where your mind tells you that you need to hit it. Shoot it about 10 times or so to see where the ball is going. If you are making the ball, great! If not, hopefully you are missing the ball in the same spot each time so you know there is some consistency to how you are visualizing the shot. Make slight adjustments to your aim until you're hitting the pocket.

Also, you will have better success with this shot by using a smooth, level stroke with moderate speed. A punchy stroke is going to make this shot harder.

After a little practice, I think you will see that this is a relatively simple shot.

Good luck with it please let me know if you have any other question!

Louis

CueTable Help

 

[Snap9]

Thanks Louis!!!! You definitely simplified that shot for me. You also directly hit what I was doing that was causing my grief. Quoted from your post "A punchy stroke is going to make this shot harder." I tend to play alot of punch strokes and it was causing this shot to not perform as I wanted it to react. What I was seeing with the punch stroke was more inside throw to the object ball, and the cueball actually squirting and losing its english.

And yes, once I got set and used the firm/smoother stroke the ball pocketed easier and did the shape properly. This simplified the shot.

Thanks Louis!!

Later, Scott

 

[crosseyedjoe]

What about the case when the 9ball is more inline with the side pocket?

I can avoid the scratch to the corner pocket by slow rolling (which is not good all the time depending of the speed of the cloth); however, I would like to control the cue ball instead.

 

[Louis Ulrich]

What about the case when the 9ball is more inline with the side pocket?

I can avoid the scratch to the corner pocket by slow rolling (which is not good all the time depending of the speed of the cloth); however, I would like to control the cue ball instead.

I can't quite picture how the shot would look. Can you put it on the Cue Table?

Thanks

 

[crosseyedjoe]

I can't quite picture how the shot would look. Can you put it on the Cue Table?

Thanks

I'm not so sure how accurate the diagram is but hopefully enough to display the scenario. Seems to be more of a problem with barbox/smaller table.

CueTable Help

 

[Louis Ulrich]

I get the gist of the problem. There are actually a few possibilities for avoiding a scratch in situations such as this. It depends quite a bit on the actual angle that you have but you can beat the scratch with draw, follow, cutting the ball thin or hitting it thick to change the angle. The bar table will be a little tougher because the side holes are smaller but it is still managable in most situations.

You definitely need to set a few of these up and try it with different angles and english to get a feel for where that cueball is going after contact with the object ball. If you are still having trouble with the shot I would suggest asking one of your top local players to demonstrate the shot. It's much easier to show this shot then it is to explain it on paper.

I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

I'm not so sure how accurate the diagram is but hopefully enough to display the scenario. Seems to be more of a problem with barbox/smaller table.

CueTable Help

 

[crosseyedjoe]

Thanks for previous answer. You probably are right I need to experience the shot more. I usually bank when I'm in doubt.

This one is a variation of the same problem with no bank alternative and scratch is both possible if making the ball in the corner pocket or side pocket.

CueTable Help

 

[Louis Ulrich]

Thanks for previous answer. You probably are right I need to experience the shot more. I usually bank when I'm in doubt.

This one is a variation of the same problem with no bank alternative and scratch is both possible if making the ball in the corner pocket or side pocket.

CueTable Help

I believe that you could beat the scratch on this particualar shot with low english and aiming to the right side of the side pocket, rather than hitting the center of the pocket.