perhaps this was discussed in previous threads...if so, forgive me for asking...but just out of curiosity...how do you go about looking for dead balls in the stack...do you see what may potentially line up for one of the corner pockets?...or do you have some other more elaborate means of evaluating your stack?
dead balls in the stack
- Thread starter BigAL
- Start date
sausage
Banned
bigal: there's an interesting shot diagrammed in one of robert byrne's books on this subject. it was a "trick" shot that willie used to demonstrate how dead balls can hide in a pack. to the untrained eye, there's nothing to shoot.... few things are more satisfying in 14.1 than calling and making a "hidden" dead ball. i'll look for a link in a bit.
Dead balls
It is something that comes in time. What to look for such as (throw shots, caroms, etc.). I agree with Blackjack. Try to pick up a copy of Ray Martin's 99 Critical Shots. It is a great book.
It is something that comes in time. What to look for such as (throw shots, caroms, etc.). I agree with Blackjack. Try to pick up a copy of Ray Martin's 99 Critical Shots. It is a great book.
BigAL,
If you haven't seen the video of Crane's 150 and out against Joe Balsis, check out the shot he makes to START the run, after a safety battle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOSbZaQADc8
Crane takes over the table at the 2:00 mark and you can see him studying the pile carefully. The shot is at 2:40, and it's a beauty!:thumbup:
Thanks guys...i know this is one area of my game that is keeping me back from big runs...definitely will look into the 99 critical shots book
A Good Laugh
Sausage - you really made me laugh today. I didn't read the OP's name until I read your post referring to bigal. I assumed, incorrectly of course, that the OP was bigal, or bi gal (a woman in comfortable shoes). When I scrolled up to confirm the posters nickname I nearly sprayed my iced tea all over my monitor when I saw Big Al. Thanks for the laugh.
Sausage - you really made me laugh today. I didn't read the OP's name until I read your post referring to bigal. I assumed, incorrectly of course, that the OP was bigal, or bi gal (a woman in comfortable shoes). When I scrolled up to confirm the posters nickname I nearly sprayed my iced tea all over my monitor when I saw Big Al. Thanks for the laugh.
Hussa,
if you re playin straight-pool and call a shot- it has to be 100%. If you re at least a bit unsure, just let it be!No matter if it s a crazy ball out of the stack or just a *monster-combination*. What ever you do, no matter if it s safety or calling a shot, just do what is 100% for you.
lg
Ingo
if you re playin straight-pool and call a shot- it has to be 100%. If you re at least a bit unsure, just let it be!No matter if it s a crazy ball out of the stack or just a *monster-combination*. What ever you do, no matter if it s safety or calling a shot, just do what is 100% for you.
lg
Ingo
Pool Simulator
There is a PC Program called Virtual Pool 3. It has been out since 2000. Some people look at it as a PC game, but I have news for you its far more. It is an actual simulator. Everything you can do on a real table can be done in this simulator, and visa versa.. As far as "Dead Ball Shots for straight pool can be found by using the "Trick Shot portion of this simulator. You can set up a full rack and find what ball goes. Some of these shots go 7 out of 10 times on a real table.great learning tool. You can adjust table speed (cloth speed), rail speed, pocket size, and pocket cut. Every pool game can be played on this simulator, even Snooker. Everything in real life pool comes into play on this simulator, squirt, swerve, etc. The graphics are amazing. Check it out. www.celeris.com Everyone plays an opening break and tries to make both corner balls return to the pack, but how many times have you made it? maybe 1 out of 15? I have found at least 4or5 dead ball shot from a rack that work 75% or more on a real table...Try it , you'll love it. You can even play it on line with people from all over the world...
There is a PC Program called Virtual Pool 3. It has been out since 2000. Some people look at it as a PC game, but I have news for you its far more. It is an actual simulator. Everything you can do on a real table can be done in this simulator, and visa versa.. As far as "Dead Ball Shots for straight pool can be found by using the "Trick Shot portion of this simulator. You can set up a full rack and find what ball goes. Some of these shots go 7 out of 10 times on a real table.great learning tool. You can adjust table speed (cloth speed), rail speed, pocket size, and pocket cut. Every pool game can be played on this simulator, even Snooker. Everything in real life pool comes into play on this simulator, squirt, swerve, etc. The graphics are amazing. Check it out. www.celeris.com Everyone plays an opening break and tries to make both corner balls return to the pack, but how many times have you made it? maybe 1 out of 15? I have found at least 4or5 dead ball shot from a rack that work 75% or more on a real table...Try it , you'll love it. You can even play it on line with people from all over the world...
Dead ball play involves both recognition and prediction. The knowledge of how balls throw, mesh, and carom when they are frozen or slightly parted is part of this process. Once understood, predicting the amount or degree of movement relative to the pocket opening is the real key. Speed of impact and cue ball spin also can affect the amount of movement.
Once spotted these shots should be carefully considered before just pulling the trigger. Often, it makes sense to clear all loose balls before playing the dead shot as they frequently result in some degree of secondary break. Or, sometimes they can offer a safe way back if going up table to play an escaped ball. In other words, you have a shot you know can be made from a distance. Thus, it important to ensure that maximum advantage is being gained before harvesting your gift.
There are many other aspects of dead ball play but for today, enough said.
_Rick
Once spotted these shots should be carefully considered before just pulling the trigger. Often, it makes sense to clear all loose balls before playing the dead shot as they frequently result in some degree of secondary break. Or, sometimes they can offer a safe way back if going up table to play an escaped ball. In other words, you have a shot you know can be made from a distance. Thus, it important to ensure that maximum advantage is being gained before harvesting your gift.
There are many other aspects of dead ball play but for today, enough said.
_Rick
sausage
Banned
lol.... it's amazing how things can change just by omitting caps.
Suppose.... Your opponent barely nudges the rack on a break shot. With no good shot after the break, he skims the side of the 14-ball rack and nearly freezes the cue ball to the end cushion. In skimming the rack, he has moved a ball so that it looks like there is a combination out of the rack. The safe is very difficult to play. If you choose to play safe, you have much less than a 50% chance to get the first open shot. Oh, and you're already on two fouls.
The combination out of the rack looks close, and you estimate it to be a 45% chance. There is no other problem with the shot: it can't be kissed out and the balls will be well-broken and the cue ball is very unlikely to scratch.
In this situation, you should shoot the combination even though it is less than 50%.
Ron, I thought that when you saw the OP's name you would have thought about that club you used to frequent.
Hey bob,
Welcome back... Haven't seen you post on a while !
I can't say that I agree with you 100%
If being on 2 fouls against a player that os very capable of running several balls I would probably opt to take the foul and lose 16 points... But even that is a bad choice since the opponent would have the upper hand in just waiting for you to make the first mistake...
Sounds like a touchy stale mate situation to me !
-Steve
Good Question
Bob:
Good question and I enjoy questions like this one.
There are two factors that answer this question.
#1: All would highly depend on the score of the game.
#2: the skill of your opponent.
If it is early in the game and I know that my opponent does not run more than 40 balls. I take the shot on the combination.
If it is late in the game where he is within winning the game on a very small run. I play safe, even if it involves three in a row.
Bob:
Good question and I enjoy questions like this one.
There are two factors that answer this question.
#1: All would highly depend on the score of the game.
#2: the skill of your opponent.
If it is early in the game and I know that my opponent does not run more than 40 balls. I take the shot on the combination.
If it is late in the game where he is within winning the game on a very small run. I play safe, even if it involves three in a row.
The problem I see with this strategy is that if you shoot the opening break shot after a third foul, I think you are less than 50% to have the first open shot. (Otherwise, you would choose to break when winning the lag.) That means taking a third foul not only loses you 16 more points, but it will probably give your opponent the first shot. In the scenario above, there was no way to get him on two before your third.
If you take the combo and it goes, you have a chance to run out. I prefer the positive path.
Another factor to consider when there is "maybe" a shot out of the rack is that you can't afford to leave it for your opponent to shoot. You have to either not give him an angle to hit it or you have to disturb it in a way that is guaranteed to spoil it.
I once heard Irving Crane say that in all the years he played Mosconi, Willie never left him a shot in the rack.
