Dead balls in the straight pool stack!

Straightpool_99

Straightpool_99

I see dead balls
Silver Member
I think most of the people are aware of most of the potential dead balls in the 14 ball rack. As an example there are a corner ball bank into the corner and into the side and a head ball shot, that can be very high percentage on certain tables in tournament conditions. Some players have now become so skilled at shooting these shots that they don't even play for the break ball if it is difficult anymore! I can't remember who it was but in the Eurotour a guy played for the head ball in the side and ignored the break ball, and he did reasonably well with it! I also know some players who are experts at these shots, particularly the corner ball bank in the side (I'm no expert myself, though I do know how to make these shots, but not with the frightening consistency of some players). With tapped in racks, and lightening fast equipment these kinds of shots can become more and more important. Is this going to be a problem for the game, or will it remain a harmless curiosity?
 
I don't think it will make a major impact. When I was first introduced to the game many moons ago, a player made several of these types of shots on me in my first tournament, but he only shot them once he determined I was no threat and he was way ahead. Anybody trying these shots against top pros is taking a big gamble, and not many will risk a match on that type of shot.
 
Even the tapped table will give a perfect rack for a certain amount of time, after that there will be gaps between (random) balls which make these off the rack shots too risky over the traditional style. Assuming you're playing against someone who can punish you from your mistakes. For ordinary play it's an addition to the arsenal to keep the run going if messing up the cueball position on the break shot.
 
The idea of shots off the pack I think are different than dead ball shots out of the pack. Dead balls are just that dead. Just hit them and they go. The shots you describe are shots that still have a high percentage of miss to them. I have practiced them and found on my table I'm about 40% on the shot on the corner ball to the side and about 17% on the corner ball to the upper corner from in the kitchen. Not shots I would take against anyone but a poor player. They are great to know to try to keep a run going but not in general play.
Here is a video of using the corner ball into the side to continue a run after I butchered the end of a rack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YJ5vLZMkZo

Andy
 
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