Dealing with that impossible leave

[DJ14.1]

So you're playing 9-ball or 10-ball, and you're left with that shot that comes up maybe once every 2 hours. You have a perfectly open hit, but no makeable shot, no decent safety.

You've gone through your entire mental repertoire for a few minutes and you just can't find anything that doesn't leave your opponent a decent shot. You're convinced you can't even leave him tough. You know those ones I'm talking about?

What the heck do you do?

 

[Zphix]

I'd have to see an example. I'm pretty good at coming up with shots on the fly, I'm very innovative on the table lol. Must've watched Corey's one pocket matches a little too much.

I think you may be a little off in your explanation though - are there really no possible shots or safes? Or are they just low percentage and seem negligible at the time of assessment?

Furthermore, I can kick almost anything with good accuracy. Worse comes to worse then I kick the ball for separation and distance. Or tie up the ball in question.

There are just too many options and I can't even think of a shot where there are no good options or possibilities. Only once have I had a shot (opening shot after break) where I had to pull a rabbit out of my hat to not lose.

 

[prewarhero]

I find it tough to imagine that as long as I can see the ball pretty well, even if I can't leave him hooked somewhere I can at least leave him tough, cb on a rail with distance, a tough bank, tie up the object ball, or something.

 

[arnaldo]

So you're playing 9-ball or 10-ball, and you're left with that shot that comes up maybe once every 2 hours. You have a perfectly open hit, but no makeable shot, no decent safety.

You've gone through your entire mental repertoire for a few minutes and you just can't find anything that doesn't leave your opponent a decent shot. You're convinced you can't even leave him tough. You know those ones I'm talking about?

What the heck do you do?

Watch what Efren does at the 47:20 point when he has no high-percentage shot and doesn't like his safety options (I set the link to start about 15 seconds before his smart move so folks can see the situation):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=I4cguBVpTl4#t=2817

This tying up of a couple balls using an intentional foul is an often overlooked move, and doesn't always work when you're playing a very strong opponent who breaks up clusters with deadly accuracy after receiving ball-in-hand, but that wasn't the case here. Efren knew he had the nuts in this matchup.

Arnaldo

 

[DJ14.1]

I can't think of a specific example either, but it usually occurs when both the running path of the object ball and cueball after striking the object ball are basically pre-determined, to the point where you can't influence it much, and varying speed or cut angle doesn't influence too much either.

Or maybe when you have to kick at a ball under similar circumstances (both balls will move in a pre-determined way). This example contradicts my original post a bit, but you get the idea.

 

[macguy]

So you're playing 9-ball or 10-ball, and you're left with that shot that comes up maybe once every 2 hours. You have a perfectly open hit, but no makeable shot, no decent safety.

You've gone through your entire mental repertoire for a few minutes and you just can't find anything that doesn't leave your opponent a decent shot. You're convinced you can't even leave him tough. You know those ones I'm talking about?

What the heck do you do?

I can't imagine such a shot exists. But if it does, I will probably lose. That being said, I don't live and die with any one shot or game on a pool table. I am here for the long run.

 

[Donny Lutz]

Agree.

I can't imagine such a shot exists. But if it does, I will probably lose. That being said, I don't live and die with any one shot or game on a pool table. I am here for the long run.

I agree. There is no shot situation that is theoretically "impossible" to respond to with some kind of plan.

An inexperienced player will obviously see "impossible" situations much more often than one with experience. There may not always be a way to pocket a ball or even make a legal hit...but these are only two choices.