Float, Shoot, Bank

[BRKNRUN]

Ok, here is my contribution to the "What would you do?" type thread...

Your opponent leaves you this in a key game in front of the crowd. How would you play this shot?

Minor details...The table is about medium speed. The CB is just far enough away from the rail that a rail bridge is rather longish, but close enough to the rail that a slate based bridge would cause a very short bridge length...(one of those tweeners)


START(
%GI0M7%HY3E8%Iq0I1%Ja0M8%Po7R2

)END

EDIT:Oops...one more minor detail...The game is 10-ball...

 

[Gerry]

To me, it depends where you are in the set, and how you feel that given match. Maybe, play a billiard off the 8 into the side, then float down for the 7. You might even make the 8 in the corner. Also if you miss the billiard and get the cueball to the end rail, you may leave a tough shot for the incoming player....Gerry

 

[BRKNRUN]

To me, it depends where you are in the set, and how you feel that given match. Maybe, play a billiard off the 8 into the side, then float down for the 7. You might even make the 8 in the corner. Also if you miss the billiard and get the cueball to the end rail, you may leave a tough shot for the incoming player....Gerry

FYI: I edited the origonal post...The game is 10-ball...

 

[Hal]

I would bank the 7ball straight back up table and leave as much space between the cue ball and 7ball as possible. If the 10ball happens to block their path, that's just a bonus. Something like this:

START(
%Gr8R1%HY3E8%Iq0I1%Ja0M8%PK9D5

)END

 

[mjantti]

I don't see any good safety here, so this is one of those have-to-go-offense shots. I'd fire in the 7-ball and try to play it like this:

START(
%GI0M7%HY3E8%Iq0I1%Ja0M8%Po7R2%Ur6M4%VV4[1%WJ2O0%Xn5R2%YD0Q8
%ZI1N5%[U4Z9%\C6R4%]C4C7%^H5M2%eA8a2%_c5D1%`h3G0%as1M0%bF4Q7
%cM0N1%db6C6
)END

Probably I'd just be happy to make the 7-ball and see what the table offers me for the 8.

If there would be a little bit of angle on the long bank, I think I'd choose that but with a position to shoot softly and leave the cueball either behind the 8 or 10&9. But is not possible because the bank seems to be quite straight from you diagram. Hmm, actually shooting the long bank quite hard and stunning the cueball forward to freeze it in the short rail for the 8-ball wouldn't be a really bad shot either. If the 7-ball doesn't go, it would almost always leave a difficult shot for my opponent. Like this:
START(
%GI0M7%HY3E8%Iq0I1%Ja0M8%Po7R2%WJ6N1%Xn8R3%YD5M2%ZH4M9%[a8G6
%\C4L8%]D3O5%^I3N2%eB5a2
)END

 

[UWPoolGod1]

You could do this, but again as someone else pointed out it depends on how you are shooting, what the set is at, if you are confident in that shot. I also like the thought of banking the 7straight back up table and hiding the cueball by the side rail of the 8 possibly hiding behind the 10. If you make the shot the crowd would go nuts.

START(
%GI0M7%HY3E8%Iq0I1%Ja0M8%Po7R2%UD1R3%VI3O7%WJ2O2%Xn0R1%YD4E2
%ZH1L4%[W2Z7%\C3S1%]q1P8%^X6Z7%eB2`5%_c2D4%`j1I5%ar4O9%bP6N3
%cV5K1%db6D2
)END

 

[Snapshot9]

2 options to me ...

You could bank the 7, or you could cut the 7
in and take the cue 3 rails with the last rail
being the head end rail, and having the cue ball
come up between the 9 and 10 for shape on
the 8 into the foot right corner pocket. Plus
you could always overcut it to leave the 7 on
the foot end rail with the cue uptable.

 

[Williebetmore]

I think a good player could play a safety off the right side of the 7-ball, trying to tuck the cue ball behind the 8 - but I think its "iffy".

I like the shot below, trying to park the cue ball as close to the long rail (same long rail as the 8-ball) as possible. If you end up along that rail, you are out.

 

[Snapshot9]

Your diagram ...

I think a good player could play a safety off the right side of the 7-ball, trying to tuck the cue ball behind the 8 - but I think its "iffy".

I like the shot below, trying to park the cue ball as close to the long rail (same long rail as the 8-ball) as possible. If you end up along that rail, you are out.

Is the exact shot I had in mind .... but if you wanted to play
safe instead, just overcut the 7 and let it come off the rail
to the end foot rail, and leave the cue down right beside the 9.

 

[Williebetmore]

Is the exact shot I had in mind .... but if you wanted to play
safe instead, just overcut the 7 and let it come off the rail
to the end foot rail, and leave the cue down right beside the 9.

Snapshot,
Yes, actually trying to pocket the 7 is a little bit of a 2-way shot, chances are pretty good you'll shoot again even if you miss the 7.

I DEFINITELY like your safety better than mine (I guess that's why I'm not much of a 9-ball player).

 

[Colin Colenso]

Is the exact shot I had in mind .... but if you wanted to play
safe instead, just overcut the 7 and let it come off the rail
to the end foot rail, and leave the cue down right beside the 9.

That's the shot I prefer too.

Still, I'd almost rather my opponent had to play this shot

 

[BRKNRUN]

That's the shot I prefer too.

Still, I'd almost rather my opponent had to play this shot

That was pretty much what I was thinking too...

I looked at these shots...The slow roll / the bank / and the 4 rail

I did not like the 4 rail as "honestly" I was afraid of scratching into either side pocket, and or clipping the 9 off the 3rd rail.

I saw the bank, but at that moment I felt confident that I could slow roll the 7 ball in and even if I had come up table past the side pocket, I did not need to get all the way down table to cut in the nine....

I did get the position on the 8 ball to easily get me where I could make the 9-ball. but I sold out by just overcutting the 7-ball (could have been table roll...who knows)

This particular layout definatly exposed my weakness...(CB control...I was afraid of hitting the correct shot 3 or 4 rail)

 

[Rude Dog]

I'd cut it in with low left and play a 2 way shot. Hit it on the pro side, as some call it, and make the ball or possibly get safe. I like my chances to make it though because I use a lot of english most of the time anyway. Peace, John.

 

[Colin Colenso]

That was pretty much what I was thinking too...

I looked at these shots...The slow roll / the bank / and the 4 rail

I did not like the 4 rail as "honestly" I was afraid of scratching into either side pocket, and or clipping the 9 off the 3rd rail.

I saw the bank, but at that moment I felt confident that I could slow roll the 7 ball in and even if I had come up table past the side pocket, I did not need to get all the way down table to cut in the nine....

I did get the position on the 8 ball to easily get me where I could make the 9-ball. but I sold out by just overcutting the 7-ball (could have been table roll...who knows)

This particular layout definatly exposed my weakness...(CB control...I was afraid of hitting the correct shot 3 or 4 rail)

The 4 rail would be tough to avoid the obstacles and then you'd need some luck not to get a bad angle on the 8-ball. Not to mention if you miss it would almost certainly sell out.

As Rude Dog mentioned, try to play it to over cut if you're gonna miss with speed and spin to stop around the 3rd rail for a decent safe leave and a fair shot on the 8-ball if you make it.

 

[BRKNRUN]

The 4 rail would be tough to avoid the obstacles and then you'd need some luck not to get a bad angle on the 8-ball. Not to mention if you miss it would almost certainly sell out.

As Rude Dog mentioned, try to play it to over cut if you're gonna miss with speed and spin to stop around the 3rd rail for a decent safe leave and a fair shot on the 8-ball if you make it.

I got the overcut part right... ...

My deciding factor was shape...Missing the ball was never really even a consideration...(That is why I passed on the bank)

I knew I could keep the CB from getting past the 10-ball and getting hooked..and would have had relativly easy inside english 2 rail back up table for the nine....

I honestly had no confidence of getting perfect on the 3rd rail...and I still had the same obsticals as the 4-rail...I felt like there was very little room for position error...(lack of CB controle on my part)

It definatly would have been easier to make the 7-ball with more pace on the CB.....I guess this a perfect example of what I think separates an A player from a B player.... (CB control)...If I had better CB control, I would not have had to attempt to "roll" the CB from that distance......Now that I think about it...I probably should have at least attempted the 3 or 4 rail..At least that would have kept me at the table....

 

[Colin Colenso]

I got the overcut part right... ...

My deciding factor was shape...Missing the ball was never really even a consideration...(That is why I passed on the bank)

I knew I could keep the CB from getting past the 10-ball and getting hooked..and would have had relativly easy inside english 2 rail back up table for the nine....

I honestly had no confidence of getting perfect on the 3rd rail...and I still had the same obsticals as the 4-rail...I felt like there was very little room for position error...(lack of CB controle on my part)

It definatly would have been easier to make the 7-ball with more pace on the CB.....I guess this a perfect example of what I think separates an A player from a B player.... (CB control)...If I had better CB control, I would not have had to attempt to "roll" the CB from that distance......Now that I think about it...I probably should have at least attempted the 3 or 4 rail..At least that would have kept me at the table....

I should have said stop on the 4th rail.

Looking at the angles again, it could be tricky to get past that 9-ball to sneak in behind the 8-ball. Making the pot and hitting the 9-ball would likely leave a horrible angle on the 8 for the next shot. Perhaps a 1 rail half ball safety is an option here.

 

[BRKNRUN]

Snapshot,
Yes, actually trying to pocket the 7 is a little bit of a 2-way shot, chances are pretty good you'll shoot again even if you miss the 7.

I DEFINITELY like your safety better than mine (I guess that's why I'm not much of a 9-ball player).

A weakness of mine is being able to play safe when I feel like I can make the shot...(I am working on that)

I think the 3-rail 2-way shot was probably the way to go.....

"Tunnel Vision" under pressure...I never even thought about the 2-way possibility...I was too worried about not having a shot on the 8-ball to get to the 9-ball....which is why I passed on the (now obvious) 2-way shot....

Chalk it up as a $50.00 lesson....(Thats what the "sell out" shot I hit cost me)