For all the marbles

[supergreenman]

If the WEI diagram is accurate and you have the spacing as shown between the balls and the side rail, then the bank is definitely ON. I'd be shooting at this type of bank for sure. I like to hit that type of bank with left english so I can cut the ball a hair more and avoid the double kiss.

I didn't like the bank because the OB was closer to the head rail than the CB so I'd have been shooting uptable with speed.

 

[Williebetmore]

Will take your word for it, Barbara. As I've posted before, I've played in a bartable event just once in the last twenty five years. I'm answering as if this were a nine footer.

SJM,
What don't you guys like about just kicking straight to the head rail with the faintest touch of left English?????

Grady has had me practicing kicks where you do 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1, and 2 diamond intervals just by adjusting your English (same target on the rail, practicing both half table, and full table kicks). This seems like a pretty simple one-rail kick (especially on a bar table), I wonder how Grady would do it. It always makes me nervous when your idea is different than mine (I find, as I mentioned before, that I'm usually wrong ).

 

[uwate]

I didn't like the bank because the OB was closer to the head rail than the CB so I'd have been shooting uptable with speed.

The kick to the end rail nearly straight back is easier to judge on a strange table than the 3 rail kick that you chose imo. In particular, coming out of the corner as Fred diagrammed that Hopkins did kicks very different on bar boxes vs. gold crowns vs diamonds that I wouldnt feel comfortable doing it this way versus going one rail straight back towards the side rail and then the 8.

You nailed it though right? In that case, your results speak volumes and you absolutely chose the right shot for that moment. Players all have their own strengths and weaknesses and what would be the wrong shot for me can absolutely be the no brainer best shot for you.

 

[BillYards]

What's the problem?? Just masse that bad-boy into the hole!

Actually, I would shoot straight to the opposite short rail with a bit of left so that I would get the cueball on a nice track coming at the 8. I often shoot UWPoolGod's shot, but not for this layout... usually for balls that are hanging in the side pocket (but on the opposite side of the cueball, making a direct shot impossible).

I made the Hopkins shot one night on a bar table after my opponent scratched and gave me ball in hand behind the head string. The only difference is that the 8 was a foot farther from the hole. After I made it... the guy I was playing said I did not call the pocket! And a bystander said "I saw you close your eyes before you shot!" (I did close my eyes before I placed the cueball for the shot... to visualize the angles and how it would work, but did open them before striking the cueball.) The whole thing made for quite a discussion in the bar. I guess I showed those cowboys a thing or two! Haha!

 

[supergreenman]

The kick to the end rail nearly straight back is easier to judge on a strange table than the 3 rail kick that you chose imo. In particular, coming out of the corner as Fred diagrammed that Hopkins did kicks very different on bar boxes vs. gold crowns vs diamonds that I wouldnt feel comfortable doing it this way versus going one rail straight back towards the side rail and then the 8.

You nailed it though right? In that case, your results speak volumes and you absolutely chose the right shot for that moment. Players all have their own strengths and weaknesses and what would be the wrong shot for me can absolutely be the no brainer best shot for you.

I seem to do better at multiple rail kicks than single rail kicks for some reason. the one kick off the the head rail was something I might have tried but I've missed that type of shot many times so I usually avoid it. Perhaps it's because the angle is so small it's hard to judge.

 

[supergreenman]

What's the problem?? Just masse that bad-boy into the hole!

That's something I would like to learn to do properly!!!!!!!! but pool room owners tend to get all grumbly at you if you spend an hour doing nothing but masse shots.

Hehe, reminds me of this guy that plays on the other team that plays out of my room. I always smile when he gets set up to do a masse shot because I know I'm always about to get another shot.

 

[zeeder]

Can the CB really cross its path on the way back the way you diagrammed it? At first glance, i didn't think that was possible. But if you tried it out, I guess it is possible. I have to try it out for myself. You'd probably have to hit it very hard such that the running english would go mostly away after it hits the first rail?

By using the right-hand spin shown, you change the angle it goes into the second rail so as to take the path shown.