In this situation, we need to get on our key ball. Which route (Black, Red, or blue) would you choose and why?
Getting from the Set Up Ball to the Key Ball
- Thread starter Blackjack
- Start date
I like the red because it's a natural position shot to get there and I can play stop-shot positioning for the break ball.
Edit:
My eyes are bad-- can you stop shot with the red on the key ball? Hard to tell. If not and the CB gets sent to the center of the table, blue is my choice. The gray just seems to have too much room for bad stuff to happen.
Edit:
My eyes are bad-- can you stop shot with the red on the key ball? Hard to tell. If not and the CB gets sent to the center of the table, blue is my choice. The gray just seems to have too much room for bad stuff to happen.
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Dave
This is a situation that comes up all of the time. There is a set up ball that is lower than the key ball, and you really have no "Stop-Stop" pattern because there is a funny angle on the 5.
So let's look all 3 options...
Black Line
Using the black line route, you run the risk of coming back too far. You have to get exact position for the 14 in the side, and if you fall too short (position A) or too long (position B) you're screwed.
Perfect is a good option when its easy. Here it's got a few red flags, so I'll abandon it.
Red Line
The red line has few more red flags.
If I fall too short (Position A), I'm on the wrong side fo the 14. If I fall too long (Position B), I'm on the wrong side of the 14.
If I try to get too cute by sliding over for the 14, I have whitey going directly towards the side pocket. That's never a good thing. (page 2)
So I'll skip that option also.
Blue Line
The main issue here is trying to get straight on the 14. As you said, if you can get a stop shot on the 14, you're good to go. The blue line takes you farther away for a longer shot, but it straightens out the angle to get correctly in the 14. Even if I fall short Position A), I can use the rail to get on the break ball. If I fall long (Position B) it actually gets me straighter on the 14. Just don't go too far or whitey goes in the corner.
IMO, anything between A and B will work just fine. That is a large area to work with and it provides a large margin of error.
I was going to post smth similar to your point of view. I suppose we were expecting you to reveal the answer in "getting to break ball" thread first.
In the break ball thread, Steve provided the correct answer - and why you should avoid the other two routes.
This situation has an equal lesson when it comes to playing position, and I hope everybody can get something out of it.
As far as turning over the cards too early - I had planned on providing the entire lesson in the first thread - but decided to toss it out there first.
Dave gave me the question that I was fishing for to provide the answer, so I just pasted it in there.
This situation has an equal lesson when it comes to playing position, and I hope everybody can get something out of it.
As far as turning over the cards too early - I had planned on providing the entire lesson in the first thread - but decided to toss it out there first.
Dave gave me the question that I was fishing for to provide the answer, so I just pasted it in there.
margin of error, short vs long position zones
i like the blue line since both other options have very short margins for error and they go directly through the position zone as oppose to the blue line doesnt go as severely through the position zone and as i said the margin of error is greater and again the position zone path is larger due to the angle. if u get bad shape on either the red or the grey u r in trouble with very small room for error...with the blue line u try to get as close to staight on the object ball to set up for a stop shot if u end up short u can use the rail to naturally come back out for good shape on the break-out ball. again with the blue line u have a huge margin for error since the angle is greater and the path of the cb is longer moving INTO the position zone AS OPPOSE TO THROUGH IT. ideally it would be best to come into the position zone as oppose to through but the blue is as close as it gets here...however, u just dont want to get long and on the wrong side of the ob with the blue line. yes or no???
james
i like the blue line since both other options have very short margins for error and they go directly through the position zone as oppose to the blue line doesnt go as severely through the position zone and as i said the margin of error is greater and again the position zone path is larger due to the angle. if u get bad shape on either the red or the grey u r in trouble with very small room for error...with the blue line u try to get as close to staight on the object ball to set up for a stop shot if u end up short u can use the rail to naturally come back out for good shape on the break-out ball. again with the blue line u have a huge margin for error since the angle is greater and the path of the cb is longer moving INTO the position zone AS OPPOSE TO THROUGH IT. ideally it would be best to come into the position zone as oppose to through but the blue is as close as it gets here...however, u just dont want to get long and on the wrong side of the ob with the blue line. yes or no???
james
i prefer the black line, blackjack.
if i miss just a bit long, i can play it down in the near corner. if i draw back even farther, i still have a chance to play into the far corner.
in summary, the black line leaves me three possible pockets for the key ball.
just my two cents. interesting problem. thanks
jim
if i miss just a bit long, i can play it down in the near corner. if i draw back even farther, i still have a chance to play into the far corner.
in summary, the black line leaves me three possible pockets for the key ball.
just my two cents. interesting problem. thanks
jim