How do you play this common shot?

KoolKat9Lives

KoolKat9Lives

Taught 'em all I know
Silver Member
Let's say you are playing a "good B" player (such as I am-ish). I've been scratching my head on this shot. :confused:

I asked a good B player to play it. He banked it three times, missing it each time (not that he was bearing down). He sold out twice. He defended his shot by stating "There's no real easy & good safety, so why not take your shot at the game now?"

I'm not going for the bank - it's low %, maybe 30% with a high chance of selling out. I've been playing a certain safe and wondering if there's a better way.

(my first cuetable. Weiiiiii!!!!)

CueTable Help

 
What's the safe? Bet it is less effective than shooting it in the hole...

What is the leave zone for the shot you shoot?
 
I would cut it thin with some running english to leave the 9 there or near the rail and go 2 rails back up table with the cue ball.

If you're confident about your aim you can play the double kiss shot. Shoot the 9 straight into the rail and let it kick the cue ball up table. That's a tough shot though. I'd rather take the bank shot.
 

CueTable Help



I'm not very good with this thing so forgive the physics. But you can do something like this.

It really depends on how confident you are feeling. There is no point in going for it if you don't feel your going to make it, you'll just end up selling out.
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Let's say you are playing a "good B" player (such as I am-ish). I've been scratching my head on this shot. :confused:

I asked a good B player to play it. He banked it three times, missing it each time (not that he was bearing down). He sold out twice. He defended his shot by stating "There's no real easy & good safety, so why not take your shot at the game now?"

I'm not going for the bank - it's low %, maybe 30% with a high chance of selling out. I've been playing a certain safe and wondering if there's a better way.

(my first cuetable. Weiiiiii!!!!)

CueTable Help

Click to expand...

Unless you're playing on tight equipment, you have to bank this ball in. If you're not comfortable with it, hit it harder than you normally would. Seriously, this is one of those scenarios where it's VERY difficult to win the majority of the time, no matter what you do. At least, if you bank, you have a chance at winning or leaving nothing. If you play safe, you have a chance of losing or leaving nothing.
 
Cameron Smith said:

CueTable Help



I'm not very good with this thing so forgive the physics. But you can do something like this.

It really depends on how confident you are feeling. There is no point in going for it if you don't feel your going to make it, you'll just end up selling out.
Click to expand...


From this distance, I strongly advise against this option. The proper safety is to simply leave the 9-ball on the siderail (only adviseable if playing on tight equipment).

The problem with this safety is twofold. You're trying to avoid the double-kiss of death AND if you fail to get a perfectly straight rebound, you're going to give up a relatively straight shot. You probably have a better chance hitting it at mach 3 and letting it fly around the table (seriously).
 
a lot of options, none great

I like the bank. The cue ball is far enough off the rail to not be too tough to work with and the cue ball doesn't need anything done to it to clear the object ball.

If I were to play a safety, I would play the simplest one, roughly a half ball hit with a soft shot to leave him on the fifty yard line between the side rails. Probably the safety that is most likely to leave the other player with a hard shot but it is a shot that I like better than the one I am looking at now. I never like playing safe to leave the other player with an easier shot than I am having to play. On the screen cue table the obvious shot is to put the cue ball and object ball on opposite short rails with a safety, locked up much better than they are now. The problem is executing the shot on a nine foot table is a bit tougher than executing it on a computer, fail and you sell out.

Hu
 
ShootingArts said:
I like the bank. The cue ball is far enough off the rail to not be too tough to work with and the cue ball doesn't need anything done to it to clear the object ball.

If I were to play a safety, I would play the simplest one, roughly a half ball hit with a soft shot to leave him on the fifty yard line between the side rails. Probably the safety that is most likely to leave the other player with a hard shot but it is a shot that I like better than the one I am looking at now. I never like playing safe to leave the other player with an easier shot than I am having to play. On the screen cue table the obvious shot is to put the cue ball and object ball on opposite short rails with a safety, locked up much better than they are now. The problem is executing the shot on a nine foot table is a bit tougher than executing it on a computer, fail and you sell out.

Hu
Click to expand...


I agree with you on both. You're supposed to like the bank. If you don't like the bank, Hu's safety is the one to play but the only reason why you shouldn't like the bank is 4" pockets. If they're 5", hit it hard and pray to God.
 
I think you have to play the bank. A safety is a terrible option here. Any time you're in a situation where both the offensive shot and the safety are both low percentage shots, shooting rather than ducking is the correct choice. If you're gonna go down, go down shooting and not ducking. At least you give yourself a small chance to win if you make the tough shot. You might even get lucky and leave your opponent safe if you miss. You give yourself 2 different ways to win.
 
if the safety is as hard or harder than the shot, take the shot. atleast you give yourself a chance to win the game right then.
 
been practicing this shot, my % of success has been going up using bottom english hitting the 9 flush into the rail and having the 9 kick the cueball straight back up the table for a safe.
 
I totally agree that you have to play the bank here. If you miss the bank it can still go safe. With that said this may be an option for you but if you can get this result you should be able to make the bank!

CueTable Help

 
Chris_Lynch said:
I totally agree that you have to play the bank here. If you miss the bank it can still go safe. With that said this may be an option for you but if you can get this result you should be able to make the bank!
Click to expand...


This is also very live. I mean, SOOOOOOO many good things can happen when you go for it. To put another way, when you're sitting in the chair, which would you rather see? Your opponent playing safe or going for it?

Honestly, I LOVE IT when they play safe.

CueTable Help

 
Chris_Lynch said:
I totally agree that you have to play the bank here. If you miss the bank it can still go safe. With that said this may be an option for you but if you can get this result you should be able to make the bank!

CueTable Help

Click to expand...
Buddy Hall told me a long time ago that the way to shoot this shot is 3 rails in the side with low, outside english. That way if you miss, and along the lines that Chris has listed here, if you miss, then you leave the cue and 9 at opposite ends of the table.

Mike
 
Mike Templeton said:
Buddy Hall told me a long time ago that the way to shoot this shot is 3 rails in the side with low, outside english. That way if you miss, and along the lines that Chris has listed here, if you miss, then you leave the cue and 9 at opposite ends of the table.

Mike
Click to expand...


Yeah, there are actually a few live pockets when you mix between Chris' diagram and mine. The absolute worst thing to do is lay up a lukewarm safe.
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Let's say you are playing a "good B" player (such as I am-ish). I've been scratching my head on this shot. :confused:

I asked a good B player to play it. He banked it three times, missing it each time (not that he was bearing down). He sold out twice. He defended his shot by stating "There's no real easy & good safety, so why not take your shot at the game now?"

I'm not going for the bank - it's low %, maybe 30% with a high chance of selling out. I've been playing a certain safe and wondering if there's a better way.

(my first cuetable. Weiiiiii!!!!)

CueTable Help

Click to expand...

I'm going to the bank with this one every time. At this point in the game you're all in, you have to go for it. The safety is harder than the shot and that's what it comes down too.
 
Agreed. Good things can happen here by going for it. Playing just a safe where there's no chance to get lucky here is totally the wrong play. If you give your opponent the first chance to win the game don't expect good outcomes.
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Let's say you are playing a "good B" player (such as I am-ish). I've been scratching my head on this shot. :confused:

I asked a good B player to play it. He banked it three times, missing it each time (not that he was bearing down). He sold out twice. He defended his shot by stating "There's no real easy & good safety, so why not take your shot at the game now?"

I'm not going for the bank - it's low %, maybe 30% with a high chance of selling out. I've been playing a certain safe and wondering if there's a better way.

(my first cuetable. Weiiiiii!!!!)

CueTable Help

Click to expand...
Take the shot. I know you'll a lot sillier selling out on a tough safety attempt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top