How do you play this?

Texas Prez

Texas Prez

Hook'em...Enough Said
Silver Member
Okay so its TAP Nationals, your team is tied with matches won with your opponents and it comes down to a sudden death rack to advance your team to the finals.

So a high pressure situation in eight-ball, and you are trying to hit the ten-ball.

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What do you do???

And remember this is on a seven-foot table so the one takes up the straight two-rail kick.
 
It's impossible to tell but...

The two-railer seems like it's going long from the diagram. You'd have to masse the ball.

So I'd go with the four rail kick here. Only, you're going to have to kick it with enough speed to send the 10 downtable and hit a rail.

If you hit deep enough close to the corner pocket on your third rail, the cueball should stay on the opposite side of the table from the 1.

I don't know. I'm kind of guessing.
 
JoeyA said:
I might try this as the angles look like it might work out.

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Joeya
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That might be on. I don't know.

At first it looked to me like it would go long. But on a computer screen, who can tell?
 
I agree...

The two rail kick does appear to be "on". Guess the big determining factor would be how good the rails are. Do they bank true?

If so, you should be able to imitate an "Efren" style kick shot and get out.
 
I use a two-rail kicking system taught to me by Charlie Bryant. It's very effective with a consistent stroke. I'm at least hitting that ball 95 percent of the time.
 
TX Poolnut said:
I use a two-rail kicking system taught to me by Charlie Bryant. It's very effective with a consistent stroke. I'm at least hitting that ball 95 percent of the time.
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Did he ever get that book out that teaches it. Wasn't it going to be call "I see what you don't"?

Also Texas Prez, the Monk 201 series With Tom Rossman has a very effective way to hit these. Of course this doesn't help you now, but for future reference.

I myself would have played for the 2 rail hit on the 10 but still called in the lower left corner. If played the right speed (pocket speed) you may make the shot leaving good shape on the 8. If you hit and missed it you may leave good distance to the 1.

Hope this helps.
 
With due respect to others that have posted in this thread, I had yet to read a complete solution until I read the post before mine by TJLMBKLR. A key component of the shot decision here is speed. First of all, I'm going with JoeyA's kick every time here, which is the best chance to win. Shape on the eight is guaranteed if the shot is made. However, if you just get up there and thoughtlessly hit the kick hard, if you miss, there's a good chance the cue ball will return uptable, endng your chances. So hit the kick on the soft side, to give yourself the extra chance to leave your opponent a long, tough leave if you miss. In a tough position like this, give yourself two ways to win.
 
thank you sir.

I preach speed all the time on Kick/safes to my league partner. He seems to think because he is kicking he has to hit hard. :angry:
 
I would be attempting the same two rail kick her also. I also would be kicking just hard enough to make the ball. If I hit the OB and don't make it, I want to leave the CB as far away from my opponents OB as possible.

Russ.....
 
Thanks guys but as I mentioned before, the straight two rail kick wasn't there, this was my first choice as well, but because the one was in the way it could not be kicked at from the right side of the one. It was a seven-foot table and the one is in the way. Cuetable can only give a idea of what the shot was.

So let me put it this way:
If the two rail kick off the back rail was not there what would you play?
 
Texas Prez said:
Thanks guys but as I mentioned before, the straight two rail kick wasn't there, this was my first choice as well, but because the one was in the way it could not be kicked at from the right side of the one. It was a seven-foot table and the one is in the way. Cuetable can only give a idea of what the shot was.

So let me put it this way:
If the two rail kick off the back rail was not there what would you play?
Click to expand...

Sorry about that....
The other way to try and make contact with the ten ball is to jack up a little bit with a slight downward stroke and some right hand spin added in and hit the head rail rather hard but not hard enough to jump the cue ball off the table or up in the air. Grady Mathews show a similar shot in on of his tapes.
JoeyA
 
These were tournament tables so the cloth played really fast and the cushions were extremely fast. Their speed made them very difficult to predict. Because this was a do-or-die situation and I wanted to eliminate as many variables as possible I decided on a one-rail kick with a lot of left. I missed it by a centimeter and scratched in the corner pocket but I felt this was my best attempt at hitting the ten, hitting a rail, and then leaving him with the worst shot possible, all the while having an opportunity to pocket the ten and have a position on the eight. Tough out but I feel I gave the best effort and made the best decision possible considering the circumstances.

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I actually like a three railer as a second option here. I believe you need to stretch the angle with a slight bit of left english.

Hit with the speed to move the 10 ball in front of the side with a full in the face hit. Two possible positive outcomes are 1. Hooking your opponent. (If you strike the 10 ball full in the face, a hook is likely. Cue ball falls to the rail, 10 ball bounces one rail in between the 10 and 1.) 2. The 10 ball is hit thin on the back side, and moves towards the 8, possibly tieing it up.

With the one rail kick, the only positive outcome comes from getting a good enough hit to leave the10 ball in front of the corner pocket.

Since the one rail requires precise control of english, speed control, etc, I recommend just taking the time to figure out a first rail and second rail contact point, and just go for the three railer like this:


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Added bonus.. If you get the hit and sset the 10 in front of the side pocket.. If he hooks you again, just kick in the 10 and get perfect on the 8.. :)

Russ
 
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Texas Prez said:
These were tournament tables so the cloth played really fast and the cushions were extremely fast. Their speed made them very difficult to predict. Because this was a do-or-die situation and I wanted to eliminate as many variables as possible I decided on a one-rail kick with a lot of left. I missed it by a centimeter and scratched in the corner pocket but I felt this was my best attempt at hitting the ten, hitting a rail, and then leaving him with the worst shot possible, all the while having an opportunity to pocket the ten and have a position on the eight. Tough out but I feel I gave the best effort and made the best decision possible considering the circumstances.

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if thats you in your avatar, i can say this probably was the best option...since you are left handed. the one rail kick as you chose would be very difficult for a right handed player.
 
Ironman317 said:
if thats you in your avatar, i can say this probably was the best option...since you are left handed. the one rail kick as you chose would be very difficult for a right handed player.
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Very good observation...yep I'm a lefty. If only those left handed cues weren't so damn expensive I would have made the shot! :wink:
 
Ironman317 said:
if thats you in your avatar, i can say this probably was the best option...since you are left handed. the one rail kick as you chose would be very difficult for a right handed player.
Click to expand...

He was playing on a seven foot table.

Russ
 
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