How to handle this shot??

[TX Poolnut]

I shoot this with straight top and a soft-medium stroke. Emphasis is on just making the ball. Forget the rail.

I'm going to just make the ball and take my medicine on the longer 9-ball.

I regularly play on a 9' table. If this is on anything smaller, I'm out.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I don't think I said to let your perception of the shot narrow your options.

I didn't say you said it; I said that's what I think happens.

Maybe I'm wrong about the shot being geometrically about the same both ways. But if I'm right about that, then perceiving it to be easier one way means you'll probably tend to shoot it that way even if you might get better or easier position another way - i.e., you'll limit your own options.

If perceptions couldn't be changed I'd agree that you maybe should go with them, but they can be changed. All you have to do is practice the shot the "hard" way until it's easy.

pj
chgo

 

[SpiderWebComm]

First, I'm a DECENT player, not great.:wink: Interesting points you brought up. Let's just say, if I make it less than 8 out of 10 on either side, i'm dissapointed in myself.

However- on the side shown in the diagram, I will hit it as described. On the other side of the table, I will hit the cb lower and be more careful of the stroke used. There is a difference between the two identical shots, opposite sides to me. I've learned to make the results the same, but shoot them both a little differently.

edit: As you can see in my avatar, my left eye if centered over my cue. That probably accounts for seeing the two shots a little differently.

That's my point - well said. I know I see the two shots differently as well. The side of the table I'm on determines how I shoot the shot.

 

[jingle]

Hit the rail first, no side english, go straight across to the opposite rail and let the spin the cueball picks up bring you back across again below the side straight in on the nine.

When I first read this, I thought the CB would drift uptable. But I practiced the shot last night and you were right. By slightly clipping the rail then the CB, the CB is sent straight across the table and holds its position, without the need for english. I was able to get out 10 times in a row using this approach.

I then tried the shot several times using IE (high, low and middle). I was able to make the 8 consistently but every time the IE took the CB uptable and it ended up close to the end rail.

(it also helped that it was much lower humidity yesterday so the balls & cusion weren't as sticky)

Thanks for the help unknownpro!

 

[JoeyA]

When I first read this, I thought the CB would drift uptable. But I practiced the shot last night and you were right. By slightly clipping the rail then the CB, the CB is sent straight across the table and holds its position, without the need for english. I was able to get out 10 times in a row using this approach.

I then tried the shot several times using IE (high, low and middle). I was able to make the 8 consistently but every time the IE took the CB uptable and it ended up close to the end rail.

(it also helped that it was much lower humidity yesterday so the balls & cusion weren't as sticky)

Thanks for the help unknownpro!

Jingle,
I found out the same thing. I shot the shot a few times last night. My cue ball without any side spin, made the shot and the cue ball traveled across the table to the side rail and all the way back to the other side of the table for an easy shot on the nine ball.

I would never use side spin, inside or outside on this shot UNLESS I needed better shape which I didn't nor should anyone else. I still feel any side spin will decrease the chances of you making the shot as consistently as you will without any sidespin and your shape will also be suspect with the side spin.

JoeyA

JoeyA