How to shoot this shot

I would tap it nice and one-pockety into the lower left corner pocket and leave the CB upstairs on the rail well to the right of the side pocket. Snap of draw english and you are done. I hardly even think about these shots, just shoot them in and adjust the english for leave. Too many bangers like to select shots based on inside english... I do understand the natural compulsion, but not on shots this straightforward,

You could put it up in the top left corner and it wouldnt be a hard shot either or even bank it back in the upper right, sane effect, while leaving the CB pretty much wherever you wanted, Try and horse this shot in and you will get what you deserve. Nice light confident stroke and yer done.

Lesh
 
Rusty C said:
Questions like these are exactly why we need players like C.J. Willey,on this forum to gives us an example why one shot is better than the other.
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I think that shot-in either pocket- is a gimme for players significantly worse than cj.

Neither is better than the other and one better be able to make it 947/1000 times...if he wants to claim even a medium level of competency.
 
I've heard two schools of thought on these 50-yard-line shots.

One is, you shoot into the pocket that favors your dominant eye.
You make balls a little better, cutting in that direction.
If you know which eye is dominant, you can pick the pocket that gives you that tiny edge.

The other says that you avoid the 'blind pocket', just cut into whichever pocket
you can see more clearly. The bottom left is a blind pocket but the top left is very visible.

If your dominant eye is your right, then cutting the ball to the right is a no-brainer either way.

I'm left eye dominant but I'd still pick the top left pocket.
Eye dominance doesn't matter much if you can't see the pocket clearly.
In terms of 'pocket geometry' this pocket is also a hair bigger.
But it's so close that doesn't matter much.

I do think the bottom left / blind pocket shot has a better chance of getting safe if you miss.
If you feel less than, say, 80% to make this ball either way, that should be considered.
 
moneytalks said:
This is crazy! I had this EXACT shot on the 8 on Monday night in my 8 ball league. We were hill - hill, and I decided to cross cut it into the bottom left corner. I cut it a little sharp, but it rattled in off the long rail. Next time I'm going to the larger pocket.

... Personally, from now on, I'm shooting at the largest target if I'm not worried about shape on the next ball.
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Im not sure which pocket is bigger, I think it depends on the table. On a typical Valley if you are cutting that shot left you can hit the long rail first and still pocket that shot. You would not have as much leeway going to the right pocket. I think on a Diamond BB Im going to the right, left on a Valley BB if I dont need shape.
 
I don't think it really matters which pocket you shoot it in. Both shots are very makeable, it just depends on which one you feel more comfortable with. The chance for scratching is definitely present when shooting into the top corner, so that has to be considered, and of course, position doesn't matter as the ball is the 9. I would probably personally shoot to the top corner, but either way is correct.
 
fastone371 said:
Im not sure which pocket is bigger, I think it depends on the table. On a typical Valley if you are cutting that shot left you can hit the long rail first and still pocket that shot. You would not have as much leeway going to the right pocket. I think on a Diamond BB Im going to the right, left on a Valley BB if I dont need shape.
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Yep, on second thought, you're right. The long rail does increase pocket forgiveness and if you miss you're less likely to leave a hanger. I was on a Valley. A 4 1/4 diamond pocket wouldn't have even considered taking that ball.

Although I did play a Valley the other night with the tightest pockets I've ever seen.
 
moneytalks said:
Yep, on second thought, you're right. The long rail does increase pocket forgiveness and if you miss you're less likely to leave a hanger. I was on a Valley. A 4 1/4 diamond pocket wouldn't have even considered taking that ball.

Although I did play a Valley the other night with the tightest pockets I've ever seen.
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You werent at Calvins place in Texarkana were you?;)
 
always shoot to the bigger pocket.... in this case its the upper right pocket
 
nobcitypool said:
It is a relatively easy cut to the top right corner pocket. A tip of low would be adequate to eliminate any chance of it going into the side pocket.
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That's the way see it also...

Here's as a slightly different question though, does being a lefty or a righty come into play for anyone? It does for me, because as a South Paw (and left eye dominant) my natural reaction to this shot is the top right pocket (I'd use low left/outside).. But if you move the shot to the other side of the table, I'd still choose go to the top right pocket. With it being the last ball on the table, position doesn't matter, so I'd shoot it with what I felt felt to be the most comfortable shot to just make it...

This exact shot is actually a shot I practice and warm up with, so I'm of course very comfortable and confident in it...
 
This shot is pretty much a toss up for me. The upper pocket is bigger from this angle but you still need to hit it pretty good .Missing this shot will most likely leave the cue ball in the middle of the table and will probably leave a decent shot.

The lower pocket also has some advantages, especially if the cloth is fairly new, If not hit to hard you can use the rail as a helper. Also in shooting for the lower pocket you can pull the cue ball back with low right to come to rest on the short rail and maybe guard against leaving and easy return shot if you miss.

Of course if I was playing one pocket the decision of which pocket would be easy.
 
JC said:
I rotated the table to get a better perspective. Back cut this all day long.

JC
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this thread reminds me of a situation after league last week. our best player was showing our worst player proper pattern selections to choose.

me and another guy got involved. we had 4 players all choosing 4 different patterns to run the 4 balls left. we decided each one of us would try our pattern and see who was correct. after each player shot the 4 balls were set up the same way again. the result is all 4 of us were succesfull in making all 4 balls.

so as the saying goes ....there is more than one way to skin a cat.

upon looking at the full layout with the table rotated here are my thoughts.

on a valley... bottom left.

on a gold crown bottom right.

on a diamond bank back to top right.

to me what type of table i am on determines what type of shot i will make a lot of times.

bottom line is shoot what shot you are most comfortable with.
 
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