How would have you played this shot...in the game of 8-Ball??

mattman

mattman

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Silver Member
Here is the shot I was faced with last night in league. It was the last game of the night and the league is VNEA. I ended up nearly (super slight angle, shown by the line) straight in on the 3 ball and it's my turn. FYI (if it matters), we are tied up in points for the night. If I pocket one more ball, we win 1 point, out of 5. The other four points are determined by rounds and not really a factor for this discussion. Anways, tell me how you would play this shot. I will tell you how I played and then give you another diagram and ask how you have played it. After a couple hours after the match was over, I came to the conclusion on how the correct way to play the shot.

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jimmy-leggs said:
would'nt you just sink 3 ball with back spin,cut the nine,and sink 8.if you only need one ball(3).done deal.???????????
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That would be a foul.....randyg
 
I'd play the three in the corner with draw back to the original cue ball position. Then I'd play safe by hitting the 8 ball off the rail and trying to leave the cue ball snug up against the 9 with little to no angle. The point would be to get the 8 out to where I can see it from most places on the table and give him a tough shot to come back with another safety on. With all this said, I could probably cheat the pocket and throw the ball into that 9/8 action if I was having a good night.
 
I'm playing safe. It's hard to say EXACTLY how my shot would go since I really have to be at a table to judge but this is sorta what I'd try to accomplish: 1. Leave the 3-ball near a pocket, leave the cue-ball with no available shot on the 9.

CueTable Help

 
Safe

Why not call safe and play a stop shot on the 3 ball in the corner?

Or roll out on the three a little bit, and come up behind the nine for a soft clean hit on the eight leaving the cue behind the 8 and nine?
 
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txplshrk said:
Why not call safe and play a stop shot on the 3 ball in the corner?
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The problem with doing this is the incoming player would immediately safe you behind the 9-ball. From that position, it's really not that hard to do.
 
mattman said:
Here is the shot I was faced with last night in league. It was the last game of the night and the league is VNEA. I ended up nearly (super slight angle, shown by the line) straight in on the 3 ball and it's my turn. FYI (if it matters), we are tied up in points for the night. If I pocket one more ball, we win 1 point, out of 5. The other four points are determined by rounds and not really a factor for this discussion. Anways, tell me how you would play this shot. I will tell you how I played and then give you another diagram and ask how you have played it. After a couple hours after the match was over, I came to the conclusion on how the correct way to play the shot.

CueTable Help

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Well I'd have to be at the table to say for sure, but it would look something like this... notice my english doesn't take effect until the 18th rail. And while some of you may doubt my ability to make this shot, you have to remember I've been wearing my ankle weights for 3 days straight, so this would be effortless.

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txspaderz said:
I would cheat the pocket on the 3 with top and try to come back for the breakout.
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This is risky especially when you consider your opponent doesn't have much of a shot as is.

You're better off baiting them to break open the cluster while leaving yourself a pocketable ball.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
I'm playing safe. It's hard to say EXACTLY how my shot would go since I really have to be at a table to judge but this is sorta what I'd try to accomplish: 1. Leave the 3-ball near a pocket, leave the cue-ball with no available shot on the 9.

CueTable Help

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JMO, looks like a double-kiss on the 3 to me. Unless you use outside english, which would carry the cue ball out too far. I would take this approach. Then with ball in hand break out the 9-8

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True true. Maybe call safe, and pocket it with draw, maybe a little left to get it to come back and sit on the short rail?
 
txplshrk said:
Why not call safe and play a stop shot on the 3 ball in the corner?

Or roll out on the three a little bit, and come up behind the nine for a soft clean hit on the eight leaving the cue behind the 8 and nine?
Click to expand...

Because the reverse leave would be too easy to execute imo... meaning, your opponent would simply thin cut the 9-ball on it's left-hand side and send whitey cross-table to rest very near the close long rail.

What I would do is lay up the 3-ball right above the corner pocket... and force my opponent to play a safe and try to hook me behind either the 8 or his 9-ball.
 
Shoot he three in the corner cheating the pocket with 5 o:clock draw. Med. stroke. Johnnyt
 
klockdoc said:
JMO, looks like a double-kiss on the 3 to me. Unless you use outside english, which would carry the cue ball out too far. I would take this approach. Then with ball in hand break out the 9-8

CueTable Help

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Well, there IS a lot of crossing going on but both kisses aren't going to cost you the game (unless the cueball gets kissed in the bottom-left corner which is unlikely).

Your safety is too idealistic. For starters, you have to MAKE SURE you hide the cueball perfectly which just isn't going to happen most of the time. Second, you're assuming you're going to get BIH. If your opponent has any chance of leaving you up table, he's going to have an opportunity to break open the cluster and leave you long and tough. IMO, you can't assume ANY safety here will yield BIH.
 
txspaderz said:
True true. Maybe call safe, and pocket it with draw, maybe a little left to get it to come back and sit on the short rail?
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Even then, you're giving your opponent an opportunity to control too much. You want that 3-ball on the table and near a hole because it makes a safety on the 9-ball far more difficult.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
I'm playing safe. It's hard to say EXACTLY how my shot would go since I really have to be at a table to judge but this is sorta what I'd try to accomplish: 1. Leave the 3-ball near a pocket, leave the cue-ball with no available shot on the 9.

CueTable Help

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Jude,

I think that would work against lesser players, but better players will beat you in the ensuing safety battle > 50% I think.

This thread is too slow for a detailed explanation, I'm going crazy trying to type this.

I think you need to play for a better endgame and get the CB frozen on the 8.

What I would do, because I'm great at this type of shot is make the three and kick 1 rail to freeze CB on 8. If that's too risky, then at least put the 3B in between CB and 9B by playing 3B off end rail and following CB. SOFT.
 
sixpack said:
Jude,

I think that would work against lesser players, but better players will beat you in the ensuing safety battle > 50% I think.

This thread is too slow for a detailed explanation, I'm going crazy trying to type this.

I think you need to play for a better endgame and get the CB frozen on the 8.

What I would do, because I'm great at this type of shot is make the three and kick 1 rail to freeze CB on 8. If that's too risky, then at least put the 3B in between CB and 9B by playing 3B off end rail and following CB. SOFT.
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Well, I think both your options are taking a lot of risks. Yes, in my play there is definitely a safety battle in the works BUT by placing the 3-ball near the pocket, you gain a lot of flexibility.


There is a simple truth here that I think most fail to recognize - Your opponent is getting back to the table and will have a safety option. The objective is to minimize their options with the highest percentage play possible. There's no need to kick into safeties or try to hide them from seeing the 9-ball. There's just too much risk and not enough reward. I mean, please go ahead and diagram this because I cannot fathom how any kick could be the correct shot.


All you have to do is take away the angles necessary to pocket or safe on the 9-ball and you're in business. Yes, this game may take a couple innings but if you continue to play percentage-pool, you can win it.
 
push the 3 up to the pocket so its difficult to play safe on and let your opponent move the 9. That will also make it difficult for him to make the 8 if he should get lucky on the 9. Make sure you follow with the cue to get it above the 9/8.
 
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