How Would You Play This? 2/20/2014

Jude Rosenstock

Jude Rosenstock

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This was something that came-up for me recently. I'm sure quite a few of you will provide an answer similar to the shot I actually performed but thought it would make for interesting discussion.

The game is 9-ball. You're on relatively new cloth so you can feel confident about avoiding the scratch in the side. How would you get position on the 9?

I've provided a screenshot and the Wei link for convenience.

howwouldyouplaythis2014_02_20.GIF

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CueTable Help

 
If the scratch in the side can actually be avoided, then I just cut the 8 in the corner. Hitting the CB at around 1 o'clock so it will bounce out to around center table, leaving a relatively easy cut on the 9.
 
Draw off the 8 getting CB to rail below side and it should spin off the rail for good shape on the 9...

If the balls are dirty I think it makes this shot easier since you can hit the 8 fuller and throw it in the pocket making it easier to draw the CB


Gary
 
BeiberLvr said:
If the scratch in the side can actually be avoided, then I just cut the 8 in the corner. Hitting the CB at around 1 o'clock so it will bounce out to around center table, leaving a relatively easy cut on the 9.
Click to expand...

Although that's definitely an acceptable way to do it, do you think you can come-up with something else? I realize this is a poor shot to diagram. On paper, it looks like an easy layout. In reality, whenever the cueball lands in this zone, the shooter immediately acknowledges that this is not a comfortable situation.
 
It's an uncomfortable shot. Looking at where the 8 is laying, I am confident I can miss the scratch on the high side with a good pure follow, and I'm confident I can miss the scratch on the low side with a stun stroke and a touch of draw. I don't like trying any fancy multi-rail position here -- too easy to miss the 8.

If you play with follow, you probably don't come out as far as you'd like off the rail, so you settle for a long cut on the 9 that's makeable but not fun.

If you play with draw, you have a small margin for error. Not enough draw and you scratch. Too much draw and you come off the rail and straight into the 9. And you have to worry about your speed because you're playing across the position zone instead of into it. But if you hit it right, you're dead nuts perfect on the 9.

I think the technically correct shot for an advanced player is the draw. But under the pressure of a match, I would be tempted to play the follow unless I'm in really good stroke.

Edit: After reading some of the other responses, I want to clarify that in no way am I deviating from the center axis here. You can get shape without sidespin. Why complicate the pot?
 
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my take

I could agree with BeiberLvr. Or I would play the 8-ball in the upper left corner and draw the cue ball 2 or even better three rails for a straight in shot on the 9-ball. I would not attempt to get position for the 9-ball in the lower left corner pocket.
 
Hit it with top left, come out to the center of the table (where the L is in pool.bz in the watermark). You don't need perfect shape for that 9-ball. Anything else is just too dumb and not worth it.
 
Cross Bank 8 ball into corner with speed for a potential safe and draw back a bit for 9 ball.
 
If I feel confident in avoiding the side I would shoot the 8 in the top right corner with force follow and go 3 rails to come in line with the 9 in the upper left hand corner pocket.

This is the type of shot that should be practiced over and over. It comes up so much in rotation games that I have made it part of my practice regimen.
 
Eric. said:
Since it's new cloth...low left, go 3 rails?


Eric >seriously...
Click to expand...

If you mean left hand draw, throw the 8 to the right to avoid the scratch I agree. Spin the rock off long rail below side pocket and end rail by the 9, then the bottom long rail. That's how Earl would hit it!
If the 8 were a bit further towards the corner, then roll up with high inside to clear the side pocket scratch. One rail out and shoot 9 from mid-table.

Anyboby who says cross corner bank the 8 is from Kentucky...if not I wanna play them.
 
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A little bottom right to kill it off of the side rail just below the side pocket and straight in on the 9.
 
Cuemaster98 said:
Cross Bank 8 ball into corner with speed for a potential safe and draw back a bit for 9 ball.
Click to expand...

Good choice! You'd be surprised how on that is when the side pocket is a dead scratch without juice. Not the most reliable (I'd draw it below the side or follow forward and hammer out to center table), but the bank is on.
 
This response depends on whether or not you are playing for money. If this game is just for kicks you can play high right and go 3 rails for easy shape.
 
RioSevario said:
This response depends on whether or not you are playing for money. If this game is just for kicks you can play high right and go 3 rails for easy shape.
Click to expand...

Well, sure, if you're just screwing around you can also bank the 8 three rails back to the corner by the 9. But if you're actually trying to win a serious game I don't see why you would do anything but keep it simple. Make the pot and get makeable shape on the 9.

Anyone who says to bank the 8 cross corner here -- I also want to play you.
 
First. I wouldn't leave myself shape like this. Ok... maybe I would. Really, though, if I were that worried about the scratch, I would four rail safe my opponent sending the 8 up by the 9 to the head rail, and following the cue to the other end rail.
 
Goodness! I be if you polled 100 pros, -4 of them would bank the 8 (intentionally).

I presume the scratch is avoidable with draw, based on Jude's op and think 100 of the pros surveyed above wold fire the 8 straight in and snap whitey with L) draw 2 or 3 rails around the 9 and shoot nina in the wei's topL) pocket.

Just rolling the cb forward off the 8 and back off rail toward middle of table ain't so bad either. You'd be glad if your opponent missed and left you the 9 from there, IMO.
 
If I can confidently miss the scratch on the top side, I would just hit an easy follow, no english, and bounce out enough to make the 9. A diamond or so from the long rail would be enough.

If not, then I would draw it back, either to the short side to make things simple with a touch of low inside or low outside down and around the 9. Even if I bump it will probably have a shot.

All would depend on how it looked when at the table. Don't think I would favor either shot, just do whatever the table gave me. Cross banking / playing safe with speed control would be a last resort if the scratch looked pretty unavoidable.
Scott
 
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