How Would You Play This 9-Ball Position?

I would

Shoot like Tate suggested drawing the cueball back to where it started, and with it being a little more off the long rail, and take my time making the 9. The longer shot reduces the angle you have to cut the 9.

If I was on a bar table, depends how important the game is, I might try the power draw with low left back to the head end rail to spin the cue towards the 9 ball for a straighter shot, but I would not attempt it on a full sized table.
 
Depends if I feel an Earl Day (stopshot, bank, yell at railbird) or a Buddy Day (follow, get absolutely perfect on 9).

-Roger (will probably miss the 8...)
 
Draw back off the 8 and play the nine down in the rail in the corner. Seems more reliable then banking it for the cheese.
 
I wish I had a video camera. I just saw this post this morning and had to go try it. I went with my first instinct which was to use extreme high right english to spin the eight in and follow to the end rail and back down for the nine. It worked perfectly 4 of the 5 times. The 5th time I scratched (which is probably what I'd do if the game were on the line ;) )

Jim

Edit - It helps that I play left handed for this shot.
 
SJM,
Thanks for the re-direct back towards pool. I do think you could have picked a pool situation with less drama though...:) Given the boundries you placed on this re-occuring 9ball situation I think I would be totally playing the score. Being that a miss on the 8ball would most likely result in a dump and assuming it is a must win game situation I would cinch the 8b and take the bank to either the side or the corner depending on whichever felt the best. The bank on the 9ball would be hit at just over lip speed in order to give the 9ball all the chances in the world to go. If I took the side bank I would play it slightly long. If I took the corner bank I would play it slightly short.
...on the other hand, if I was in total freewheel and hadn't missed a ball in hours hard telling what shot I would take, it would be out of my control...:)
 
I was actually working on this type of shot the other day. I tried all of the ways suggested, and had my best success of potting the nine whe I played the eight in with bottom left, drawing back to the bottom rail, and over towards the nine for the opposite corner as the eight went in.
I found I really had to be accurate with the pot on the eight to make it.
In tournament play, I would probably follow suit and make the eight, and go for the bank on the nine.
 
The highest percentage play here has to be cinching the 8 and banking the 9. I prefer banking the 9 to the side because its a bigger pocket. Banking to the corner offers a better chance of getting safe though.

Corey Duel shot this shot on a televised Mosconi cup match where he jacked up and massed, creating an angle to bounce off the rail and come across for position in the corner on the 9. No I could never do that shot for the cheese unless I decided I hated money.
 
I believe I would play the 8 in the corner and draw the cue ball back about 6 inches to play the slice up the rail. There was a time where those thin cuts scared me but I am very confident with them now.

Either that, if you're feeling REALLY daring, you could play a stop shot on the 8 and slow roll directly into the 9 for a lock up safe. Depends on how true the table rolls.
 
My first impression, given that the CB and 8 ball are ¼” off the cushion, I’d play the 8 in with top right (outside English) and come up table for the 9.

Second choice, make the 8 straight in with bottom left (inside) draw to hit the back sort rail and spin over for the 9.

Rick
 
This is a real in-betweener. To me there are two ways to shoot this.

1. the short fallow, then banking to the side pocket. People seem to forget sometimes that side pockets are bigger than corner pockets. From that angle the side pocket is pretty big.

2. draw back at least two and a half diamonds and cut the 9 in the corner. Neither the draw shot or the cut shot is an easy shot. The draw shot you are going to have to shoot with some speed so your taking a chance on rattling it. If you do manage it then you still have another tough cut.

It would depend on how I felt about it that very minute, but I'm thinking I'd bank the 9. Especially if I thought buy shooting the 8 ball softly that I could probably get the cue ball a little more off the rail.
 
hustlefinger said:
My first impression, given that the CB and 8 ball are ¼” off the cushion, I’d play the 8 in with top right (outside English) and come up table for the 9.

Second choice, make the 8 straight in with bottom left (inside) draw to hit the back sort rail and spin over for the 9.

Rick
Click to expand...
That's a ton of stroke right there. Not impossible by anymeans, but not easy by any means either :D
 
This is a no brainer. I would miscue trying to draw off the 8 and hand my opponent ball in hand.
 
hustlefinger said:
My first impression, given that the CB and 8 ball are ¼” off the cushion, I’d play the 8 in with top right (outside English) and come up table for the 9.

Second choice, make the 8 straight in with bottom left (inside) draw to hit the back sort rail and spin over for the 9.

Rick
Click to expand...

If those are your choices on a tight table, then maybe you and I can play some. If you make too many of them, then I'll have to pull up!:D
 
I just spent 10 minutes shooting it. I had the most consistent results with a force follow bringing the cue ball up past mid table and then cut the nine. I also liked putting high right on the 8 and getting an easy shot on the nine but I rattled the 8 too many times. When a ball is as close to the rail as the 8 is, I usually like to hit rail first and consequently get more positioning options with whitey. With the cue ball positioned as it is though, I could not pocket the eight using that approach.
 
VIProfessor said:
If those are your choices on a tight table, then maybe you and I can play some. If you make too many of them, then I'll have to pull up!:D
Click to expand...

I don’t believe he said tight table, I think medium tight was mentioned. I guess it’s subjective.

If it was meant to be straight in (CB, 8 and pocket), I’d play it differently. I will say that, my comfort level would drastically increase if the cb were slightly closer to the 8 ball.

I’d love to play you, ……just send an air plane ticket for my wife and I. We could use a good vacation. :)

Rick
 
hustlefinger said:
I don’t believe he said tight table, I think medium tight was mentioned. I guess it’s subjective.

If it was meant to be straight in (CB, 8 and pocket), I’d play it differently. I will say that, my comfort level would drastically increase if the cb were slightly closer to the 8 ball.

I’d love to play you, ……just send an air plane ticket for my wife and I. We could use a good vacation. :)

Rick
Click to expand...

Yeah, dude! The eight and the cue are dead straight, 1/8 of an inch from the rail!

On the other thing, pay your own way down here and if you go bust I MIGHT give you plane fare back.:D

Peace and Love,
VIProfessor
 
Depending on the conditions---if I thought the chances of getting out were at least 50/50---I would go for it because if you didn't get out you may possibly give your opponent a bad leave and thus increasing you win chances to over 50%. I want the opportunity to win instead of letting my opponent.

I would cinch the 8 and draw back a couple feet for a cut in the corner.
 
tedkaufman said:
My choices would depend on the table, whether the pockets are forgiving or tight.

If the pockets are accomodating, I'd go rail first with high right, spin off the bottom rail, bringing the cueball above the opposite side pocket to play the 9-ball in the top left corner pocket.

If the pockets are tight, I'd stop the cueball when I shot the 8-ball, and bank the 9 into the same pocket as I shot the 8. The reason I'd go for a corner bank is it's more likely I'd leave my opponent with a long, difficult shot if I missed.
Click to expand...
I'd have to agree with the options here. The force-follow on easier pockets is where I have had the most success.
If the pockets are super tight, I'd stop off the eight and bank the 9.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top