How would you play this ball in hand shot?

pocket

pocket

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Small scotch doubles tourney. Given ball in hand with this layout. How would you play it?

***Many have asked and the answer is the ball was in the jaws, a classic hanger, sorry that wasn't clear.***

I tried the two rail, and incorrectly assumed i needed left english, when no english or right english would have been correct (after I tried it several times after the game).

Ended up leaving the cue against the opposite short rail and my partner missed the 8 and we lost.

Several players suggested the other shots here. What would you have done?

Here's what I tried:

View attachment 376040

Here is a shot (to be honest I didn't even consider it which is a mistake in and of its self I realize) but I didn't like leaving my partner the long shot:

View attachment 376042

Here is a shot one of the better players suggested (using low left english), spin it up the rail. I tried this and it seemed to make the cue ball stick to the rail, leaving an awkward back cut.

View attachment 376041

Came in second because I blew this shot :angry:. I'd like to learn from it.
 
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pocket said:
Small scotch doubles tourney. Given ball in hand with this layout. How would you play it?

I tried the two rail, and incorrectly assumed i needed left english, when no english or right english would have been correct (after I tried it several times after the game).

Ended up leaving the cue against the opposite short rail and my partner missed the 8 and we lost.

Several players suggested the other shots here. What would you have done?

Here's what I tried:

View attachment 376040

Here is a shot (to be honest I didn't even consider it which is a mistake in and of its self I realize) but I didn't like leaving my partner the long shot:

View attachment 376042

Here is a shot one of the better players suggested (using low left english), spin it up the rail. I tried this and it seemed to make the cue ball stick to the rail, leaving an awkward back cut.

View attachment 376041

Came in second because I blew this shot :angry:. I'd like to learn from it.
Click to expand...

For me ... the last way is the easiest. Comes up a lot in straight pool and 1pkt. You just have to be aware of your speed, and target on the rail. You can shoot much softer, much more reliable IMO.
 
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What to do

I would say your first inclination was the highest percentage shot, you just hadn't practiced it enough to execute it in a game. #2 - no #3 will work if the 3 is dead and you feel confident in your draw but most people would avoid going between the 8 and top rail for fear of bumping the 8 and leaving the cue too close to your work. The other option would have been to place the cue even with the eight about 3 inches away and use the natural angle off the bottom rail to go middle table or play top right and risk going between the 8 and the rail. The benefit to this is that the top will get your cue off the rail and avoid an off the rail back cut. my .02
 
Given BIH, I would give myself an angle so I could come up either side of the 8. It appears the balls are positioned so natural roll would allow the CB to pass between the 8 and the upper rail. BIH, maybe a half a diamond below the eight.
 
If you had ball in hand, you could have put the cue ball right next to the 8, hit the 3 thin and the cue ball would naturally fall back behind the 8 and you could shoot it in the same pocket.

You people think too hard.

If I had to shoot from the cue balls position and the three was dead in the pocket, option 3 is the easiest.

Edit -

Boy oh boy, half of AzB is illiterate. He asked:

pocket said:
Given ball in hand with this layout. How would you play it?
Click to expand...

Why is everyone automatically picking one of the three shots shown?
 
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Hard to tell from a picture.

If I were going to play it behind the 8 ball I would put the cue ball very close to the ball and the rail and set the angle I need, rather than to shoot from the distance you show and create the angle with slide spin or stroke redirection.

Otherwise I am placing the cue ball around the spot area; add some right hand spin and come back up for the same corner.
 
Third option would be my choice followed by first option. With ball in hand some other possibilities as well depending on what you are comfortable in doing.
 
pocket said:
Here is a shot one of the better players suggested (using low left english), spin it up the rail. I tried this and it seemed to make the cue ball stick to the rail, leaving an awkward back cut.

View attachment 376041
Click to expand...
Use a draw only or better low right to prevent sticking to the rail, u will get a better and sharper cut for position play
 
The third option, but get the cue ball closer to the object ball, about three inches should be fine and keep it close to the rail. This eliminates the need for low on the cue ball and very little left English, if any. Take the cue ball all the way to the second rail and off and you're perfect.
 
pocket said:
Small scotch doubles tourney. Given ball in hand with this layout. How would you play it?

I tried the two rail, and incorrectly assumed i needed left english, when no english or right english would have been correct (after I tried it several times after the game).

Ended up leaving the cue against the opposite short rail and my partner missed the 8 and we lost.

Several players suggested the other shots here. What would you have done?

Here's what I tried:

View attachment 376040

Here is a shot (to be honest I didn't even consider it which is a mistake in and of its self I realize) but I didn't like leaving my partner the long shot:

View attachment 376042

Here is a shot one of the better players suggested (using low left english), spin it up the rail. I tried this and it seemed to make the cue ball stick to the rail, leaving an awkward back cut.

View attachment 376041

Came in second because I blew this shot :angry:. I'd like to learn from it.
Click to expand...

With ball in hand there is no way I'd play any other of the shots shown than number 3. If you put the cueball nice and close and the ball is inside the pocket you can shoot it with stun and have complete confidence that you will hit the rail where you want. I wouldn't use any sidespin. If your partner is right handed you can leave him/her close to the ball. If left handed you could use a little more pace, so they don't have to stretch.

I see two other options, one being a cut with top and inside with the cueball going the same route as number 3. The other would be a two railer out of the corner from inside the 8. I dislike these shots because the ball is hanging and funny things can happen, but they are possible.
 
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Third option for me without a doubt. It's a shot I'm actually super comfortable with and use a lot in situations like that. I am not a very skilled player and I've found this to be an easy to execute shots with a good margin for error. That isn't to say it's the best shot for a better player, but I like it.

I agree with above poster, biggest risk here is trying to over spin it...you can likely do it just fine with a stun shot or very slight low left depending on how it look in person. Too much of either and you might be left with a longer shot and a funky angle.
 
As others have stated with BIH, I would have placed the CB near the 8 where you could just pocket the 3 and come right back off the end rail and shoot the 8 in the same pocket.

If the CB was where you have in the diagram either #3 or you could even shoot the 3 dead in the face using some low right english to draw back off the side rail and come back over for shape on the 8. (just as another option)
 
Leaving it easy

3 options in my head 1. Place cue ball next to 8 and thinly slice with gentle speed for bottom rail rebound to small cut shot on 8 in same corner 2. Form a triangle with cue ball placed towards opposite corner pocket than ob (object ball) using a full stroke draw the cue off the bottom rail using low right English and play a two rail shot using the long rail by opposite side pocket this should take the scratch out of play as you play to barely rebound off last rail or even center table leaving small cut on 8 in same corner. 3. Place cue near object ball 2 inches or so and above ob hit with high left and play bottom rail to side rail in between 8 and nearest rail hits speed to bring you back up table even with the side pocket should leave you with straight in 8 stop shot in same corner as ob. Just a few ideas from a soft stroke or full hit!
 
Most likely I'd line it up hit an accidental stun shot that rolls forward a few inches and leave my partner hooked behind the point.

Ideally, I'd like to shoot #3 in your options.
 
assuming the object ball does not lay against the end rail but is in the jaws of the pocket you could also place the cueball close to the object ball directly in between object ball and 8. Cut the object ball in with 3 o'clock right english. you let the cueball swing out two rails back to the center of the table.

If the object ball is actually laying against the end rail and not in the jaws, then i like placing the cueball in the center of the table on the headstring line (or where the racking spot is, I cant tell which side of the table this is on) and shoot the ball in with natural roll. You make the ball and go up table going in between the side rail the and 8. This shot is nearly dog proof as you hit it easy and just roll the ball with top. No spin or draw to dog off although you could end up near the side rail if you cut the ball too thick and you might have to cut the 8 a little more. It lays so close to the corner though it really is a makeable shot. Provided your partner is right handed, then I like this shot the best as the other part of this shot is that you dont leave the cueball potentially in a spot where they have to use the bridge.
 
uwate said:
assuming the object ball does not lay against the end rail but is in the jaws of the pocket you could also place the cueball close to the object ball directly in between object ball and 8. Cut the object ball in with 3 o'clock right english. you let the cueball swing out two rails back to the center of the table.
Click to expand...

The ball is in the jaws for clarification.
 
The last option or go rail first that will send the cue in that direction too.

The thing about these is that if you hit the 8 on the way out you're left with 3 pockets to shoot at up table or maybe even either of the 2 corners where the balls are now & with the cue & the 8 relatively close together which should also be a relatively easy shot.
 
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pocket said:
Small scotch doubles tourney. Given ball in hand with this layout. How would you play it?

I tried the two rail, and incorrectly assumed i needed left english, when no english or right english would have been correct (after I tried it several times after the game).

Ended up leaving the cue against the opposite short rail and my partner missed the 8 and we lost.

Several players suggested the other shots here. What would you have done?

Here's what I tried:

View attachment 376040

Here is a shot (to be honest I didn't even consider it which is a mistake in and of its self I realize) but I didn't like leaving my partner the long shot:

View attachment 376042

Here is a shot one of the better players suggested (using low left english), spin it up the rail. I tried this and it seemed to make the cue ball stick to the rail, leaving an awkward back cut.

View attachment 376041

Came in second because I blew this shot :angry:. I'd like to learn from it.
Click to expand...

To me the easiest way is to place whitey almost on the foot spot.
Then just play follow or high left and go around the back of the 8...
 
ENGLISH! said:
The last option or go rail first that will send the cue in that direction too.

The thing about these is that if you hit the 8 on the way out you're left with 3 pockets to shoot at up table or maybe even either of the 2 corners where the balls are now & with with the cue & the 8 relatively close together which should also be a relatively easy shot.
Click to expand...

No way I'd ever shoot this shot rail first! The speed is very hard to control, and the natural tendency is for the cueball to go to the opposite end rail, or at least far up table if you set up for a thin rail first. A thick rail first is a more difficult way to achieve the same result a direct stun shot would achieve easily.

If I had to shoot the shot rail first I'd go (counting the first rail) 4 rails with low and lots of outside. Not that I'd ever shoot that shot in a game that mattered.

But I agree with you that it's hard to mess up this position going between the rail and the 8. About the only two things you can do wrong is to freeze to the 8 or the end rail. Otherwise a good player should be out from almost any position.

Here is an instructive video on hangers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ-xWRVDP2w
 
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