How Would You Play This? Keeping Things Routine

Jude Rosenstock

Jude Rosenstock

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Our 9-ball league recently concluded play-offs and I saw a B level player fail to get out from here. I was mildly shocked at the moment but later realized many players will fall into their routines and sometimes their routines are not consistent with the right shot. The B-player attempted a route that they were comfortable shooting unfortunately, it was the wrong route and they ended up giving back the table.

I don't expect it to take long for someone to post the correct shot here since there are so many good players on azb but I figured it'd be a good lesson for anyone who has been in this not-so-unusual situation and wanted to know a way to keep it routine.

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I would probably try and play two rails, possibly three if it contacted the head rail. (not sure what a B player is, but maybe I am one!) ha

How did HE play it?
 
D_Lewis said:
I would probably try and play two rails, possibly three if it contacted the head rail.

How did HE play it?
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And thats the other option, being there at the table makes the difference I think I might have to be there to see which option to take.
 
Getting Out

Myself, I would hit the cue ball with middle right and have the cueball go 2 rails to be a shallow angle to cut the 9 in. There maybe better ways to get there but I think we are all looking to get in the1/4 of the table to make a easy cut.---Smitty
 
Low right draw down table then speed is not as big a factor simple is usually better.
 

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Both shots essentially the same english, different velocity and follow through for the two varied results.

I agree, I'd like to know what the "B" player did.
 
MrSchon9 said:
Low right draw down table then speed is not as big a factor simple is usually better.
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I agree... the shot need not be stroked hard at all... nice and smooth with a long follow-thru... let whitey's spin off the cushion take you up-river to the 9... and the running english will open up the rebound angle nicely.
 
Actually, if you play it the two-rail way (as several have stated), it's very likely you'll fall dead straight on the 9 which is why it's a wonderful way to go. The gray line in my diagram below is the route you'll likely see. It's a very common situation and one that I will play no matter how far away the 8-ball is from the pocket. Hit it with stun and the necessary amount of outside to get you to the opposite end of the table (ususally, it doesn't take much spin). Anyone not familiar with this shot should spend a few minutes to get familiar. It's a nice one to know.

Also, for those curious, the blue-line represents the path the B player took. I believe they were trying to play for the short side OR they intended to take a two-rail route and used a little too much juice (too much draw and/or spin).

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Go one rail to the short side of the 9. Kidding!

I don't know if this is considered correct, but I like hitting this low and with a ton of right letting the english take off the rail sending the cue ball up table. My reason is that it takes the dangers out of the two rail (long/long) approach. The dangers being coming up short and leaving a tough cut on the 9, or going too far and scratching in the upper right pocket.
 
cigardave said:
I agree... the shot need not be stroked hard at all... nice and smooth with a long follow-thru... let whitey's spin off the cushion take you up-river to the 9... and the running english will open up the rebound angle nicely.
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I mean, it's hard to disagree with this decision because frankly, you're supposed to get out going this way, too. The reason I would give for not going this way simply has to do with execution in pressure situations. The further the 8-ball is from the side-rail, the better an option this is. The closer it is to the side-rail, the more difficult it becomes to hold the cueball. When you get into that gray area (which is about where this shot lies), it can play with your head a little.

Taking the two-rail route, especially if you're familiar with it, allows you to smack the 8-ball into the heart of the pocket and you can let the cue-ball loose knowing your angle of approach favors you.
 
Cuebacca said:
Go one rail to the short side of the 9. Kidding!

I don't know if this is considered correct, but I like hitting this low and with a ton of right letting the english take off the rail sending the cue ball up table. My reason is that it takes the dangers out of the two rail (long/long) approach. The dangers being coming up short and leaving a tough cut on the 9, or going too far and scratching in the upper right pocket.
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I mean, like I said, you go your way, you're likely going to get out but you may have a somewhat challenging cut on the 9. Not a big deal.

However, the next opportunity you get to hit some balls by yourself, try the two-rail route. You'll be surprised by how wide a margin of error you're allowing yourself. All you have to do is hit that side-rail somewhere in the middle and you're perfect. If you're a diamond off, you're still good. Only if you hit the side-pocket or if you hit within a diamond of the corner are you screwed. Basically, that gives you 3 diamonds worth of rail to play with.
 
Also, as you practice this shot, you'll notice this pitfall exists when the 8-ball is further up the rail. Oftentimes, you can guard against this by controlling your speed. It's really the only time where speed can really become an issue.

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Jude Rosenstock said:
I mean, like I said, you go your way, you're likely going to get out but you may have a somewhat challenging cut on the 9. Not a big deal.

However, the next opportunity you get to hit some balls by yourself, try the two-rail route. You'll be surprised by how wide a margin of error you're allowing yourself. All you have to do is hit that side-rail somewhere in the middle and you're perfect. If you're a diamond off, you're still good. Only if you hit the side-pocket or if you hit within a diamond of the corner are you screwed. Basically, that gives you 3 diamonds worth of rail to play with.
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I will give it a try. For my skill set, I am pretty sure that I favor the shot I described. I may be a little weird in that I love hitting these shots, where you hit it a little off-speed (if that's the right term), soft but with a lot of spin. That hit seems to allow you to hit fuller on the 8, such that the shot is on the favorable side of the grey area because the tangent line is closer to parallel with the long rail.

The X factor comes up I guess when the pockets are super tight and I'm not dialed into the amount of throw in the balls. On the other hand, if I can take it as fact that I'll make the shot, I think I'll do better on unfamiliar equipment going the route I picked because I don't have to worry about those scratches and speed so much.

All that said, I'll go ahead and hit a few going two rails. Good to work on my weaknesses. :)
 
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To me the two obvious options are almost equivalent. The tradeoff is that the Z pattern is more speed sensitive (and adds a small risk of scratching in one of two pockets) and the draw pattern needs more stroke and the angle isn't quite as reliable. I'd be comfortable with either, but like the Z pattern a little better.

Short side shape is a fool's errand - if I thought the guy was a B before he tried it, I'd think he's a C afterwards.

pj
chgo
 
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I responded after only looking at your thread and not the rest of the posts.

Jude Rosenstock said:
Our 9-ball league recently concluded play-offs and I saw a B level player fail to get out from here. I was mildly shocked at the moment but later realized many players will fall into their routines and sometimes their routines are not consistent with the right shot. The B-player attempted a route that they were comfortable shooting unfortunately, it was the wrong route and they ended up giving back the table.

I don't expect it to take long for someone to post the correct shot here since there are so many good players on azb but I figured it'd be a good lesson for anyone who has been in this not-so-unusual situation and wanted to know a way to keep it routine.

CueTable Help

Click to expand...


The way I'd play it is the eight in the corner with right draw to come off the rail and spin down table for the nine in the corner it is next to.
 
Jaden said:
The way I'd play it is the eight in the corner with right draw to come off the rail and spin down table for the nine in the corner it is next to.
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Something that's important to consider - Let's say you play it this way and your position looks like the one I diagram below. You now have two potential problems here. First, you must make a somewhat challenging cut on the 9-ball and second, you must avoid the scratch.

This route is excellent assuming you can hold the cueball, staying on the top side of the table AND you can get somewhat straight on the 9ball. If you can't and you leave yourself like this, you're taking a risk.

CueTable Help

 
Patrick Johnson said:
Short side shape is a fool's errand - if I thought the guy was a B before he tried it, I'd think he's a C afterwards.

pj
chgo
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Well, there are lots of different types of Bs. No matter what type of B you are, it usually means one or more aspects of your game are lacking while one or more aspects of your game are particularly strong. In this case, this B has very strong pocketing skills and lacks a bit of foresight (for now) when it comes to positioning.

I like how you describe your thought process in determining which way to go. Most good players will do exactly as you do - seek the easiest route by starting with the most predictable one. If they feel it might be difficult to execute, they look for options and compare.
 
On a slow table and or dead rails I might opt for the 1 rail "kill-spindraw"

On a medium speed table with normal rails I would go two rails Aiming to hit the center diamond on the second rail.

On a super fast (Pooliard) speed table... I would opt for a more controlled risk of scratching by aimimg for hitting deeper into the second rail (1st daimond) so that the CB if it keeps going and going and going will hit the end rail instead of scratching...

If I am feeling real froggy....I would use a ton of low right and make both the 8 and the 9 with 1 shot.......*(yeah right....:D )
 
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