How would you play this? V

Slider

S.F. Bay Area
Silver Member
This one came up in a USPPA tournament a few years ago. I was matched up against an "A" player (over 100 speed) I think I was rated in the high 50's at the time, so I was getting a 2 game spot in a race to 5.

My opponent broke, played a safety on the 2 and left me this table:

HWYPT-5v_lg.gif

Better detail here:
http://CueTable.com/P/?@4AdxB3BMEF4...h2VNKl2kIGf3kMTn3kbaI3kUnj3kIdB1sCAD&ZZ3uCUM@

Ken
 
It's hard to see the angle, but I'd try to hit the 2 full with a touch of inside draw spin sending it to the head rail with the cueball going to the bottom rail behind the other balls.

Gerry
 
Hmm, I probably would use a little top left and compensate a little for the curve that will be applied. I would try and hook him with the 8 and leave the cue ball as close to the rail as you can. If you don't pass the 6 then and you end up not hooking him it is a tough shot in the side, 'specially of he is on the rail.

Eric.A.
 
Perhaps I'm being too greedy, but I would try to hit the CB w/follow and have it go to the rail and roll back up behind the 8-ball. Then it won't matter where the 2 ends up.

Edit: I probably like Oceanweb's option better.
 
Last edited:
oceanweb said:
Bank the two ball up table trying to leave it behind the three. Cue ball one rails behind the eight.


Yup, I was thinking the same thing. Use some high right hand english with a normal speed stroke.
ez
 
situations like that where youre dealing with alot of table and cueball is on the rail, etc....i always find the fancier i try to get with my leave the more i usually just sell completely out. id try to hit the 2ball pretty full....and either try and leave the cueball on the opposite shortrail and the 2 ball up table and blocked by the 8.....or leave have the cueball come over to the left long rail and the 2 on the right long rail blocked by the 8. If nothing else just hit the 2 and get it on the long rail anywhere as long as its not in front of the side pocket. He can see it but he doesnt have a very good shot, and maybe he will mess up trying to safe you back.
 
As an intermediate player myself I would consider this:

http://CueTable.com/P/?@4AdxB3BMEF4...j1VQTX2kIOf3kMcn3kbii3kVUj4kDOD1sCAD&ZZ2uCET@

It is similar to Gerry's suggestion althought, I would roll the ball down instead, just to avoid hitting into the 8..

The 6 and 8 form a pretty good safety wall.

Click on the right facing arrow on the lower right side of table to go to page 2 for another shot:

This would be nice too but honestly it's hard for me to control the speed. Besides the QB is close to the rail makes it tougher...


What did you do? :)
 
scottycoyote said:
situations like that where youre dealing with alot of table and cueball is on the rail, etc....i always find the fancier i try to get with my leave the more i usually just sell completely out. id try to hit the 2ball pretty full....and either try and leave the cueball on the opposite shortrail and the 2 ball up table and blocked by the 8.....or leave have the cueball come over to the left long rail and the 2 on the right long rail blocked by the 8. If nothing else just hit the 2 and get it on the long rail anywhere as long as its not in front of the side pocket. He can see it but he doesnt have a very good shot, and maybe he will mess up trying to safe you back.

I agree. You're in a tough spot, but you can make your opponent do somethng special to win control. Proceed with caution.
 
OK - Here's what happened...

Thanks for the good ideas. More than one way to skin a cat, that's for sure.

This turned out to be one of the most gratifying things I ever did in a tournament. I have this tendency to get a little too creative in matches, but with a lot of good fortune, this one paid off in spades.

http://CueTable.com/P/?@4AdxB3BMEF4...h2VNKl2kIGf3kMTn3kbaI3kUnj3kIdB1sCAD&ZZ3uCUM@

I studied the layout for a while, and since draw was out of the question, I hit the 2 about 7/8 full with a natural stroke and left english. The english transferred to the 2, pinching the bank angle of the 2 so that it passed inside the 8. I went this way because I figured that the near-full hit would let me move the 2 a long distance and still control the cue ball.

Going two rails with the cue took off a little more speed, the key was guessing where the carom angle, the english and the natural topspin would move the cue ball.

The shot unfolded perfectly, and there was not more than 1/4" gap between the cue and the 8 when the smoke cleared. My surprised opponent whiffed the kick, and it really took him out of his game.

Ken
 
Slider said:
Thanks for the good ideas. More than one way to skin a cat, that's for sure.

This turned out to be one of the most gratifying things I ever did in a tournament. I have this tendency to get a little too creative in matches, but with a lot of good fortune, this one paid off in spades.

http://CueTable.com/P/?@4AdxB3BMEF4...h2VNKl2kIGf3kMTn3kbaI3kUnj3kIdB1sCAD&ZZ3uCUM@

I studied the layout for a while, and since draw was out of the question, I hit the 2 about 7/8 full with a natural stroke and left english. The english transferred to the 2, pinching the bank angle of the 2 so that it passed inside the 8. I went this way because I figured that the near-full hit would let me move the 2 a long distance and still control the cue ball.

Going two rails with the cue took off a little more speed, the key was guessing where the carom angle, the english and the natural topspin would move the cue ball.

The shot unfolded perfectly, and there was not more than 1/4" gap between the cue and the 8 when the smoke cleared. My surprised opponent whiffed the kick, and it really took him out of his game.

Ken

Hi Ken;

Thats how I would have shot it but I would have sent the 2 on the other side of the 8 and avoided the english on the shot. Spinning the CB that distance and expecting to transfer english, especially when your cueing is tough because of the rail, is luck, at best. If you hit the 8 with the 2, you are dead. Glad it worked out for you, but a little follow and putting it on the other side of the 8 is much easier to execute. IMHO.

Mike
 
Deadon said:
Hi Ken;

Thats how I would have shot it but I would have sent the 2 on the other side of the 8 and avoided the english on the shot. Spinning the CB that distance and expecting to transfer english, especially when your cueing is tough because of the rail, is luck, at best. If you hit the 8 with the 2, you are dead. Glad it worked out for you, but a little follow and putting it on the other side of the 8 is much easier to execute. IMHO.

Mike
That's my shot, too (two rail the CB;bank the two back to the head rail, going on the other side of the 8).
 
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