how would you play this?

for $hits and giggles

CueTable Help



Because I messed up my shape so bad I'd shoot this shot for kicks (excuse the pun) and deal with the shape if I made it. :D
 
Fact is, this is a trouble-spot that no player on Earth is going to like. Even just making the 8-ball is no fun. For the cash, I'm thining the 8-ball on the right-side and leaving him an even tougher out.

Anybody that tries to get position on the 9-ball probably isn't betting high enough. If you're going to go offensive, you do whatever it takes to make the 8-ball and you take your chancy shot with the 9.
 
Well, I don't like any of the shots suggested, but I also don't have any better suggestions, lol.

In an even game for the cash, I believe I'd just roll the 8 in and take the thin one on the 9. For me the math is pretty simple, really: one high % shot that gets me a mid % shot at the money vs. one very low % shot that, even if made, does not guarantee me a high % shot at the money, and includes a legitimate scratch risk. I don't like the long bank on the 9 because it's not necessary if you get the cb anywhere near the rail, and I will take a mid % cut over a mid % bank in most cases.
 
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Aaron_S said:
Well, I don't like any of the shots suggested, but I also don't have any better suggestions, lol.

In an even game for the cash, I believe I'd just roll the 8 in and take the thin one on the 9. For me the math is pretty simple, really: one high % shot that gets me a mid % shot at the money vs. one very low % shot that, even if made, does not guarantee me a high % shot at the money, and includes a legitimate scratch risk. I don't like the long bank on the 9 because it's not necessary if you get the cb anywhere near the rail, and I will take a mid % cut over a mid % bank in most cases.
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Well, to cut or bank the 9-ball is preference and will depend heavily on where the cue-ball lies. Your play to just make the 8-ball is key, if you're committed to try and run-out. Personally, I think the move is to play safe here.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Well, to cut or bank the 9-ball is preference and will depend heavily on where the cue-ball lies. Your play to just make the 8-ball is key, if you're committed to try and run-out. Personally, I think the move is to play safe here.
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I agree, but by this time you've shot yourself in the foot with this shape(unless of course it was handed to you) and the 3 rail kick is always more fun :D It's only money right :P
 
Actionhound said:
well... you go ahead and try your little two rail in the side shot and ill take the shot that A WORLD CHAMPION showed me... and i have spent hours practicing and have become very comfortable with the shot... im sorry that i tried to share some knowledge that i have been taught with you and i promise i will never try to teach anyone anything that someone has taught me... you can go back to your barbox eightball league team and beat the rails off... and i will continue to listen to the advice of champions and continue to improve my game...
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i don't mean to sound condescending really but i'm not a "barbox" player but i am considered an "A" player or higher and i'm sorry but the shot you describe is just not an option with this layout. the eight is off the rail. any inside you put on the ball, after contact with the 8, will send the cue ball to the opposing pocket or at best to the back rail and then to the middle of the table. remember that the cue ball is frozen and the 8 is 1/2 inch off the rail. imo the shot you describe is not an option unless the 8 is frozen or you hit the rail first and both options still leave you with little control of the shot or position from where the cue ball lies.
 
skins said:
i don't mean to sound condescending really but i'm not a "barbox" player but i am considered an "A" player or higher and i'm sorry but the shot you describe is just not an option with this layout. the eight is off the rail. any inside you put on the ball, after contact with the 8, will send the cue ball to the opposing pocket or at best to the back rail and then to the middle of the table. remember that the cue ball is frozen and the 8 is 1/2 inch off the rail. imo the shot you describe is not an option unless the 8 is frozen or you hit the rail first and both options still leave you with little control of the shot or position from where the cue ball lies.
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Yep, and you haven't even mentioned that by jacking-up and using English, you're going to get some masse on the ball. I mean, there's simply no way that ball is going in, not with the action necessary to get down-table.
 
supergreenman said:
I agree, but by this time you've shot yourself in the foot with this shape(unless of course it was handed to you) and the 3 rail kick is always more fun :D It's only money right :P
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If you're going to play the 3-rail kick, you should just give your money to charity. At least then, you got a shot at heaven AND it's a tax write-off.
 
skins said:
... imo the shot you describe is not an option unless the 8 is frozen or you hit the rail first and both options still leave you with little control of the shot or position from where the cue ball lies.
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I'm sure that when the shot works for Ahound, it's because he hits rail first. Like others, I'm willing to lose some money if someone wants to shoot the shot as a proposition.
 
supergreenman said:
I agree, but by this time you've shot yourself in the foot with this shape(unless of course it was handed to you) and the 3 rail kick is always more fun :D It's only money right :P
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this is the shape i was left with after my opponent missed. he played a good shot imo. i just happened to know a possible way out and even if i missed if my speed control was there i wouldn't have left a duck. this was how the shot was explained to me 20 years ago. as far as playing safe, because the cue is frozen it makes your shot more of a guess and luck will play more a part imo. plus with the lead i had i thought if i make this this will totally demoralize this guy.:D
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Well, to cut or bank the 9-ball is preference and will depend heavily on where the cue-ball lies. Your play to just make the 8-ball is key, if you're committed to try and run-out. Personally, I think the move is to play safe here.
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Yes, the cut or bank is definitely down to preference, and I'm not from Kentucky, so it's pretty much a no-brainer for me. :)

The only thing I don't like about the safety is that there's no hook there. If you thin the right side of the 8, you've definitely taken any good offensive opportunities away from your opp., but you still leave him very close to the 8 ball and possibly not frozen to the rail (the cb, I mean). That means that he can easily put you in a bad spot on his next shot (like by banking the 8 toward the middle of the table while trying to put the cb behind the 9, or by simply banking the 8 two rails to the middle of the foot rail and leaving the cb frozen to the head rail.)

Not to say that I don't like your shot; I just prefer to stay offensive here.
 
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Bob Jewett said:
I'm sure that when the shot works for Ahound, it's because he hits rail first. Like others, I'm willing to lose some money if someone wants to shoot the shot as a proposition.
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i'm right there with ya'.
 
well... for starters..

skins said:
i don't mean to sound condescending really but i'm not a "barbox" player but i am considered an "A" player or higher and i'm sorry but the shot you describe is just not an option with this layout. the eight is off the rail. any inside you put on the ball, after contact with the 8, will send the cue ball to the opposing pocket or at best to the back rail and then to the middle of the table. remember that the cue ball is frozen and the 8 is 1/2 inch off the rail. imo the shot you describe is not an option unless the 8 is frozen or you hit the rail first and both options still leave you with little control of the shot or position from where the cue ball lies.
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ok... i do appoligize because i miss-read the origional question... i read it as the cueball was a 1/2" off the rail and the 8 was frozen... after reading this response i woke up and appoligize for getting out of line...

but on the other note... i highly doubt your considered an "A" player... if you were then you wouldnt be asking a message board of mostly average players how to shoot a shot... you would do what "A" players do and thats after the match shoot the shot until you find something that works... no offense but thats my take on it...
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
If you're going to play the 3-rail kick, you should just give your money to charity. At least then, you got a shot at heaven AND it's a tax write-off.
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Amen, lol.
 
Actionhound said:
but on the other note... i highly doubt your considered an "A" player... if you were then you wouldnt be asking a message board of mostly average players how to shoot a shot... you would do what "A" players do and thats after the match shoot the shot until you find something that works... no offense but thats my take on it...
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first off you should owe me another apology. i post these for fun and education to others. i used to tour the mid-west region pro tourneys years ago. i took a well deserved layoff to design cues and am now preparing for many bigger tourneys including next years U.S. open. i'm willing to play you some if your ever in the Chicago land area, you can post the results here and we can see what you rate me. :)
 
skins said:
... i'm willing to play you some if your ever in the Chicago land area, you can post the results here and we can see what you rate me. :)
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How about the AZB room at the DCC, so we can watch?
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
If you're going to play the 3-rail kick, you should just give your money to charity. At least then, you got a shot at heaven AND it's a tax write-off.
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So I won't be able to buy raisins for a while. :p I like the safe shot myself.
 
well... i dont ever plan on being in the Chicago area... but i will be at the Derby... i guess i will see you there?

now i dont claim to be an "A" player (but i am getting there quickly) and you maybe one... i dont know... there are several thousand "A" players in the world... you might be one of them... i just dont understand why you are asking help from poeple that for the most part have no clue... i appoligized for my error in the previous post and thats all your going to get... i didnt mean what i said about you "Not being an "A" player" because everyone has a different idea of what an "A" player is... in my oppinion the Average "Shortstop" isnt an "A" player... i consider the BEST roadies (Such as Danny B. and Hillbilly) and some of the up and coming pro's to be "A" players... and players like Efren are AA players... i cant gauge your game because i dont know who you are and/or how you play... but i doubt you would play Danny Basavich or Hillbilly, or poeple there speed even for whatever they want... i know there's no way in hell i would... and that my friend is as close to an appoligy as your going to get from me... accept it or not...
 
Bob Jewett said:
How about the AZB room at the DCC, so we can watch?
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sorry bob but i won't be going to DCC. i have other issues here i have to deal with. i'm sure it would be fun though. i'll be out and about soon enough though.:)
 
Actionhound said:
you jack up and "spin the 8 in" using inside english... because you are jacked up (drawing the ball basically) the cue ball comes off the rail "flat" and when it hits the other side rail it will spin down table towards the 9... this shot comes in handy alot more than you think... you have to stroke it pretty well but once you get confident with the shot you can use it in different situations... try this shot out the next time you hit balls... it will amaze you when you hit it good a few times in a row... this ONE shot right here opened my eyes to a whole new aspect of what i can do with the cueball

CueTable Help

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With the cut on the 8 being as thin as it is, it seems to me that the CB would hit the opposite long rail with entirely too much speed for the spin to be able to bite well enough to take the line in your diagram. Also, as thin as the 8 is, I doubt I would be able to get the CB to come back straight across. The right english would overcome the draw and either go 3 cushions, or possibly even scratch. If you can get the CB to dance the way it shows in your diagram.......................you be more man than me!
 
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