How would you play this?
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Something like this on a good worn table. I'm sure my angles aren't quite right, but anytime the ball is at the 50 yard line on the rail you have to think of going around because it's probably easier. More angle on the 8 makes it easier to get around.
unknownpro
CrownCityCorey said:
Corey, that was the best answer I've seen yet. Some of our poolrooms in Southern Cal have pretty tight pockets and it changes our stategy quite often.
Why is it better to cut the 8 on tight equipment and follow it on loose equipment?
pj
chgo
But isn't the cut harder than a nearly straight-in shot, especially if you're hitting it harder and with sidespin/draw?
pj
chgo
I understand that there is more than one 'right' way to shoot any given shot... but you people have to be kidding me.
With Ball in hand you would really shoot the 8-ball in the (from our angle) top right corner?
Shoot the 7 in the corner, shoot the 8 in the same corner, shoot the 9 in the top right corner (or bottom left if you happen to get funny on the 8). Personally, I go 1-rail (short) from the 7 to the 8.
Shooting the 8 in the other pocket when you have B-I-H is stupid, if you're shooting that shot because your cue-ball is horrible then you should work on it, and not be choosing bad shots. If your cue-ball is decent and you have the option of getting 1 foot away from the 8 in either direction, which would you pick?... the one where you just shot the 7.
I really could care less that a lot of you choose this path, but there are a lot of people who come on these boards who don't know anything and come here trying to get better... they will read threads like this, take your advice, and go around shooting the wrong shot -- and they'll get frustrated about not being able to win anything, ever, and they'll hate pool, and there goes another customer.
With Ball in hand you would really shoot the 8-ball in the (from our angle) top right corner?
Shoot the 7 in the corner, shoot the 8 in the same corner, shoot the 9 in the top right corner (or bottom left if you happen to get funny on the 8). Personally, I go 1-rail (short) from the 7 to the 8.
Shooting the 8 in the other pocket when you have B-I-H is stupid, if you're shooting that shot because your cue-ball is horrible then you should work on it, and not be choosing bad shots. If your cue-ball is decent and you have the option of getting 1 foot away from the 8 in either direction, which would you pick?... the one where you just shot the 7.
I really could care less that a lot of you choose this path, but there are a lot of people who come on these boards who don't know anything and come here trying to get better... they will read threads like this, take your advice, and go around shooting the wrong shot -- and they'll get frustrated about not being able to win anything, ever, and they'll hate pool, and there goes another customer.
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AZE said:
That is where it is nice to disagree, I am not a weak player by no means, and Corey is a PRO and we both said we would play it out the same way. If you can take the natural path of the cue without forcing anything on it you have less margin of error. The other shot is very workable. All things being UN-EQUAL in the playing field, humidity, worn or new cloth, spills, mud, etc... I like my chances just the way I drew it up. I have taken it down too many time to count when I watch opponents play an out like most "higher level" players on here have drawn it up and they scratch in the side closest to them when playing that 8 with either too much draw, or too much right or the wrong combo of both. My out; the hardest shot is cutting the 9 and if you can't do that, then you know where you need to practice.
A good advice for all players on situations like this is to think:
IF I had ball in hand on the 8 where would I put the cueball then?
Find your spot, and then play the 7 so you get position in that zone. For me that would be as my previous post, but as one poster said, it could also depend on the table if it's tight or loose.
Anyway, just thought it could be a good advice to share.
IF I had ball in hand on the 8 where would I put the cueball then?
Find your spot, and then play the 7 so you get position in that zone. For me that would be as my previous post, but as one poster said, it could also depend on the table if it's tight or loose.
Anyway, just thought it could be a good advice to share.
Comfort
Would anyone recommend a player to take the shot that they are most comfortable with?
There have been many posts on what is "your shot", Buddy Hall even says that low right is the favorite cue ball hit of most players.
So, take the shot that you're most comfortable with.
Of the many shots available on this layout, none are "stupid".
Would anyone recommend a player to take the shot that they are most comfortable with?
There have been many posts on what is "your shot", Buddy Hall even says that low right is the favorite cue ball hit of most players.
So, take the shot that you're most comfortable with.
Of the many shots available on this layout, none are "stupid".
I think there's more to the answer than just simply a long straight in vs. a cut.Patrick Johnson said:
If we call the long straight in 8-ball as A, and the cut across to the second diamond as B, then...
A) doesn't have the ease that people suggest from going the 8 to the 9. The 30 degree rule for natural follow unfortunately limits the cueball path if you're cutting the ball at all. If the pocket is easy, then you can make the subtle changes necessary on the cut on the 8-ball to get to the 9-ball. If it's not an easy pocket, you will jaw this ball over and over and over in trying to create the position.
So, on easy pockets, getting "good" on the 8-ball is no problem, so for easy pockets, this may be the better choice.
B) This is the easier area position pattern. That is, you'll get in less trouble and alllow better focus on making the shot since area position from the 8-ball to the 9-ball is an absolute standard 9-ball pattern that comes up over and over and over.
However, the 7 to the 8 has its own pitfalls, so with ball-in-hand, the first shot becomes the most crucial. If the pockets are tight, then the first shot has no issues with tightness, and position on the 8-ball has to be pretty good.
If you get "good" on the 8-ball, then pocket tightness is less of an issue compared to A). So, many players will favor this pattern on tighter tables.
I think that's a fair assessment on the thought process of why one would choose one pattern over the other depending on looseness vs. tightness. One patttern is pocket sensitive; the other is more position sensitive.
Fred <~~~ would shoot B regardless
AZE said:
Test it out for me. I can't get to a table tonight or I would. Take it to Hollywood tonight ( they are tight right?) shoot it both ways 5x each and come back tomorrow and let me know if you changed your mind or not or if you got out the same amount of times from both positions. (remember that you have to finish the out, not just get from the 7 to the 8) don't reset your shot iif you get out of line try to finish it just like a ball drill - don't cheat yourself. It will be interesting to get some field results from down south.
Jon
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I'll hold my tongue back... I could've been dead wrong. I'll try it out on 16 at Hollywood when I get a chance...
I was never saying it couldn't be done that way, or that it was extremely hard... but it doesn't make sense to me. Why take the long shot on the 8?... If you're on a table with awful rails I understand... But if the rails are playing fine I don't see why you would want to make the 8's pocket harder to shoot at.
I'll shut up for now.
I was never saying it couldn't be done that way, or that it was extremely hard... but it doesn't make sense to me. Why take the long shot on the 8?... If you're on a table with awful rails I understand... But if the rails are playing fine I don't see why you would want to make the 8's pocket harder to shoot at.
I'll shut up for now.
AZE said:
AWESOME, I just want to see an actual results test. If it is a good table, then I am not scared of having the cue ball roll out so I would probably rather shoot it straight in possibly hitting one rail rather than using having to use 6 of them to get around. I will test it out also, both on a piece of crap GANDY and a snooker table (just for kicks).
Yup
I thought low outside as well, but he went on and on about how low right is the predominant shot. I can't remember what video I saw it in, but he said it OVER and OVER.
If I find the video I'll post it.
I thought low outside as well, but he went on and on about how low right is the predominant shot. I can't remember what video I saw it in, but he said it OVER and OVER.
If I find the video I'll post it.
alstl said:
s'portplayer said:
It's really funny you should say that. Another player and I were discussing patterns, so we did a test where I chose my patterns and he had to make the shot and position. Well, like the 3rd shot I chose a position to get to, leaving a short shot, about a 30 degree cut from the spot and 1 rail shape. Most players would think it was simple. He said "I don't like those shots - choose something else". I asked why he didn't want a simple 1 rail cut shot - this guy had great aim and a powerful stroke too. All I could get was he didn't like the shot. I was wondering why he was always going around balls and using multiple rails - it was because he was not comfortable shooting one of the most common, straight forward shots in pool.
All of these are do-able, it's just what is your best chance at getting out. For example, Corey's and Aaron's one rail shot would be my second choice because I would be concerned about either nicking the 8, or being concerned about that, getting too much angle to easily make the position on the 9.
I don't like the downtable shot on the 8 to the opposite corner on tight pockets because the cueball position might bring the follow into the points on the side (you can't cheat a tight pocket on this) or some other precarious position problem - any tiny angle will be amplified on a tight table because you can't cheat the pocket - so you're stuck with what you got. The one rail thin cut on the 7 would be my third choice, again I don't like flirting with the 8 or gettting too much angle because i'm avoiding it. So with BIH I would just play the 2 rail position on both shots that I would play in my usual patterns anyway, which is what I've become accustomed to doing. I would make sure to get around, and if I went too far I would have a straight back draw to the 9.
FYI for what's it's worth, this type of situation is what is good about getting the last two from someone. The 8 to the 9 position makes a difference - if you didn't have to get on the 9 you might play this differently.
Chris
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