Push Out Strategies

[LastTwo]

Alot of people don't realize how important the push out is in 9-ball. This plays a huge role in keeping control of the table when you don't have a shot on the low ball. What I like to do in nearly every practice session is work on lots of simple kick shots and try to figure out ways to win table control. Most players will automatically hand the shot back to you if you push out to a full ball hook, even if the kick is relatively easy to hit. This gives you an advantage if you can control the shot. This is an example of a shot I will push out to:

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Most players would hand this shot or similar shots right back to me. Believe it or not a kick-safe from here is a high percentage shot if you hit it with a soft stroke. There are about three different ways you can contact the one and wind up safe. Here is the way I play it:

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I practice these types of shots as often as I can. My ability to kick safe when the object ball is near the cushion has improved quite a bit. I have never bothered learning to use a jump cue because I've always felt if I became adept at jumping I might abuse the jump shot over certain kick shots where my percentages of winning the game might be higher with a kick. Do any of you have strategies for the push out? Do any of you like to push out to a jump shot?

 

[Jimmy M.]

I heard Danny Diliberto say something during a match once that was interesting. He said that if you have to push you're probably going to end up with the worst of it, so you might as well tie something up. I don't know if that could pertain to every situation (I doubt it), but it's definitely something to keep in mind if you're in one of those situations where even pushing isn't a great option.

 

[mjantti]

Good post LastTwo. Here's what I do sometimes, I tempt my opponent to take the 1-ball with a semi-difficult shot without a way to play position for the 2-ball. If the pushout is returned, I always have a safety option up my sleeve. You'd be surprised how many advanced players accept this shot and go for the 1-ball and think they'll play safe from the 2-ball. What's the point of trying a difficult ball and then having a difficult safety on the next ball.

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And this is good as well, if you're comfortable with kick shot and aiming systems. I'm hooked on the 1-ball and my pushout is the red arrow, I move the cueball only an inch or two to leave a better angle for the kick, but without leaving the 1-ball on. Then I can kick the 1-ball in the other side of the table or even in the middle bag if it feels good.

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Pushout should always improve your situation. I've heard that statistics show that the player playing the pushout is more likely to lose the rack. I don't know if it's because poor pushouts but it's certainly not an advantage if your opponent can choose who's shooting next. So pushouts shouldn't be played without any plan.

 

[sjm]

LastTwo, though it's hard to imagine anyone who plays "B" level or higher giving that push back, you're definintely on to something. The push shot is critical in nine ball.

The reason you are the underdog when you push (against an equal opponent) is that the best you can do is push to a position where the rack is 50/50, but you'll sometimes do worse than that, because either a) no such push is available, b) you fail to locate that push, or c) you find the perfect push but fail to execute it. If you leave a position that favors either player, you're the underdog in the rack. Less than 50/50, you'll be shooting, more than 50/50, opponent takes over with the advantage.

Knowing what you can leave on a push is about experience but also about knowing opponent's strengths and weakesses.

You'll know you've played a good push if opponent labors over the decision to shoot or pass.

 

[LAMas]

Years ago, Raphael Martinez would push the cue ball to hook the opponent who would give the shot back to him where he would jump, make the object ball and start his run.

 

[sjm]

Years ago, Raphael Martinez would push the cue ball to hook the opponent who would give the shot back to him where he would jump, make the object ball and start his run.

Last July, in the quarterfinal of the World Pool Championships, against Pagulayan, a match many felt would produce the eventual world champion, Fong Pang Chao tried this same tactic AT DOUBLE HILL. Quite properly, Alex gave it back, and Chao had to shoot the jump shot. He missed it and lost the match. This tactic can work both ways.

 

[Blackjack]

I heard Danny Diliberto say something during a match once that was interesting. He said that if you have to push you're probably going to end up with the worst of it, so you might as well tie something up. I don't know if that could pertain to every situation (I doubt it), but it's definitely something to keep in mind if you're in one of those situations where even pushing isn't a great option.

That is exactly what I was going to say Jimmy. Many players overlook this when looking for push out options. Every situation will be different, but whatever you do, don't leave him safe - or - with an opportunity to play you safe.

What I usually do is visualize what I would do if I had ball in hand, and I read the rack from the lowest ball to the game ball. By doing this, I can identify the key ball in the rack, or the key shot in the rack. I can also identify where each object ball can ( and cannot) be made. From there I can usually find where I should attack (or tie up) the rack. Many players get lost in trying not to leave their opponent a shot on the lowest numbered ball. That is not our goal in this situation. Our goal is to make the rack not runnable (an invented word). I don't care if you leave him straight in, just ensure that he cannot run out without having to break up a cluster or doing something low percentage. Chances are that when he gets to the problem area he will either:

a) try to be a hero
b) play safe

Either way, make him earn it.

 

[macguy]

Alot of people don't realize how important the push out is in 9-ball. This plays a huge role in keeping control of the table when you don't have a shot on the low ball. What I like to do in nearly every practice session is work on lots of simple kick shots and try to figure out ways to win table control. Most players will automatically hand the shot back to you if you push out to a full ball hook, even if the kick is relatively easy to hit. This gives you an advantage if you can control the shot. This is an example of a shot I will push out to:

START(
%Am5D4%BM1W3%Cm5F7%DP7I8%EV2O1%Fc7X2%GF4Q7%Hl1F0%I\8Q3%LJ7N2
%P_8W2
)END

Most players would hand this shot or similar shots right back to me. Believe it or not a kick-safe from here is a high percentage shot if you hit it with a soft stroke. There are about three different ways you can contact the one and wind up safe. Here is the way I play it:

START(
%Am5D4%BM1W3%Cm5F7%DP7I8%EV2O1%Fc7X2%GF4Q7%Hl1F0%I\8Q3%LJ7N2
%P_8W2%Uo1C7%Vn0D4%Ws0H7%X`4V6%Yn9D9%Zs0H3%[l2C7%\m1D2%]d0H3
%^k4C4
)END

I practice these types of shots as often as I can. My ability to kick safe when the object ball is near the cushion has improved quite a bit. I have never bothered learning to use a jump cue because I've always felt if I became adept at jumping I might abuse the jump shot over certain kick shots where my percentages of winning the game might be higher with a kick. Do any of you have strategies for the push out? Do any of you like to push out to a jump shot?

I will generally push to something very difficult but playable often a tough bank or long straight in. I want to be on the edge of a shot that may tempt the player to shoot against the odds. I am very cautious of pushing to where a safety can be played. You have to assume that if you push to a possible safety, the player is just going to take the shot do it to you.