Pushouts

Patrick Johnson

Patrick Johnson

Fargo 1000 on VP4
Silver Member
Here's a layout of a 9-ball break where the cue ball ended up hidden
from the 1-ball (randomly generated by the Wei table):

CueTable Help



I'm interested in the thinking that players use to decide whether or
not to push out and what pushout option to choose.

Just to cover the base, Page 2 of the Wei table shows one of the many
ways the easiest kick shot could go wrong, which seems to argue for
the pushout. I welcome any opposing views on this.

Page 3 shows the pushout I like best - because it doesn't offer my
opponent a shot and only gives a partial look at the 1 ball, narrowing
the safety opportunities. Still, the return shot possibilities for my
opponent seem too easy: for instance, the slow roll safety shown in
the diagram (using cue ball A). Also, if I over- or undershoot the
rollout, I might hook the cue ball behind the 7 and have to shoot from
there myself. But the other pushout options all seem to leave a shot.

Who's got some brighter ideas? What's your thinking? Any other
pushout scenarios to explore?

pj
chgo
 
I think anything that affords an easy look at the 1 is a threat to get hooked and give away ball in hand. To reduce the chances of that, I like pushing to leave someone on the rail where they can't easily put center or draw on a ball, making even the safe challenging.

I would therefore roll out to freeze the cueball on the short rail near the top left pocket... leave my opponent a tester where he can see the 1, but the 9 might block him from cutting it enough to sink the ball... and being on the rail makes even a safe tough. If you roll too far and the 1 is makeable, nobody's a big favorite to make the shot and get good shape on the 2.
 
jump shot

i would pushout to a jump shot where you only have to jump part of the 4 and not the 9. i had heard somewhere, and if you keep track like i have you might agree, that when you make a jump shot, even just a good hit and not pocket the object ball the 70-80% of the time you leave your opponent hooked or safe. pay attention to this stat when you do it or your opponent you will be surprise how many times you get hooked or hook them.:D
 
I would jump at it right now and shoot to pocket the ball. If it works I figure to have at least a chance to get out, and if it doesn't I might still end up OK. Kicking at the ball anywhere toward the right looks like a scratch to me.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Here's a layout of a 9-ball break where the cue ball ended up hidden
from the 1-ball (randomly generated by the Wei table):

Who's got some brighter ideas? What's your thinking? Any other
pushout scenarios to explore?

pj
chgo
Click to expand...

Pat, my first inclination was similar to your pages 2 & 3 but I realized that the safeties were difficult to obtain because of the layout. I choose to take a shot to win the game and if I miss the shot, I will allow lady luck to have her way with me and possibly leave my opponent safe anyway. The leave couldn't be much worse than the difficult safety that is presented by pages 2 & 3.

CueTable Help



Difficult situation IMHO.
JoeyA
 
I would push out, and play the CB exactly the other side of the cushion, somewere around the middle star and as thight as possible. That way, you leave a shot on table between the 3 and 6. The only way to hit the 1 is hitting it the right side of the 1-ball. Jumping is also not easy, because of the 3-ball. After that shot, you will force the opponent to hit the 1-ball slightly, push the 1-ball to the cushion and play safe behind the 7 (or any other kind of safeties), or you can do that safety shot by yourself.
 
Last edited:
I would NOT jump from this position. I think if you jump and miss, you sell out. But I hate the current rules, anyway. I'd push, about where you thought to, Pat.
 
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