Run This (26)

Dan White

Dan White

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
OK, I'm posting one of these diagrams, but am leaving (25) open for bluepepper so he can at least have the first 25 diagrams! Mine's a little different. The question is: How do you go about opening up the cluster, how hard are you going into the cluster and what is your thinking? You can see the 13 past the 2 if you choose to shoot it. There are no dead combos in the cluster.

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I never know exactly what's possible based on these diagrams but, from the looks of the diagram, I'd shoot the 3 now, slide down to the bottom rail, then shoot the 12 and draw into the bottom of the rack. You have 3 insurance balls (13, 5, 10) going into the bottom of the balls with a medium speed. You only have to hit it hard enough to loosen the balls.

Too bad we couldn't get John to answer some of these questions. ;)
 
A quick look and initial reaction has me thinking the 2 is in a good position to act as a break shot in either the top side pocket or bottom left corner. I would shoot the 14 softly attempting to bump (touch) the 2 and have the 10 in the corner.

Depending on the 10s angle I would try to play for the 2 in either of the two mentioned pockets with both the 13 and three available as insurance balls.

Also, good as I look is simply shoot the 2 straight in, and break one rail off the 14 or 13. :) So many ways to go in straight pool. Ya gotta love the game. :) One thing I always try to accomplish is to go into the rack at a natural angle without having to force the CB with english if possible.
 
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My 1st thought was same as Jimmy, although I'd also be tempted to just role the 3 in and bounce off the side rail leaving a high shot on the same ball. So instead of drawing into the pack I'd go off the bottom rail.

Either way the best attack angle is def off that ball on the bottom rail, and you must do it before romoving the insurance balls.
 
Jimmy M. said:
... then shoot the 12 and draw into the bottom of the rack. You have 3 insurance balls (13, 5, 10) going into the bottom of the balls with a medium speed. ...
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That's what I like too, especially since the balls are being broken away from the best break-ball candidate. Although this violates one recently-stated precept -- don't go into the balls with draw -- I think it is an excellent example of where you want to use draw. Adjust the speed and amount of draw to hit the clump where you want.
 
Dan White said:
OK, I'm posting one of these diagrams, but am leaving (25) open for bluepepper so he can at least have the first 25 diagrams! Mine's a little different. The question is: How do you go about opening up the cluster, how hard are you going into the cluster and what is your thinking? You can see the 13 past the 2 if you choose to shoot it. There are no dead combos in the cluster.

CueTable Help

Click to expand...

I would have liked to take the 12 from the other side so my thinking was: 14,5,3,13,12.

Probably not very realistic.
 
Thanks for taking over Dan. I'm not quite as gung ho with pool right now, so it's good timing. Maybe when my new stick comes in, I'll get back into it.
 
I think two replies were similar to mine. I like going into the 12 and coming off the rail. It seems easier than trying to get down to the foot rail to get a draw shot on the 12. You take care of the problem right away, and have the 5, 13 and 10 as safety balls (really the 13 mostly as a safety ball).

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There are no dead combos in the cluster.
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The 15 or 11 might be a dead carom, though. If the 11 is dead off the 15 you might even make it without moving the 7, so long as you hit it toward the 7 to unblock (and so long as the 15 isn't moved first by the 1).

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pj
chgo
 
My run is . . .

3 ball in the side w/natural position for the 2 in the head string corner. Then on to 10 in the corner down table w/natural position for the 14 in the head string corner. Move on to the 5 in the opposite head string corner following with the 13 in the opposite corner pocket leaving an angle for the 12 to break open the cluster of balls with a medium stroke. This will most likely result with the 7 ball being left as you next break ball. After clearing the table of those remaining balls of course.
 
imax said:
3 ball in the side w/natural position for the 2 in the head string corner. Then on to 10 in the corner down table w/natural position for the 14 in the head string corner. Move on to the 5 in the opposite head string corner following with the 13 in the opposite corner pocket leaving an angle for the 12 to break open the cluster of balls with a medium stroke. This will most likely result with the 7 ball being left as you next break ball. After clearing the table of those remaining balls of course.
Click to expand...

I can't follow this at all! Are you sure we're talking about the same layout? Can you diagram it on the Cue table?
 
This is the diagram I am working from . . .

Dan White said:
I can't follow this at all! Are you sure we're talking about the same layout? Can you diagram it on the Cue table?
Click to expand...

This is the diagram I am working from . . .

CueTable Help



3 ball in the side w/natural position for the 2 in the head string corner. Then on to 10 in the corner down table w/natural position for the 14 in the head string corner. Move on to the 5 in the opposite head string corner following with the 13 in the opposite corner pocket leaving an angle for the 12 to break open the cluster of balls with a medium stroke. This will most likely result with the 7 ball being left as you next break ball. After clearing the table of those remaining balls of course.
 
imax said:
3 ball in the side w/natural position for the 2 in the head string corner. Then on to 10 in the corner down table w/natural position for the 14 in the head string corner. Move on to the 5 in the opposite head string corner following with the 13 in the opposite corner pocket leaving an angle for the 12 to break open the cluster of balls with a medium stroke. This will most likely result with the 7 ball being left as you next break ball. After clearing the table of those remaining balls of course.
Click to expand...

I see the problem. You are saying the "head string corner." The head string is to the right. You mean to be saying the "foot string corner" or just foot rail corner pockets.

The only issue I see with your layout is that you are shooting off all your potential safety balls before opening up the cluster. You should really try to open them up while you still have open balls that are opposite of where the cue ball is entering the cluster.

Thanks!
 
dmgwalsh said:
I would have liked to take the 12 from the other side so my thinking was: 14,5,3,13,12.

Probably not very realistic.
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i thnk if you do it this way you get in trouble because you don't have a ball to shoot if when you break the pack you don't get a shot
 
Dan White:
You should really try to open them up while you still have open balls that are opposite of where the cue ball is entering the cluster.
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Dan, do you mean the opposite side of the rack? Doesn't that mean the balls you're breaking out of the rack will be between you and those open balls?

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Dan, do you mean the opposite side of the rack? Doesn't that mean the balls you're breaking out of the rack will be between you and those open balls?
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No, I didn't mean to imply that. I was kinda thinking of balls that are opposite, or maybe "facing" the side of the rack the cue ball is going into. I didn't word it very well. A picture is worth 1000 words, right?


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That being said, if you KNOW you are going through the rack, you can use a safety ball that is on the other side. OR, you can play a ball out of the pack to be your safety ball. This one is pretty reliable:

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That 3 will pop out and serve as the safety ball so I'm not as worried about not having a clear safety ball that is not part of the cluster.
 
Dan White said:

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Click to expand...

This is one I have trouble with (without the safety ball): trying to plow through a cluster and getting trapped inside it.

Any tips on avoiding getting stuck in the cluster when you have to take the shot and there's no safety ball on the near side?

pj
chgo
 
poolplayer2093 said:
i like pocketing the 14 and coming off the rail to get a shot on the 13 and going into the back of the pack from there.trying to hit the 7 i think you have to get unlucky to not get a shot after that. you still have the 3,10 that you can shoot if don't break out another shot. might even push out another break ball so the 2 could be an option too

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Click to expand...

I agree with this. Since it's so early in the rack, I would probably even shoot the 2 off first to gain easily reached and assured access on the angle for the 13-ball. Going in this way just seems so natural given that there's a beautiful concavity of the contact area of the cluster, and no balls on the opposite side to run into. And like poolplayer2093 said, you'd have to be (quite) unlucky to not have a shot afterwards.
 
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