shot quiz

mohrt

Student of the Game
Silver Member
You are playing 9-ball, ball-in-hand. What kind of shot do you take on the 6 to maximize your chances of winning?

 
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CB starting along upper rail 1 foot from 6 ball.
top and left english on shot, bring CB down to lower side pocket area.
Make 7 ball, CB off end rail back to middle of table
make 8 ball, CB off end rail back to middle of table
9 in side pocket
 
No 3 rail since the 8 is in the way, I'd place the cueball 2/3rds between the 9 and the rail, about on the 3nd diamond and use draw with maybe a tough of right to bellow the side pocket. This looks to me to be a touchy shot as you need to avoid sending the cueball to the side, yet don't want to end up too much on the top of the side pocket to avoid a tough shot. Best place to end up would be at the 2 diamonds starting at the side pocket and bellow and a diamond off the rail.

Depending on how far off the 6 is off the rail, I may place the cueball on the rail and use follow to send the cueball to the top rail and towards the same general area of the side pocket, I think the scratch chance is less that way because of the sharper angle you are heading towards the side.

I am guessing you are asking this because you tried this and scratched?
 
Put the cueball next to the 6 and go for five short rails. Start by shooting away from the 6 with running English.
 
LOT of options.
My guess is 6 in corner nearest to it, cb goes 4 rails inside the 9 towards the 7.
Not necesarily the way I would play it.Just what I think you are after,
I could be wrong:D
 
I would pinch the six ball 45 degrees, go three rails around behind the 7 ball...7 in the bottom right pocket..8 in top right...9 straight in top left.
 
No 3 rail since the 8 is in the way, I'd place the cueball 2/3rds between the 9 and the rail, about on the 3nd diamond and use draw with maybe a tough of right to bellow the side pocket. This looks to me to be a touchy shot as you need to avoid sending the cueball to the side, yet don't want to end up too much on the top of the side pocket to avoid a tough shot. Best place to end up would be at the 2 diamonds starting at the side pocket and bellow and a diamond off the rail.

Depending on how far off the 6 is off the rail, I may place the cueball on the rail and use follow to send the cueball to the top rail and towards the same general area of the side pocket, I think the scratch chance is less that way because of the sharper angle you are heading towards the side.

I am guessing you are asking this because you tried this and scratched?

Those are the two exact shots I thought of. I think I would opt for drawing it over to the opposite side rail. All you have to do is avoid the scratch and you win. Playing the follow shot avoids the potential scratch but leaves you a much smaller landing zone.
 
I am guessing you are asking this because you tried this and scratched?

I ran into this situation during practice, and set it up a few times to see what the highest percentage shot would be. I came up with two shots I felt comfortable with:

1) put CB next to side pocket near 9 ball and shoot with high right english, bring CB down to the zone where the 7 goes in the top right pocket.



2) play safe, send the 6 ball three rails below the 7 and 8. leave CB against the end rail.



Drawing the ball is not exactly easy, depending on your comfort zone. Sending CB three rails can easily get stuck behind the 8. Banking the 6 is a good option too, you just need to be comfortable with it.

Of course another good option is just make the 6 and get the CB near center table, then play safe on the 7 if you have to.
 
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shoot the 6 with top left engish using three rails, you will be coming directly into the path of the 7 to put it in the top right corner (in example). Instead of crossing the path of the 7 you are coming into it with an angle......... it's always better to come into the shot angle than to cross it, less accuracy is required.

This shot also gives you pefect position to make the 7 with right english and put the eight in the same corner as the 7..
 

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In my opinion, the only correct shot is going off the side-rail with bottom right english. It's the simplest and most predictable approach to getting shape on the 7. Is it touchy? Sure. You have to avoid the side-pocket but the 6 is slightly off the rail, this shouldn't be very difficult to do. With the 6 closer/on the rail, perhaps you'll have to give yourself a smaller angle (right handed players will need to stretch) but you should still be able to draw past the side pocket and get shape.

I know this isn't the most fun position in the world but if you want to compete, you have to be comfortable with drawing off that rail and avoiding the scratch. Every other position-route here may have a smaller scratch percentage but also dramatically lowers your chances of running out.


If banking the 6 is remotely considered, it's because you need to work on your draw. That's simply not a good shot to play and completely wrong if you're playing on tight equipment. Yes, it can work but your success-rate is compromised.

Going forward with inside is out of the question too. It's too wild. You're going to cross the width of the table twice and hope to get an angle you can work with? It can be done but not consistently. If the 8ball were somewhere else, this route is perfectly reasonable but you can't even play for the bottom right corner which means you're going to have to juice it up a little more and hope for something else. This is a route you play when you're desperate. You have BIH, you're in control. Make your decisions accordingly.

Using just follow is also problematic. You're forcing through the 6 and creating a new angle. It's perfectly reasonable to bend too much and not get the desired angle or not bend at all and leave yourself really long. Regardless, you're working harder than you need to.
 
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In my opinion, the only correct shot is going off the side-rail with bottom right english. It's the simplest and most predictable approach to getting shape on the 7. Is it touchy? Sure. You have to avoid the side-pocket but the 6 is slightly off the rail, this shouldn't be very difficult to do. With the 6 closer/on the rail, perhaps you'll have to give yourself a smaller angle (right handed players will need to stretch) but you should still be able to draw past the side pocket and get shape.

I know this isn't the most fun position in the world but if you want to compete, you have to be comfortable with drawing off that rail and avoiding the scratch. Every other position-route here may have a smaller scratch percentage but also dramatically lowers your chances of running out.


If banking the 6 is remotely considered, it's because you need to work on your draw. That's simply not a good shot to play and completely wrong if you're playing on tight equipment. Yes, it can work but your success-rate is compromised.

Going forward with inside is out of the question too. It's too wild. You're going to cross the width of the table twice and hope to get an angle you can work with? It can be done but not consistently. If the 8ball were somewhere else, this route is perfectly reasonable but you can't even play for the bottom right corner which means you're going to have to juice it up a little more and hope for something else. This is a route you play when your desperate. You have BIH, you're in control. Make your decisions accordingly.

Using just follow is also problematic. You're forcing through the 6 and creating a new angle. It's perfectly reasonable to bend too much and not get the desired angle or not bend at all and leave yourself really long. Regardless, you're working harder than you need to.

This was what I tried my first attempt, and being right handed it presented a challenge to get a shallow enough angle to draw off the rail successfully. The CB wanted to come straight out from the rail.
 
This was what I tried my first attempt, and being right handed it presented a challenge to get a shallow enough angle to draw off the rail successfully. The CB wanted to come straight out from the rail.

Well, that's part of the reason for using the right english. Not only will it help the draw, it also allows you to aim a little thicker on the 6-ball (english induced throw). I can't say what you're doing wrong here just from a diagram but pockets always have a little play. You could be cutting the 6 a little thinner than you need to. If that 6 is slightly off the rail, you should be able to go 1 rail. I have faith that you can do it!
 
Well, that's part of the reason for using the right english. Not only will it help the draw, it also allows you to aim a little thicker on the 6-ball (english induced throw). I can't say what you're doing wrong here just from a diagram but pockets always have a little play. You could be cutting the 6 a little thinner than you need to. If that 6 is slightly off the rail, you should be able to go 1 rail. I have faith that you can do it!

Right, I need a straighter shot on the six, so that means leaning over the table and getting a solid stroke from a stretched position. Taller people probably have an easier time. :)
 
Bottom right. Even for a right hander its fairly simple. I'd use extreme draw with half a tip right english. Wouldn't hit it hard enough to reach the opposite rail so there is no risk of scratching. Leave a left cut on the 7. Roll the 7 in with topspin go into short rail and back out to leave a right cut on the 8. Into the long rail and back to centre, 9 middle.

I've given it 5 attempts on my table and its easier that the diagram makes out. Lefties have it easier I'd say but righties, depending on your reach shouldn't have a problem. My table comes halfway up my thigh so reaching over isn't really an issue.
 
In my opinion, the only correct shot is going off the side-rail with bottom right english. It's the simplest and most predictable approach to getting shape on the 7. Is it touchy? Sure. You have to avoid the side-pocket but the 6 is slightly off the rail, this shouldn't be very difficult to do. With the 6 closer/on the rail, perhaps you'll have to give yourself a smaller angle (right handed players will need to stretch) but you should still be able to draw past the side pocket and get shape.

I know this isn't the most fun position in the world but if you want to compete, you have to be comfortable with drawing off that rail and avoiding the scratch. Every other position-route here may have a smaller scratch percentage but also dramatically lowers your chances of running out.


If banking the 6 is remotely considered, it's because you need to work on your draw. That's simply not a good shot to play and completely wrong if you're playing on tight equipment. Yes, it can work but your success-rate is compromised.

Going forward with inside is out of the question too. It's too wild. You're going to cross the width of the table twice and hope to get an angle you can work with? It can be done but not consistently. If the 8ball were somewhere else, this route is perfectly reasonable but you can't even play for the bottom right corner which means you're going to have to juice it up a little more and hope for something else. This is a route you play when your desperate. You have BIH, you're in control. Make your decisions accordingly.

Using just follow is also problematic. You're forcing through the 6 and creating a new angle. It's perfectly reasonable to bend too much and not get the desired angle or not bend at all and leave yourself really long. Regardless, you're working harder than you need to.

I set this scenario up on my table, and my first was try is how I would do it and put cueball at slight angle and draw it back for the 7, it worked out great and you dont have to FORCE the the shot. 7 in top right use long rail for shape on 8 in same pocket then 9 in same pocket as 6.....

just my 2 cents :thumbup:
 
Bottom right. Even for a right hander its fairly simple. I'd use extreme draw with half a tip right english. Wouldn't hit it hard enough to reach the opposite rail so there is no risk of scratching. Leave a left cut on the 7. Roll the 7 in with topspin go into short rail and back out to leave a right cut on the 8. Into the long rail and back to centre, 9 middle.

I've given it 5 attempts on my table and its easier that the diagram makes out. Lefties have it easier I'd say but righties, depending on your reach shouldn't have a problem. My table comes halfway up my thigh so reaching over isn't really an issue.

Video? I'd like to see it. I have to stretch pretty good to get the CB past the side.
 
Video? I'd like to see it. I have to stretch pretty good to get the CB past the side.
Are you 6ft 6? :) my cue is 60" also.

Even if I couldn't reach far enough I'm pretty sure I could throw the ball in with right and hit the 6 first, then the rail and let the spin move the ball down table.

You could always try the old cue behind the back stroke if you're having trouble stretching :)
 
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