shot quiz

[btown]

It's crazy nobody else is suggesting this. I'm seriously surprised.
Maybe I just missed it.

Why is this the best? Only 2 variables to control - how much you cut the 6, how far you draw.
Scratch? No chance.
Hooked? No chance.
End up on the rail? Maybe. If you hit it really bad.
Really tricky thin angle? Almost no chance. Guess it depends on your draw control.

Why not some wild route going 4-5 rails?
Come on, there's like 100 things that could go wrong. Nobody practices those.
No practice = no feel for the speed and angle. No feel for the shot means
you're probably going to screw up on your first try. Your speed will be off,
you'll hit the 2nd or 3rd rail way off from the expected point, etc.

Why not low right off 1 rail?
That's not bad, it's a common shot. But still has more variables and feel than a simple draw shot.
There's how much sidespin you're using, how this particular set of rails reacts,
how your force affects the spin (a certain amount of sidespin works at speed A but doesn't at speed B),
and so on. If you're going to shoot a shot that relies on pure touch anyway, why not cut out
all those extra unpredictable variables that the rail and sidespin introduces?

Why not top, 1 rail?
This often ends in tears because the object ball is so close to the rail. The forceful top
you put on the cue ball causes it to hit the head rail with some leftover topspin.
Then it dives forward and hooks. It often dies in the kitchen. Or you hit it firmly
and it dives sideways along the tangent line, then bends forward from the top.
The path ends up much more 'sideways' than you expect. This is not that predictable
because it's force follow, not natural follow. Again, why add the variable of
"where will this hit the rail and what direction will it bounce off"? Cut rails out entirely.

Without a doubt the very best shot for the money. If you choice wasn't this one start practicing

 

[backplaying]

I think that if you asked 100 top pros what they would do here, I feel all 100 would shoot the shot recommended by Jude Rosenstock, an outside English draw across the table.

As others have established, it's not the only way to make the shape, but it's a far better choice than any of the others mentioned.

Yep, its the correct shot. Anyone shooting it different is wrong.

 

[Mikjary]

It's crazy nobody else is suggesting this. I'm seriously surprised.
Maybe I just missed it.

Why is this the best? Only 2 variables to control - how much you cut the 6, how far you draw.
Scratch? No chance.
Hooked? No chance.
End up on the rail? Maybe. If you hit it really bad.
Really tricky thin angle? Almost no chance. Guess it depends on your draw control.

Why not some wild route going 4-5 rails?
Come on, there's like 100 things that could go wrong. Nobody practices those.
No practice = no feel for the speed and angle. No feel for the shot means
you're probably going to screw up on your first try. Your speed will be off,
you'll hit the 2nd or 3rd rail way off from the expected point, etc.

Why not low right off 1 rail?
That's not bad, it's a common shot. But still has more variables and feel than a simple draw shot.
There's how much sidespin you're using, how this particular set of rails reacts,
how your force affects the spin (a certain amount of sidespin works at speed A but doesn't at speed B),
and so on. If you're going to shoot a shot that relies on pure touch anyway, why not cut out
all those extra unpredictable variables that the rail and sidespin introduces?

Why not top, 1 rail?
This often ends in tears because the object ball is so close to the rail. The forceful top
you put on the cue ball causes it to hit the head rail with some leftover topspin.
Then it dives forward and hooks. It often dies in the kitchen. Or you hit it firmly
and it dives sideways along the tangent line, then bends forward from the top.
The path ends up much more 'sideways' than you expect. This is not that predictable
because it's force follow, not natural follow. Again, why add the variable of
"where will this hit the rail and what direction will it bounce off"? Cut rails out entirely.

The only way I would shoot this shot like you say, is if the 6 ball is at least a half ball off of the rail. For a right hander, I would slightly have to jack up. Being too close to the object ball may cause a problem if the balls are dirty, too. If there were blocking balls, it could be an option. I use this strategy when the object ball is on the short rail, not the long rail.

Shooting the shot with draw or with a touch of right off the rail is probably the most used stroke in 9 ball to get down the table. When balls are on the rail, I try to establish this angle to get position using a draw stroke. It comes up so often, I've practiced it for hours in drills. I can straighten the shot to come almost straight back or come straight across the table. It's a consistent angle for position play.

Best,
Mike