Well, I'm amazed again at my own stupidity. I have just made some MAJOR progress in my knowledge of side pocket shots. In the "How do you lose from here thread" I described a side pocket shot made by a professional opponent. I was shocked at the time at the lack of hesitation in choice of shot, and shocked at the speed the shot was struck with (this was not a banger I was playing). I was told at the time that any ball along the line from the side pocket through the spot where the corner ball in the rack sits would be easily makeable at any speed you wanted (balls closer to the long rail than this line can still be made, but must be slow-rolled). It sure didn't look that way to me, at least until this morning.
At the time of my ignominious defeat, I was positive my opponent would play safe (I wasn't even going to sit down). This morning I put 2 stick-on dots where the corner balls of a 15 ball rack would be. I then shot 300-400 shots into the side pockets from along the line between the side pocket and these dots. I was amazed to see that these balls can be made fairly easily, even when struck with fair pace (I would say my table has tight but not unfair pockets). Even from near the short rail, these can be made, and position obtained almost anywhere. I've never even considered these shots before (I've always considered them low percentage, with no chance to play position), at least never considered hitting them with any pace to get position somewhere far, far away. It will radically change my safety play in 14.1 (at least against players who know and practice this - I normally leave these shots all the time for my opponent), and it will radically change my shot selection (I've always avoided these like the plague). Of course, if my opponent only needed one ball, I might still play safe, but even in one day of practice my make percentage is about 80% - I expect that to improve.
I'm sure the better players already know this, but to me it was shocking.
At the time of my ignominious defeat, I was positive my opponent would play safe (I wasn't even going to sit down). This morning I put 2 stick-on dots where the corner balls of a 15 ball rack would be. I then shot 300-400 shots into the side pockets from along the line between the side pocket and these dots. I was amazed to see that these balls can be made fairly easily, even when struck with fair pace (I would say my table has tight but not unfair pockets). Even from near the short rail, these can be made, and position obtained almost anywhere. I've never even considered these shots before (I've always considered them low percentage, with no chance to play position), at least never considered hitting them with any pace to get position somewhere far, far away. It will radically change my safety play in 14.1 (at least against players who know and practice this - I normally leave these shots all the time for my opponent), and it will radically change my shot selection (I've always avoided these like the plague). Of course, if my opponent only needed one ball, I might still play safe, but even in one day of practice my make percentage is about 80% - I expect that to improve.
I'm sure the better players already know this, but to me it was shocking.
St.