Simple ball in hand on the hill

Joe T

Well-known member
How would you play this ball in hand runout? I know it's simple I would just like to see some different opinions.

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edit: if it didnt roll far enough getting on the 8 i would just use a smooth top english shot and come up the center of the table since the 9 is so close to the pocket. but i would ideally be going for the pattern shown.
 
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Joe T said:
How would you play this ball in hand runout? I know it's simple I would just like to see some different opinions.
[...]

If I feel comfortable with the side pockets, I think I'd hit the 7 almost straight into the upper side pocket following the cueball to the long rail one diamond past the pocket and then off the rail to the vicinity of the head string.

If I'm not so comfortable with the side pocket, I'd stun the 7 into the corner near the 9 sending the cueball on the same path as above
 
I'd play the 7 ball straight into the top-right corner pocket (down above the 8), with some top so the cue follows the 7 downtable a ways. That way, you've got the angle on the 8 to sink it and come back for the 9.
 
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Stun the cueball off the 7 with a little more draw to come downtable for the 8. Cut the 8 ball with center ball to come back up table for the 9 in the corner.
Chuck
 
I practice this 2 ways. Here's the first (low left or center left):

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Tates first version is the only other way i would play the 7 because it gives the same % margin of error of getting on the 8. Generally its slightly riskier going that route than the way i listed (for me personally) but still around the same % error of shape which is good.
 
cubc said:
Tates first version is the only other way i would play the 7 because it gives the same % margin of error of getting on the 8. Generally its slightly riskier going that route than the way i listed (for me personally) but still around the same % error of shape which is good.

I like the direct route you used as well. I will usually use the direct route, but in this case I am worried about getting too straight on the 8 ball.

If the 8 ball were in a slightly different position, closer to the other corner pocket, I would just draw the cueball straight back for position.

Chris
 
Joe, nice post. Although I came up with the same answer as cubc pretty quickly, I struggled with this one a bit because I thought there should be an easier answer.

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Obviously, the key is to get the cueball to around the area marked with the "A" cueball. Getting from the 8 to the 9 is no problem.

That 7 is just in a really awkward position where none of the more natural paths are laying right. The 7 is a bit too high to play it comfortably in the upper left and come 3 rails down to the 8. And I definitely don't like playing the 7 in either of the pockets on the right side of the screen.

I think the real problem here is that none of the positional routes can adequately guarantee that you don't get straight on the 8, which is the cardinal sin of this out.

So I agree with cubc's choice, but I'm not going to love it. I'm going to focus on this shot and give it the attention it deserves.

- Steve

P.S. Move the 7 just two inches "down" (towards the left of the screen), and my answer instantly changes to playing it in the upper left pocket and coming three rails with low left english. The draw lets you come short to the third rail, which guarantees the not-getting-straight-on-the-8 part. Where the 7 is laying now, though, you really can't use low left to do this because you might scratch in the lower LEFT pocket.

NOTE: EDIT IN BOLD

Great shot Joe!
 
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cubc said:

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edit: if it didnt roll far enough getting on the 8 i would just use a smooth top english shot and come up the center of the table since the 9 is so close to the pocket. but i would ideally be going for the pattern shown.

That is what I would have done except I would have only gone 1 rail from the 8 to 9.

-Back2good1
 
Steve Lipsky said:
That 7 is just in a really awkward position where none of the more natural paths are laying right. The 7 is a bit too high to play it comfortably in the upper left and come 3 rails down to the 8. And I definitely don't like playing the 7 in either of the pockets on the right side of the screen.

I think the real problem here is that none of the positional routes can adequately guarantee that you don't get straight on the 8, which is the cardinal sin of this out.

So I agree with cubc's choice, but I'm not going to love it. I'm going to focus on this shot and give it the attention it deserves.

- Steve

P.S. Move the 7 just two inches "down" (towards the left of the screen), and my answer instantly changes to playing it in the upper left pocket and coming three rails with low left english. The draw lets you come short to the third rail, which guarantees the not-getting-straight-on-the-8 part. Where the 7 is laying now, though, you really can't use low left to do this because you might scratch in the lower right pocket.

Great shot Joe!



That was the exact same thought process I had. The 7 was too high to risk going 3 rails to get down to the 8. Move it closer and the 3 rail shape is a given.

I still like going from the 8 to the 9 by drawing back because im not fond of shooting off the rail or possibly scratching coming straight up the table from the 8. Either way the 8 to the 9 isnt even a tester.
 
ScottW said:
I'd play the 7 ball straight into the top-right corner pocket (down above the 8), with some top so the cue follows the 7 downtable a ways. That way, you've got the angle on the 8 to sink it and come back for the 9.


Tap, tap, tap.

Hill-hill, this is the only way to play it in my opinion.
 
cubc said:

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edit: if it didnt roll far enough getting on the 8 i would just use a smooth top english shot and come up the center of the table since the 9 is so close to the pocket. but i would ideally be going for the pattern shown.


i think this is the higher % out. going 3 rails brings the cueball too close to the lower left corner pocket for my tasts in a hill hill game
 
Ok, I gave this some thought. Of course, how the table plays is going to be a factor. Assuming it's a relatively fast table and the pockets are somewhat generous, my minimal requirement is to get the cue-ball past the side-pocket and away from the rail. My goal is to leave myself a manageable cut on the 8-ball so I float down table for the 9.

I know there are "ideal" ways to go about this which I might play if I'm WAAAY ahead or it's early but in hill-hill, I'm going to rely on my pocketing and make sure position is automatic. I would want the cueball closer to the 8 than what I've diagrammed but it's hill-hill. I want simple.

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cubc said:
That was the exact same thought process I had. The 7 was too high to risk going 3 rails to get down to the 8. Move it closer and the 3 rail shape is a given.

I still like going from the 8 to the 9 by drawing back because im not fond of shooting off the rail or possibly scratching coming straight up the table from the 8. Either way the 8 to the 9 isnt even a tester.
I agree the 8 to the 9 is easy. However, I think whether you draw back and go 3 rails or go 1 rail depends a lot on where you end up with whitey after pocketing the 7. If the cueball doesn't make it past the headstring, then I think the drawing it back is a lot riskier.
 
Joe T said:
How would you play this ball in hand runout? I know it's simple I would just like to see some different opinions.

... EMPTY TABLE SHOWN
I'm getting "Beta Version Expired" and a blank table -- no balls or lines. Others are having the same problem.

Anyone solve this yet?
 
I play it like RiverCity & Patrick.

Simple draw off the 7 and straight up the table off the 8. You will maintain a cut angle on the 8 and won't accidentally freeze the CB to the side rail coming off the 7.

A simple cut on the 8 carries you right down table to the 9...easy to judge.
 
mosconiac said:
I play it like RiverCity & Patrick.

Simple draw off the 7 and straight up the table off the 8. You will maintain a cut angle on the 8 and won't accidentally freeze the CB to the side rail coming off the 7.

A simple cut on the 8 carries you right down table to the 9...easy to judge.


I think the point Joe T is trying to make here is, what would be your approach when all is on the line? I mean, there are very few circumstances where a decent player won't get out with BIH on the 7 but strange things happen at hill-hill. I agree, it's important to do what you say and under normal circumstances, it is simple - which is something you should remind yourself.

I guess, what I'm trying to say is, there are plenty of hill-hill's I can remember where simple outs didn't feel simple at all.
 
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