Simple situation and you must not dog it. How do you usually play it?

[nobcitypool]

A or D are the only two reasonable ways to play the shot and expect to have consistently good position for a side pocket shot. However, why not simply bring it off the end rail a little bit and pocket the ball in corner pocket? For me, at least, a sure way to get very nervous and dog the shot is to attempt to make the perfect shot so I have a straight in.

 

[bbb]

I know this is so dead easy that every C player on earth should be out from here.
Say you're playing on a 10 footer, totally unfamiliar with the cloth, you're nervous, shaking hands,
it's for ALL THE MARBLES, etc. etc.

How do you cinch this ball to guarantee you get straight in on the 8,
and can't possibly miss or get bad shape?Do you play for the near side pocket or the far one? One rail or two rails?
Do you put any english to help 'dogproof' it? Dead center rolling ball?
A little outside to cancel throw? A little draw to prevent skid?

Do you strongly feel one way is right, or that some ways are definitely wrong?
Like inside english is risky? Forget 1 rail with B or F because you might get stuck on the long rail?

Oh yeah... does anyone play shape for the corners instead, on a big table?

to answer your specific question
to cinch the ball you would use as little english as possible (why add another variable) or maybe a touch of outside to avoid skid and minimize collision induced throw
to get as straight in as possible
you would want to be coming towards the 8 to give you a larger zone to land in that would mean 2 rails
all things equal i prefer follow to draw in that situation
(someone mentioned with a lighter cue ball use draw and i agree with that)
but to get 2 rail shape you need more spin so thats complicating things

SO to make it the least doggable
id probably play it choice C alittle high alittle inside
which would take you an the B line

if you asked how would i play it without any other comments
the 2 railer follow inside english every time

 

[peteypooldude]

A or D are the only two reasonable ways to play the shot and expect to have consistently good position for a side pocket shot. However, why not simply bring it off the end rail a little bit and pocket the ball in corner pocket? For me, at least, a sure way to get very nervous and dog the shot is to attempt to make the perfect shot so I have a straight in.

If I'm feeling nerves I don't want to shoot a long straight in
I like the one rail like your scratching in the side

 

[TSW]

One can quickly see that going long even 3 ball widths makes a big difference in the shot, whereas coming short 3 ball widths is really no big deal.

This is a good point. Under pressure, I am confident that I can play C and favor coming up short of the side pocket.

If I'm just having fun, or otherwise stroking well, I shoot D all day long. However if I'm under pressure in a "do or die" situation, I would seriously consider cinching the shot and playing C. It all depends on the exact angle and how I'm feeling.

 

[King T]

Close call

I think Neil and TSW both make good points. Under pressure, for the match, center ball, route C

 

[JoseV]

I was sweaty at the hands I would say F- it and just stroke the crap out of it watch the CB go six rails and scratch in the same pocket as the seven ball. I will not have it any other way!!!!

 

[pool101]

C or E K.I.S.S

 

[jalapus logan]

I think the "right" shot is D. A lot of draw, a little bit of outside.

Under pressure, ain't no way I'm choosing A. The last thing I want on a pressure-packed shot is to spin the ball with a lot of inside.

Honestly, in a match with my hands shaking, I probably play C and cinch the 3 ball. I'm confident I'll get good enough shape on the 8 to make it.

I think that the reasons you previously detailed made D the right shot. Shooting the right shot gives you the confidence to execute. If I decide that D is the right shot, and I elect to go a different route, then I know that my chances to screw something up increases, because I'm just not confident enough to pull the trigger. For me, I decide the "best" shot and shoot that every single time, period.

If I'm too nervous to execute shot D, then its time to stand up, collect myself, and then make myself ready to shoot it.

 

[Neil]

C or E K.I.S.S

Actually, C or E are not K.I.S.S., they are the two routes wrought with peril if your speed isn't right on. Goes back to the basics of position play, never cross the line if you don't have to, always come in on the line whenever possible. Just think about it...which way is going to "bite you" the most times?

 

[TCo]

G

I'm assuming there would be other 'blockers' on the table to prevent me from rolling shorter or longer to play a corner pocket.

I would rather use A or D so that I'm rolling into the shape cone.

 

[TimKrazyMon]

I chose A but D works just the same. Having the cue ball rolling into the line of position, instead of crossing it, reduced the need for pinpoint speed.

 

[TSW]

I think that the reasons you previously detailed made D the right shot. Shooting the right shot gives you the confidence to execute. If I decide that D is the right shot, and I elect to go a different route, then I know that my chances to screw something up increases, because I'm just not confident enough to pull the trigger. For me, I decide the "best" shot and shoot that every single time, period.

If I'm too nervous to execute shot D, then its time to stand up, collect myself, and then make myself ready to shoot it.

Fair enough.

I'm most surprised at the number of people who chose A. Right now there are more A votes than D and C combined. Why would you want to use English to force the cue ball against its natural path??

 

[jalapus logan]

Fair enough.

I'm most surprised at the number of people who chose A. Right now there are more A votes than D and C combined. Why would you want to use English to force the cue ball against its natural path??

I am surprised as well. I also suspect that for many players, using inside english is the most difficult to master. And no, I'm not talking about TOI, whatever that is...

 

[peteypooldude]

Fair enough.

I'm most surprised at the number of people who chose A. Right now there are more A votes than D and C combined. Why would you want to use English to force the cue ball against its natural path??

It may have to do with the average skill level of voters

 

[George]

Fair enough.

I'm most surprised at the number of people who chose A. Right now there are more A votes than D and C combined. Why would you want to use English to force the cue ball against its natural path??

I'm not surprised, I almost didn't see the 2nd diagram before I voted. I suspect some may have actually made that mistake.

A or D are the only ways to consider, they put both you in line for position. The others cross the line. I shoot D every time in this position, it is by far the highest percentage shot.

 

[CreeDo]

Cool to see so many mixed answers so far. I didn't post this thinking there's one right answer
but I thought one answer might get like 70% of the votes, instead it's all over the map.
Though so far A has about twice as many votes as the next contender.

A is what I voted as well.

Jalapus Logan has a great point, even though he went with D.
I'm a big fan of the idea that "the right shot is the right shot even if it doesn't work out".
Even if I'm nervous, I try to play the same shot I'd do in practice and not let fear
affect my decisions.

If I'm too nervous to make that 3 with some spin, I'm REALLY gonna choke to death
shooting a funny cut on the money ball. I need to be get REALLY nice on
the 8 to win. The 3 ball isn't worth a penny.

I guess you could argue that a missed 3 ball sure as hell isn't worth anything either
But I shoot like the pool player I want to be in the future, meaning a calm guy who is not remotely
fazed spinning 2 rails on that 3 ball. If I feel like I'm making a bad choice on the 3,
my chances of missing it go up 500%.

Other reasons I go with A:

• Going into the 'position cone' instead of across it.

• For some reason (maybe from years of throwing balls in with outside, maybe collision induced throw)
I always want to undercut this ball.

I've trained myself to aim for the outside nipple and overcut it a hair.
With inside spin, I feel like there's no way to 'overdo' this intentional overcut. I'll either hit where I aimed
(the thin side of the pocket) or throw it and hit a little fatter (the fat side of the pocket but still in the hole).
I dunno if this is just a psychological crutch or what but it helps me make the ball.

• Although inside is a little unnatural, draw is even more so, and for some reason less predictable than
any follow shot. If you ever did the drill where you draw straight back into a hole, or follow straight forward into a hole... you know that draw is very touchy and it's difficult to draw perfectly along an intended line.

I used to love doing shot D but too many times I've gotten bit, where I draw towards the first diamond
instead of towards the second, and end up basically on the 50 yard line. Or I get scared of that possibility,
underdraw, and end up frozen on the third diamond.

With inside I feel there's 0% chance of getting an ugly cut (you'd have to spin the bejessus out of it to hit the first diamond on the other side) and almost no chance of being frozen to the rail (because following to hit a rail and then bounce off a bit feels so natural, for me).

D is a close second choice for me though.

----

I can't believe a few guys are playing for the corners here. Let me reiterate, this is not a barbox!

 

[peteypooldude]

This is one case I will have to agree to disagree
Rolling the ball in with a little high inside nice and smooth you can't miss shape unless you fall down during delivery
I'm not trying to convince anybody
To each his own

 

[King T]

I dont get it?

Why so many votes for A or D? It sounds good on paper, but under heat I think most peol would use center ball, try to get the speed right and not over run the shape...,

the 3 ball is just right of the 8, so if my speed is bad, I stiil have the 8 in the corner, thats the shot for the cash.

 

[George]

.......................

 

[jimmyg]

With the three ball being at the center diamond on the bottom rail I'm just floating the cue ball to "C", if it was closer to the pocket I'd go the two rails as in "A". Of course there's nothing wrong with "D" either.

J