SITUATION: Do or Duck?

[Eric.]

The single-rail kick is much easier to judge. It's practically a mirror-image type shot. Even unexperienced kickers are going to get a safe here fairly often.

You freeze the cue-ball to the 8-ball and firstly, there is no guarantee you're getting that angle toward the necessary corner pocket. You could freeze slightly to the right-side of the 8-ball and that option no longer exists (just to play devil's advocate). Secondly, the angle of approach for the two-rail kick diminishes the probability you'll leave him safe. You have to hit your target full in the face otherwise, the cue-ball is going to be free and judging such an accurate hit in a two-railer is really really tough.

Most players are going to lower their expectations, get the legal hit and hope to get lucky.

Jude,

I hear what you're saying and it has merit. I just don't see it as a higher percentage safe option.

Try the 2 rail kick. With the two balls where they are, it's a very easy kick. For that matter, the 1 rail kick safe is not a sure thing to get safe either...


Eric

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Jude,

I hear what you're saying and it has merit. I just don't see it as a higher percentage safe option.

Try the 2 rail kick. With the two balls where they are, it's a very easy kick. For that matter, the 1 rail kick safe is not a sure thing to get safe either...


Eric

Eric, if I get you kicking two rails, I KNOW I'm winning that game. If you're kicking one, I don't know. It's really that simple.

 

[Eric.]

Eric, if I get you kicking two rails, I KNOW I'm winning that game. If you're kicking one, I don't know. It's really that simple.

Umm, OK, you win.


Eric

 

[Black-Balled]

For me it depends on how I'm hitting them that day, and, obviously, on the stakes. One thing I can say for sure is that if I were going to go offensive, I definitely would...shoot at the 13 and try to leave the cb somewhere near the side pocket...

Yes, baybee!

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Umm, OK, you win.


Eric

Look, my point is, if you're kicking 1-rail, there's a safety play. If you're kicking two-rails, there isn't. I mean, there is but it's much lower percentage than the 1-railer. If that cue-ball pops out, you're gonna lose.

 

[renard]

I don't think the safe is automatic. Because the CB is on the rail, it'll be very hard to stop the CB perfectly behind the 8. If you roll it too hard, then your opponent will see part of the 2, or worse he might even all of the 4, in which case you're totally screwed.

Even if you execute the safety perfectly behind the 8, a very good player can easily soft kick at the 4 ball and leave you hooked behind both the 4 and the 2.

I think this is one of those scenarios where your decision should depend on the skill level of your opponent. If your opponent is a D player like myself, go for the safety. If your opponent is Efren, then go for the runout.

I agree with jsp here. The cueball after the shot will be in the vicinity of where the ten once was. The opponent has a kick by the numbers here on the four by simply shooting at the middle diamond on the short rail...

I would be hoping my opponent tries to play this safe because I get another crack at the table.

 

[Cornerman]

Last night my opponent left me this as a result of a safe/two way shot. I'm stripes. CB is frozen to rail. 11-Ball is dead straight. 10 is off the rail. Both of her balls (2&4) go into the corner. Fairly tight, unforgiving pockets. I think they're 4 1/2", but deep. Rattles don't fall. 4 1/2 X 9.

CueTable Help

Question: Would you attempt to run out these balls (do) knowing that if you miss the 11 you sell out (opponent is heavy favorite to run out from uptable)? Or would you play safe (Duck) into the 10 and force them to kick?

I managed to win the game, but I'm interested in how everyone here would play it.

Cheers,
RC

Duck.

I guess cutting the 13-ball might be a two-way shot on tight tables, but IMO, that's feeding it to the opponent.

Fred

 

[sixpack]

Thanks for all the good thoughts

I was resolved to play disciplined and I did until this shot came up....then I thought the higher percentage was to play the safe off the 10....so I played the 11 in the corner soft, then the 13 down by the 10 and then stop-shot off 10 for 8 in corner. LOL

It all worked out, but my stroke has been a little off and so I shot it as much because I wanted to see if I could make the 11 as because I thought it was the correct play. I've learned that if you shoot a shot because you want to see if you can make it, you'll sleep in the streets a lot.

Thanks for y'all's input.

Cheers,
RC

 

[MrLucky]

For me...

The safe get my ball off the rail and hide her ! let her kick! she should leave a shot on my ball in side