Pat was kind enough to post the videos of the matches from last weekend. Here are some interesting situations which came up:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1917550
The middle of this game, when we're both at about 90 or so, is marred by some misses and lots of safety play. Other than that, not a terrible game.
00:09:45
One of my faves. It's funny, the commentators thought I missed position, but I was obviously playing for this. Sadly, I only came away with a combination afterwards, which I missed
.
00:43:20
The simple and controlled bump of this 2 ball clears everything. It's not a random break of a cluster... I was pretty happy to have seen this shot and to hit it with enough speed to clear it, correctly, over to the side rail.
00:44:45
They seem to think I make a mistake with the end pattern here, but I disagree. I think more precision is necessary their way. What do you guys think?
01:36:00
An interesting sequence. I notice that the 14 ball is dead, but I can't get to it. I play what I consider to be a smart intentional, but he hits me with a great return. When he leaves me in the pocket at about 1:39:30, I know I have no choice but to play the kick, but I might as well put him on a foul first. There's nowhere he can leave me that is worse than where I am now, so it really is free. Additionally, I'm putting myself on two fouls, which is actually better than if I'm only on one. If I kick and somehow foul, Matty won't get the open rack - I'll have to rebreak.
01:43:40
I make a mistake here. I saw it, but chickened out. I deserved what I got. I should've played the 11, drew back slightly, then the 3. The 3 is an easy cut to judge and go two rails back and forth for perfect break shot position. But as I said, I chickened out, and got what I deserved. I was really sick about this error.
01:58:50
For some reason, a few people (including sort of the commentators) seemed to think the shot I played was creative. I don't know, seemed kind of obvious to me lol, and comes up a lot. But I figured I'd pass it on in case someone hadn't seen it before.
02:06:00
I play a nice unconventional safety here, almost forcing him to leave me a shot.
02:10:50
I start a bit of a run here; I think it's a 59. It ends pitifully lol.
02:41:00
I guess an exciting finish. Btw, looks like the match was almost three hours. Ugh.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1915978
01:50:00
In my loss to Dan Louie, this end pattern sequence came up as well. It didn't end in my favor, but I was happy to see it and play successfully for it, considering what I had to work with. The 2 ball was not laying right for a more conventional break shot from that end of the table, but in the absence of anything else, it can work. You just have to be a bit creative in getting there.
I certainly knew about the potential scratch. But I was coming back in the match, and knew that if I hit the top two balls and exploded the rack, it could be a game-changer. I risked it. Normally I'd consider going two rails with inside english, but I just didn't know the table well enough to guarantee I'd hit the rack. I also wouldn't be able to hit the rack that hard like that, and the tables were breaking a bit tough.
Finally, I'll mention that after the game, I set the shot up again. Pat Fleming and I realized what I should have done. As soon as I did it (by accident), I knew. Still use the low, but also add right, and hit the right side rail, the short rail, and finally, into the bottom of the rack. This would allow me to hit the ball very hard, and still have a very predictable path. I definitely learned something.
Also, I just want to thank John Bender, who has so far gone unmentioned in these threads. He did an excellent job of commentating over two brutally long days.
- Steve
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1917550
The middle of this game, when we're both at about 90 or so, is marred by some misses and lots of safety play. Other than that, not a terrible game.
00:09:45
One of my faves. It's funny, the commentators thought I missed position, but I was obviously playing for this. Sadly, I only came away with a combination afterwards, which I missed
.00:43:20
The simple and controlled bump of this 2 ball clears everything. It's not a random break of a cluster... I was pretty happy to have seen this shot and to hit it with enough speed to clear it, correctly, over to the side rail.
00:44:45
They seem to think I make a mistake with the end pattern here, but I disagree. I think more precision is necessary their way. What do you guys think?
01:36:00
An interesting sequence. I notice that the 14 ball is dead, but I can't get to it. I play what I consider to be a smart intentional, but he hits me with a great return. When he leaves me in the pocket at about 1:39:30, I know I have no choice but to play the kick, but I might as well put him on a foul first. There's nowhere he can leave me that is worse than where I am now, so it really is free. Additionally, I'm putting myself on two fouls, which is actually better than if I'm only on one. If I kick and somehow foul, Matty won't get the open rack - I'll have to rebreak.
01:43:40
I make a mistake here. I saw it, but chickened out. I deserved what I got. I should've played the 11, drew back slightly, then the 3. The 3 is an easy cut to judge and go two rails back and forth for perfect break shot position. But as I said, I chickened out, and got what I deserved. I was really sick about this error.
01:58:50
For some reason, a few people (including sort of the commentators) seemed to think the shot I played was creative. I don't know, seemed kind of obvious to me lol, and comes up a lot. But I figured I'd pass it on in case someone hadn't seen it before.
02:06:00
I play a nice unconventional safety here, almost forcing him to leave me a shot.
02:10:50
I start a bit of a run here; I think it's a 59. It ends pitifully lol.
02:41:00
I guess an exciting finish. Btw, looks like the match was almost three hours. Ugh.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1915978
01:50:00
In my loss to Dan Louie, this end pattern sequence came up as well. It didn't end in my favor, but I was happy to see it and play successfully for it, considering what I had to work with. The 2 ball was not laying right for a more conventional break shot from that end of the table, but in the absence of anything else, it can work. You just have to be a bit creative in getting there.
I certainly knew about the potential scratch. But I was coming back in the match, and knew that if I hit the top two balls and exploded the rack, it could be a game-changer. I risked it. Normally I'd consider going two rails with inside english, but I just didn't know the table well enough to guarantee I'd hit the rack. I also wouldn't be able to hit the rack that hard like that, and the tables were breaking a bit tough.
Finally, I'll mention that after the game, I set the shot up again. Pat Fleming and I realized what I should have done. As soon as I did it (by accident), I knew. Still use the low, but also add right, and hit the right side rail, the short rail, and finally, into the bottom of the rack. This would allow me to hit the ball very hard, and still have a very predictable path. I definitely learned something.
Also, I just want to thank John Bender, who has so far gone unmentioned in these threads. He did an excellent job of commentating over two brutally long days.
- Steve
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