The most important shot in 9 ball?
- Thread starter Pidge
- Start date
Part of me wants to agree with Jude about the break, on AZB you'll frequently see people refer to some stat that said the breaker only won 49% vs. the racker winning 51% of their matches.
However I wonder if magic racks and similar technology has altered this. Pidge's story reminds me a bit of Donny Mills vs. Shane in TAR 17. Donny made his wing ball and left himself a rail cut on the 1 every time, and you'd see patterns in the layout. Shane I think is the stronger overall player, but if they played again and Donny got his soft break working, I wouldn't place any bets on the outcome.
Certainly in 10 ball it seems like the better breaker is the winner, and by a significant margin.
I'd say the most important shot in 9 ball is your shot on the 1 ball. If I remember the info correctly, the old accustats magazines show that a pro will get out something like 70% of the time if they can see the 1. That means if you must duck on the 1, you better make sure you don't sell out.
At lower levels where players just don't run out that often, I'm gonna vote for the shot on the 9 ball
Good observations Creedo...
I will point this out because some of the instructors here like to quote the old percentages... The percentages where the breaker made a ball less than 50% of the time are over a decade old according Pat Fleming where they originated.... The same percentages are the ones where the breaker won less racks than the non-breaker...
Times have changed... The cloth is faster and the professionals, at least the younger generation, seem to know more about the break than in decades past.....
If I am hill/hill I want the break... End of story... It's the most important shot in the rack......
On a barbox, it's the break, no doubt. On a big table, it's being able to play a gangbuster safety......imo of course.
I agree with you. All the other shots mean nothing if you don't make the game ball.
Break is important, but problem break changes with new balls, and type of cloth, as we as well as weather, i would not practice too much the break shots, i would practice thin and long pots a lot learn your cue at different bridging levels with all english. Potting in general more than running racks. Practice kick shots, and jump shots too
That is ludicrous.
How in the fluck is an easy shot going to cost one more wins than a harder shot? It isn't, and you can't say more people fail to win from 'easy' shots than 'hard' ones
The definition of each shot, easier or harder,is assigned because of the likelihood of successful execution of said shot.
To argue your point, you would have to say that you would rather shoot all hard shots than easy ones. I would play anyone in the World like that. May even give 'em the first break, if asked nicely.
putting aside the break shot which to me is clearly the most important shot in 9ball, id go with either the stop shot or the cut into a corner with varying degrees of draw/draw english to come one rail back out to the middle of the table.
now if you change the question to the hardest shot to execute well in pool.... for me its high inside from distance. very hard for me to hit that shot well under pressure.
now if you change the question to the hardest shot to execute well in pool.... for me its high inside from distance. very hard for me to hit that shot well under pressure.
At pro level: The Break
At my level: The ball before the 9 (making it and getting good position on the 9) and the break.
At my level: The ball before the 9 (making it and getting good position on the 9) and the break.
if my opponent is getting all the rolls?
it's the Tequila Shot.
it's the Tequila Shot.
Other than the 9 ball, which I think is obvious, I think the most important shot changes as the game progresses. To me, it's the shot that puts you at risk of losing control of the table. So, it starts with the break shot, and then depending on how the game progresses, it could show up as a tough shot, tough safety or kick, etc, at any time during the game.
Most impt of ALL is to have whitey on the proper side of the obj. ball so you can work the cue ball to pretty much any place on the play surface and get to your next ball or shape position. Learning to control the speed of whitey, is one of Thee most important aspects of getting better.
The break isn't the most important shot
There are 9 important shots in 9 ball. being unsuccessful at any of these 9 shots makes your opponent the favorite to win the game.
Each of these shots are progressively more critical (yet the importance of each ball can not be weighed separately.)
In short, the ball you're on is the most important shot because an error on that shot leaves your opponent with less of a challenge coming to the table than you had.
There are 9 important shots in 9 ball. being unsuccessful at any of these 9 shots makes your opponent the favorite to win the game.
Each of these shots are progressively more critical (yet the importance of each ball can not be weighed separately.)
In short, the ball you're on is the most important shot because an error on that shot leaves your opponent with less of a challenge coming to the table than you had.
I'd have to agree about the break, but also the safety shots. If you can control where the ball ends up, you raise the level of the game by a lot. Consequently, the position on the 9 becomes a given and an important last element other then not choking on the 9 ball.
So, since we have only one choice to make - mine would be a great safety play - because it means good position play too.
So, since we have only one choice to make - mine would be a great safety play - because it means good position play too.
There should be no hard shots, if you know your cue and where to aim. Cue deflection varies for how much tips of english you put, and your bridge position in relation to pivot point. Obviously shooting fast helps to rule out swerve. In most cases you would always want to under cut when using inside, it varies with distance between ob and CB as well as tips of english, max you have to aim one whole diamond from pocket for angled shot. Invest in small 11 to 11.75" tip it makes the shot easier since you do not have to put lots of english, less deflection.
I use this mantra all the time. It is the same mantra I used while playing golf. If the present is not focused upon then the future is less certain.