Thin Cut Shot

[pete lafond]

Hey guys, I think a lot of you underestimate how challenging this cut-shot really is. I don't think there is a single player in the world who would be giddy about shooting this shot even if it were the 9-ball! The thought of getting position with tons of traffic would make this unnerving.

The soft cut simply wouldn't be fun because of the distance involved. Nobody likes shooting soft when you need to be so accurate from such a distance and there is no guarantee of position. Forget english. It'll wear off by the time the cue-ball reaches anything.

Multiple rails is just ridiculous. Unless the path is as big as Broadway, there's no chance of being consistent. Hit that ball a little thicker or thinner than anticipated and you're bound to run into something. Change the spin a little and you're screwed. Maybe Reyes can be consistent with such routes but honestly, I think even Reyes might consider other options.

Right about multiple rails and correct about soft (rolls). But again 9 ball winners are not those that shoot only hangers.

IMO this is a much less than "Medium Difficult shot" based on my setting it up and trying it last night. It is not an unusual shot to make. Any shot can be missed.

As I said earlier, if presented this rack with this shot as a start, I would consider this an out.

Respectfully the many posts here demonstrate the fact that many play differently to win, as you said "win" is the ans. I agree. I have played some that will duck on a long corner-to-corner shot. Some a side rail cut shot. The shot here offers a huge pocket to shoot into. Even on a shimmed pocket you can miss by 1/2 ball on either side of center and still pocket. This is a lot of room IMO.

.
.

 

[cuetable]

Both Fred and Jude are right: it looks easy on WeiTable. Bringing it into CueTable and see it at higher resolution, you will see it can be a little complicated. On a soft cut over distance, one needs to take many things into consideration: Throw, Deflection, Cloth, Speed.

Here is diagram showing some calculation using the built-in measuring tools of CueTable:

http://CueTable.com/P/?@3AJsY4BDOA1...travelling_distance:_less_than_8d&ZZ3vHgRhhr@

Take a look at how the blue line intersecting the 1B and think about shooting it from 4 diamonds away with a rolling speed where the cue ball has to stop 4 diamonds after the contact. I am comfortable shooting this becuase I play one pocket where hanging up the ball is a good thing.

 

[cuetable]

Here is a snapshot of the layout in the last post. I uploaded this through the Additional Options section of the forum posting window. Apparently you can upload a JPEG file that's less than 100k

 

[unknownpro]

You do not see this as a usual 9 ball shot holding the CB for the 2 and running out?

I realize that most posts here talk about making shots and playing safeties. I think if a few posts made on some defensive kick shots after a safe may startle some into "I better play the shot while I have it or lose potentially lose."

Well said. You have to take these shots when you have them. You just can't play safe from here against good players. Better to roll the 9 than play safe, imo, but even then go for it to make it.

unknownpro

 

[Flex]

Well said. You have to take these shots when you have them. You just can't play safe from here against good players. Better to roll the 9 than play safe, imo, but even then go for it to make it.

unknownpro

I like the way you think.

The other evening Larry Schwartz showed how to shoot a difficult cut shot on the 9 such that even if the 9 didn't pot the result would be a long tough cut shot for the opponent. He called it shooting aggressively and leaving your opponent tough. Go for the safety in a situation where even the safety isn't guaranteed and watch a good player make the resulting shot and win or gain the upper hand.

At times, the "safety" will surely lose the game.

Flex