thinning a ball

[Vahmurka]

I recall it was in one of Capelle's books (PYB9-ball?) which I don't have handy now, a shot where a ball is close to the short rail, around one diamond from the corner, and the task is to play a thin safety leaving the object ball there on the rail while driving the whitey to the opposite short rail.

There was a hint how to do that better, which I don't remember. Apart from asking to remind me that, I wonder if there is any other good recipe to thin a ball? Recently such situation comes up here and there in my game, and I noticed I hit the object ball a little bit too thick. Yes, I'm afraid of missing it completely :smile:
I'm especially interested in situations where there is distance between OB and CB, like 6 to 8 feet of felt. Makes the task really challenging.

 

[FranCrimi]

That shot is missed more by hitting it too full than by missing it completely. Don't be afraid to miss it completely. You probably won't. But even if you do, it's easier to adjust to hitting it slightly fuller than slightly thinner.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I recall it was in one of Capelle's books (PYB9-ball?) which I don't have handy now, a shot where a ball is close to the short rail, around one diamond from the corner, and the task is to play a thin safety leaving the object ball there on the rail while driving the whitey to the opposite short rail.

There was a hint how to do that better, which I don't remember. Apart from asking to remind me that, I wonder if there is any other good recipe to thin a ball? Recently such situation comes up here and there in my game, and I noticed I hit the object ball a little bit too thick. Yes, I'm afraid of missing it completely :smile:
I'm especially interested in situations where there is distance between OB and CB, like 6 to 8 feet of felt. Makes the task really challenging.

I don't think there is an easy way to get that shot right. Most players do not attempt to thin the ball in that situation if the cue ball is far from the object ball. If you want to get better at it, I'd recommend trying to look like a snooker player.

 

[Slasher]

one way to do this is aim to miss and put a touch of outside english, this will deflect the CB slightly and get you a thin hit.

 

[FranCrimi]

I don't think there is an easy way to get that shot right. Most players do not attempt to thin the ball in that situation if the cue ball is far from the object ball. If you want to get better at it, I'd recommend trying to look like a snooker player.

Not sure why you'd say that. That's a popular shot in rotation games. It's often the best choice, even at a distance.

 

[Vahmurka]

If you want to get better at it, I'd recommend trying to look like a snooker player.

yeah, I'd better try not to look like but to perform like a snooker player :grin: Snooker players are great at this particular type of shots, and their target is even smaller. I play snooker from time to time so I know how hard it is there.

Deflecting the cue ball with English is what I will definitely try, though sometimes English is harmful as it would drive the whitey into other balls (yes I faced such shots early in the rack of 9-ball too).

 

[Bob Jewett]

Not sure why you'd say that. That's a popular shot in rotation games. It's often the best choice, even at a distance.

The shot I had pictured from the description is this:

I think most players have trouble with thinning this ball on the right side and returning the cue ball to the end rail. For those who do have a problem with that, I think the more standard play is to hit about half on the left side and leave the balls on opposite side rails.

Do you have a technique that helps play the thin-hit option here?

 

[FranCrimi]

The shot I had pictured from the description is this:
View attachment 272627
I think most players have trouble with thinning this ball on the right side and returning the cue ball to the end rail. For those who do have a problem with that, I think the more standard play is to hit about half on the left side and leave the balls on opposite side rails.

Do you have a technique that helps play the thin-hit option here?

Yes, I agree it's a tough shot, but doable. It's not necessary to return the cb to the end rail after thinning the ob. You can leave the cb 3 feet away and not leave a shot or at the least, leave them with a low percentage shot, like a hard bank.

 

[ENGLISH!]

The shot I had pictured from the description is this:
View attachment 272627
I think most players have trouble with thinning this ball on the right side and returning the cue ball to the end rail. For those who do have a problem with that, I think the more standard play is to hit about half on the left side and leave the balls on opposite side rails.

Do you have a technique that helps play the thin-hit option here?

Mr. Jewitt,

By placing the balls an exact equal distance off the long rail you've made the shot as difficult as possible but as Ms' Crimi said it is still doable.

In fact the ball is makable in the near corner pocket, but that is another matter.

However, to shoot the safety, I would 'aim' to just barely nip the ball on the right side & then hit the cue ball with high left hand english with a pararllel cue at a speed to just get the CB back up table. the CB would 'squirt' out a bit & then 'swerve' back at that speed. By doing that a better angle of approach has been created & even if the ball is missed going in, it has a very slight chance of still being hit on the way out from off of the rail as well although probably not if the balls are truely an equal distance off of the long rail. The result should be a very thin hit going in or coming out with the CB rolling back up table.

The key to this shot is to get as much spin to a relatively low speed ratio. I would agree with you that this shot is not for everyone.

Another way would be to go at the right side of the OB from off of the long rail making sure to mis on the pocket side so it would be nipped from off of the short rail if missed going in.

This explanation is intended more for other readers than for yourself as I am sure you are aware of these scenarios.

Regards,

 

[Neil]

I recall it was in one of Capelle's books (PYB9-ball?) which I don't have handy now, a shot where a ball is close to the short rail, around one diamond from the corner, and the task is to play a thin safety leaving the object ball there on the rail while driving the whitey to the opposite short rail.

There was a hint how to do that better, which I don't remember. Apart from asking to remind me that, I wonder if there is any other good recipe to thin a ball? Recently such situation comes up here and there in my game, and I noticed I hit the object ball a little bit too thick. Yes, I'm afraid of missing it completely :smile:
I'm especially interested in situations where there is distance between OB and CB, like 6 to 8 feet of felt. Makes the task really challenging.

Yes, there are a few "tricks" to hitting it thin. However, the real challenge, is in YOUR mind. As you stated, you are afraid of NOT hitting it at all. And, you are correct to a point in that thinking....too full of a hit is still better than giving up ball in hand.

So, the main trick, is to practice that shot enough that you actually have the confidence to hit it correctly without having a fear of missing it altogether. Until that fear is gone, you will always hit it too full.

One "trick" is to use CTE or 90/90, another is a variation of those two- line up your cue to edge to edge, then parallel shift your cue to center cb and shoot. There are other "tricks" also.

 

[the kidd]

The correct shot

Is to freeze the ob to the end rail at the center diamond and to freeze the cb at the opposite end rail center diamond. Then make the shot into the right hand corner pocket by using inside english with the cue elevated and hit the rail before the ob.

 

[Vahmurka]

too full of a hit is still better than giving up ball in hand.

the problem is that against a top player too full is usually a sell-out. And to miss the ball completely is an immediate sell-out and looks stupid, so I think I most fear of the latter.

the main trick, is to practice that shot enough that you actually have the confidence to hit it correctly without having a fear of missing it altogether.
... line up your cue to edge to edge, then parallel shift your cue to center cb and shoot.

I agree that probably the best way is by trial and error. I could try to play with my mind and vision to see how I am supposed to aim to really make a delicate touch on the object ball. Parallel shift is a good idea to start with.

 

[FranCrimi]

the problem is that against a top player too full is usually a sell-out. And to miss the ball completely is an immediate sell-out and looks stupid, so I think I most fear of the latter.

I agree that probably the best way is by trial and error. I could try to play with my mind and vision to see how I am supposed to aim to really make a delicate touch on the object ball. Parallel shift is a good idea to start with.

I think you're afraid because you don't have confidence. You don't have confidence because you don't practice it enough.

You know what you have to do --- PRACTICE.

You can write about it all day long, but in the end, it's familiarity that gets you success. That comes from practice.

 

[CJ Wiley]

it was shown to me long ago by an older gentleman in Tampa Florida.

I recall it was in one of Capelle's books (PYB9-ball?) which I don't have handy now, a shot where a ball is close to the short rail, around one diamond from the corner, and the task is to play a thin safety leaving the object ball there on the rail while driving the whitey to the opposite short rail.

There was a hint how to do that better, which I don't remember. Apart from asking to remind me that, I wonder if there is any other good recipe to thin a ball? Recently such situation comes up here and there in my game, and I noticed I hit the object ball a little bit too thick. Yes, I'm afraid of missing it completely :smile:
I'm especially interested in situations where there is distance between OB and CB, like 6 to 8 feet of felt. Makes the task really challenging.

Here's a video of how I "thin the ball" effectively, it was shown to me long ago by an older gentleman in Tampa Florida. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGdkVtE4O1o

 

[allanpsand]

When the CB is straight out from the OB (close or on the rail) - there is a trick to consistently and constantly succeed in nipping the OB. This works even from the other end of the table - and takes all the guess work out of the shot.

Using Bob Jewett's table layout example:

a. Use 10:30, 1 tip out CB spin.

b. Aim down the stick at the right side of the OB, straight at where a ghost ball would be.

c. Stroke with a medium speed.

The squirt and spin will pull the CB within 1/16" of the OB, and the CB spin will nip the OB. The OB will move only a couple of inches.

Practice this trick a few times so that you learn to trust it, and it will become a standard shot in your safety toolbox.

 

[Ratta]

I think you're afraid because you don't have confidence. You don't have confidence because you don't practice it enough.

You know what you have to do --- PRACTICE.

You can write about it all day long, but in the end, it's familiarity that gets you success. That comes from practice.

TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP :thumbup:
Well said *MyLady*


Hi Mark my friend
There is just one thing you have to do- to practice the shot. And this so often until you can do it, hm? There is no trick, no holy gral. It s all about sending Whitey from Point A to Point B.....Voila ^^

lg
Ingo