Three rail position shots?

Bob Farr

Bob Farr

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It blows my mind when I see the pro players do this when seemingly there are much easier ways to get the same result.
For example: I was watching a streamed match recently. 9 ball score 7-7 race to 9 player (I won't mention who) had the 8 and 9 left to pocket to get to the hill. Looked to me like he could just shoot the 8 into the corner and stun the cue ball over a couple of inches and have an easy 9 in the side. He instead chose to shoot the the 8 down the rail into the corner and go 3 rails around for the 9 in the same pocket. He jawed the 8 and and left his opponent an easy out to get to the hill. Opponent broke and ran out for the match sending Mr. 3 rail position guy to the one loss side.

It seems these guys do this all the time. It looks cool but, doesn't always work out.
Tell me why they like to use 3 rail position when they don't need to.
 
Bob Farr said:
It blows my mind when I see the pro players do this when seemingly there are much easier ways to get the same result.
For example: I was watching a streamed match recently. 9 ball score 7-7 race to 9 player (I won't mention who) had the 8 and 9 left to pocket to get to the hill. Looked to me like he could just shoot the 8 into the corner and stun the cue ball over a couple of inches and have an easy 9 in the side. He instead chose to shoot the the 8 down the rail into the corner and go 3 rails around for the 9 in the same pocket. He jawed the 8 and and left his opponent an easy out to get to the hill. Opponent broke and ran out for the match sending Mr. 3 rail position guy to the one loss side.

It seems these guys do this all the time. It looks cool but, doesn't always work out.
Tell me why they like to use 3 rail position when they don't need to.
Click to expand...
Can you link the video so I can examine the shot? Are both 8 ball shots going into the same pocket? If so, I don't see how the cut angle can change so much between the two options. I must be missing something.

Pros definitely aren't shooting shots because they are cool. There is always a good reason behind their shot selection. In most cases, 3 rail shape is nice because it's more natural and allows the cue ball to come into the next shot at a better angle.
 
Bob Farr said:
It blows my mind when I see the pro players do this when seemingly there are much easier ways to get the same result.
For example: I was watching a streamed match recently. 9 ball score 7-7 race to 9 player (I won't mention who) had the 8 and 9 left to pocket to get to the hill. Looked to me like he could just shoot the 8 into the corner and stun the cue ball over a couple of inches and have an easy 9 in the side. He instead chose to shoot the the 8 down the rail into the corner and go 3 rails around for the 9 in the same pocket. He jawed the 8 and and left his opponent an easy out to get to the hill. Opponent broke and ran out for the match sending Mr. 3 rail position guy to the one loss side.

It seems these guys do this all the time. It looks cool but, doesn't always work out.
Tell me why they like to use 3 rail position when they don't need to.
Click to expand...
A lot of times they will be playing along the length of the "wedge" position zone for the next shot. Coming into this wedge sideways, while often using less rails leaves less area to land in.

Here's a good video that explains it:
 
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Two and three rail routes are often taken because it makes position easier. They can hit the ball at a more comfortable speed and they have larger positional zones. This is especially important on fast cloth and unfamiliar tables.

Many of the simpler routes that some players take rely heavily on speed control and have small margins for error. You can have days where it all works for you but then other days where you keep running too far or not far enough. The multi rail routes are more consistent from day to day and table to table.
 
Some possible reasons could be to leave the Cue ball further away from the rail, greatly lower the chance for skid, come into the shot line instead of crossing it, look cool to intimidate their opponent…
 
The motivation could also have to do with a corner pocket versus a side pocket. Corners are often preferred.

Dave
 
Bob Farr said:
It blows my mind when I see the pro players do this when seemingly there are much easier ways to get the same result.
For example: I was watching a streamed match recently. 9 ball score 7-7 race to 9 player (I won't mention who) had the 8 and 9 left to pocket to get to the hill. Looked to me like he could just shoot the 8 into the corner and stun the cue ball over a couple of inches and have an easy 9 in the side. He instead chose to shoot the the 8 down the rail into the corner and go 3 rails around for the 9 in the same pocket. He jawed the 8 and and left his opponent an easy out to get to the hill. Opponent broke and ran out for the match sending Mr. 3 rail position guy to the one loss side.

It seems these guys do this all the time. It looks cool but, doesn't always work out.
Tell me why they like to use 3 rail position when they don't need to"pros'
Bob Farr said:
It blows my mind when I see the pro players do this when seemingly there are much easier ways to get the same result.
For example: I was watching a streamed match recently. 9 ball score 7-7 race to 9 player (I won't mention who) had the 8 and 9 left to pocket to get to the hill. Looked to me like he could just shoot the 8 into the corner and stun the cue ball over a couple of inches and have an easy 9 in the side. He instead chose to shoot the the 8 down the rail into the corner and go 3 rails around for the 9 in the same pocket. He jawed the 8 and and left his opponent an easy out to get to the hill. Opponent broke and ran out for the match sending Mr. 3 rail position guy to the one loss side.

It seems these guys do this all the time. It looks cool but, doesn't always work out.
Tell me why they like to use 3 rail position when they don't need to.
Click to expand...
'Pros' don't always get on the proper side of the OB. Its not uncommon for players to do it many times in a match. They are good enough to get out of their poor position play with great shot making skills. The latest equipment makes it fairy easy to move whitey 3+ rails to get out of poor positions.
Click to expand...
 
FeelDaShot said:
Can you link the video so I can examine the shot? Are both 8 ball shots going into the same pocket? If so, I don't see how the cut angle can change so much between the two options. I must be missing something.

Pros definitely aren't shooting shots because they are cool. There is always a good reason behind their shot selection. In most cases, 3 rail shape is nice because it's more natural and allows the cue ball to come into the next shot at a better angle.
Click to expand...
It was on a live stream so I don’t have access.
 
Sounds like they are shooting shots so they are rolling into the shape line not across it. Which makes getting shape a higher % shot but the CB travels farther.

Nobody is making it harder than it is.

Best
Fatboy
 
boogieman said:
A lot of times they will be playing along the length of the "wedge" position zone for the next shot. Coming into this wedge sideways, while often using less rails leaves less area to land in.

Here's a good video that explains it:
Click to expand...
Thanks for this!
 
It usually has to do with playing natural Position, such as going to the end rail and coming back down rather then some funny cueball stuff. If your hitting balls good and speed is good it's often easier to just let the cueball go.
 
I haven’t read all the replies but usually if a pro chooses three rail position it’s because he can roll the ball naturally and
end up going towards his position zone rather than having to force it
‘draw for show follow for dough’
 
boogieman said:
A lot of times they will be playing along the length of the "wedge" position zone for the next shot. Coming into this wedge sideways, while often using less rails leaves less area to land in.

Here's a good video that explains it:
Click to expand...
Cool video, but during pitfall 2 and 3 sections, he doesn’t follow his own advice from pitfall 1.
 
I’d guess they’re wanting the full corner option rather than a 1/3rd to 2/3rd side pocket option with little wiggle room
 
Coming in/out of a corner drastically improves accuracy of subsequent position.

Though as per the pont of the thread, shot making accuracy may decrease.

Proceed at yer own risk.
 
Bob Farr said:
It blows my mind when I see the pro players do this when seemingly there are much easier ways to get the same result.
For example: I was watching a streamed match recently. 9 ball score 7-7 race to 9 player (I won't mention who) had the 8 and 9 left to pocket to get to the hill. Looked to me like he could just shoot the 8 into the corner and stun the cue ball over a couple of inches and have an easy 9 in the side. He instead chose to shoot the the 8 down the rail into the corner and go 3 rails around for the 9 in the same pocket. He jawed the 8 and and left his opponent an easy out to get to the hill. Opponent broke and ran out for the match sending Mr. 3 rail position guy to the one loss side.

It seems these guys do this all the time. It looks cool but, doesn't always work out.
Tell me why they like to use 3 rail position when they don't need to.
Click to expand...
May help if we had a link to the shot (if it's not PPV stream). Could be the 9 did not go in the side easily, watching on camera shots look different.

I know when I pick a harder shot it's always to get a simpler or better angled position path, in a real game that is. I doubt any other better player would do anything differently. Another option is if the shot angle is too much to try to hold it up and it's easier to just play round the table without extra inside or some fake speed stroke.
 
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