Too Tough To Shoot?

After looking at this table one more time, I became surprised that none of us seems to have thought of a very simple, common sense move. We must first remember that this is the layout after the break. Let's assume for a moment that you don't like the idea of cutting the one in with no english and accepting a long thin shot on the two. Frankly, I kind of dismiss, at least for myself, the idea of putting english on the ball from off the rail in that situation. It's just too easy to miscalculate slightly and miss the whole ball! The defensive options, as we've discussed, are all problematic. What about simply pushing out an inch or two (but slightly to the right) so that you can make a bridge? By pushing slightly to the right, you will have taken away the cut shot entirely, for all intents and purposes, and a safety will then be more feasible, but not so much that your opponent jumps to the table feeling certain that he will lock you up.
 
VIProfessor said:
After looking at this table one more time, I became surprised that none of us seems to have thought of a very simple, common sense move. We must first remember that this is the layout after the break. Let's assume for a moment that you don't like the idea of cutting the one in with no english and accepting a long thin shot on the two. Frankly, I kind of dismiss, at least for myself, the idea of putting english on the ball from off the rail in that situation. It's just too easy to miscalculate slightly and miss the whole ball! The defensive options, as we've discussed, are all problematic. What about simply pushing out an inch or two (but slightly to the right) so that you can make a bridge? By pushing slightly to the right, you will have taken away the cut shot entirely, for all intents and purposes, and a safety will then be more feasible, but not so much that your opponent jumps to the table feeling certain that he will lock you up.
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The problem I have with this approach is that with center ball, the one is not a tough shot. The passive play here, in my view, is to cinch the one and then play safe on the two if you don't care for the subsequent leave.
 
sjm said:
The problem I have with this approach is that with center ball, the one is not a tough shot. The passive play here, in my view, is to cinch the one and then play safe on the two if you don't care for the subsequent leave.
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I agree entirely, as you can see from my first post, but I am presenting this option for the many posters who, for some reason, don't seem to feel comfortable slicing in the one and accepting the distance on the two.
 
Other options

Play for the game, not the shot.

1) 2 rail shape is best shot, IMO, for decent shape.

But, you could:

A) Roll out to the other side giving a backcut on the 1 with no way
to get around the 3, then you opponent has to play safe on the 2, which will not be easy.

B) Roll out to make the 8, hold the cue, leave pretty much straight in and cue fairly close to rail.

and which shot I shoot depends on my opponent's skill. Most of the time, your opponent's lack of skill is your best buddy, and will win you the game.
Instead of you making a mistake and having to recover, let your opponent make the mistake, and have to recover, then you can jump on him.
 
yay I guessed right :)

But credit to VIP for thinking of push options.

I might push to hit the 3 in the face with a bit of follow - leaving no cross-corner bank on the 1, and hanging the 3 very near the pocket. Then it can't be used as a safety ball and all other safeties require pretty careful cueball control. Even if the opponent does the logical safety and leaves the cueball somewhere near the 2/9, and the 1 ball safe near the head rail... there's a lot to work with if he fails to hook you completely and you have the 3 hanging. It may even serve as a big ball if you are forced to kick at the 1. The other option might be to carom off the 1 into the 3, sinking it and trying to control the 1 at the same time. My pushes often turn into sellouts but this feels like a safe enough option =)
 
Yokel said:
....But I'd put $10 on the line that if I tried that shot 5 times I wouldn't screw up more than twice :p
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Unless the diagram is very inaccurate in respect of the position of the one ball relative to the pocket and to the cue ball, your proposed path of the cue ball is pretty close to being physically impossible with the white on the rail and the one requiring to be so very finely cut.

Guess there would be no shortage of takers for that bet. Personally, might even let Semih Sayginer have 5 goes at it, with confidence:)

Got to agree with Bazooka Joe on the choice of options.
 
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