What would you do here? Final game @ Predator 9-Ball Tour 4th Stop - Robles vs Park

[cuetable]

You just made two balls on the break. Unfortunately, you can see a hair of the 2 ball. What would be a smart move here?

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NOTE: please read through all the posts before replying

 

[sydbarret]

if you can see enough of it to thin the left side and come back down table maybe behind the 9 or at least leve him real long for a safe then that is the shot. If not I would look to push.

 

[obr]

clip the 2ball and come around three rails to get behind the 9?

 

[pooladdict]

I think that clipping the two on the left side is a bad choice. You risk hitting the three ball and sell out.

I would push, and slow roll the white towards the pocket where the five is, making sure that the seven ball is blocking for a clear shot at the two ball.

If my opponent lets me back in, the two ball is so close to the rail that from this angle it is not too hard to kick at the two ball (top left spin), stop the white dead, and let the two ball go via the long rail up to the short rail and hopefully behind the nine.

This shot is easier than many people think, if you know the speed of the table..

 

[Josh Palmer]

I think that clipping the two on the left side is a bad choice. You risk hitting the three ball and sell out.

I would push, and slow roll the white towards the pocket where the five is, making sure that the seven ball is blocking for a clear shot at the two ball.

If my opponent lets me back in, the two ball is so close to the rail that from this angle it is not too hard to kick at the two ball (top left spin), stop the white dead, and let the two ball go via the long rail up to the short rail and hopefully behind the nine.

This shot is easier than many people think, if you know the speed of the table..

That is a good idea.. thinning it is dangerous, but maybe not fatal. If I'm feeling really Froggy, I might play a masse' to bank the 2 back up table, and keep the cue ball on the end rail and hopefully behind the 3... Depends on how it lays.

 

[cuetable]

Where would you push-out to?

Hi, thanks for the input. Let me describe the setting more: you have won many matches undefeated for 2 days, this is the final match and you are on the hill.... It is mid-night now in downtown new york. crowds have gathered around the table sweating the game for the past hour.

As people pointed out, thinning the 2 is possible but quite risky. The CB can hit into the 3 and stay down table...

Two people stated they would play a push-out just to be sure,

Could you show us where the ideal spot is for the push-out shot?

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Hi, thanks for the input. Let me describe the setting more: you have won many matches undefeated for 2 days, this is the final match and you are on the hill.... It is mid-night now in downtown new york. crowds have gathered around the table sweating the game for the past hour.

As people pointed out, thinning the 2 is possible but quite risky. The CB can hit into the 3 and stay down table...

Two people stated they would play a push-out just to be sure,

Could you show us where the ideal spot is for the push-out shot?

I'm on the hill and I'm assuming my opponent isn't? There is NO WAY I'm pushing here and I'll tell you why: Pushing inherently puts you at a disadvantage. Your opponent gets to CHOOSE whether he is better off shooting or not. How can that be good?

Clipping the 2-ball is weak. So many ways you can sell-out doing that, too.

There is one great play here and it satisfies both offense and defense. Make it, you win. Miss it and he's safe.

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[longhair]

Go!

I agree with Jude. If I'm on the hill, the other guy isn't, and everything has been going my way all day, I want to shoot. If I'm allowed a jump cue, or even a break cue with a phenolic tip, I would grab the bridge, pop over the 7 to a full hit on the two and bank it straight back. It looks dead on with a good chance at position. I can even miss it a little short and get it on the way back by the 3. If I can't jump to the bank, I like Jude's two rail kick. It's not that hard to pocket the ball that way.

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If I've missed a few already in this match and my opponent is on the hill, I suppose I would Thin the 2 with extreme outside to keep the 2 near the balls on the rail and get to the other end rail, preferably behind the 5. There is no way I would push out here in any case.

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[pooladdict]

Could you show us where the ideal spot is for the push-out shot?

Sorry, but I haven't bothered to learn to use cuetable yet. As I said in my previous post, I would push and just float the cueball towards the pocket where the 5 is, making sure the 7 is blocking the 2. My kick safe afterwards will therefore be playing the white at the right side of 7, into the short rail, stop the white and place the 2 on the opposite short rail.

Being on the hill makes me even more convinced that this is the right move. I assume my opponent needs several games to win, and I strongly disagree with Jude an Longhair who wants to go for a jump/bank or a two rail kick.

I only need one game, and if I keep it tight, the percentages of the game will work my way. Going for a wild shot is something you dont want to do when you are on the hill winning a tournament. Play tight, and keep the pressure on your opponent.

 

[junior718]

if park is the one shooting he would probably push to a spot where he can jump to a safe.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Okay Wei, so who did it and what did they do?

 

[cuetable]

Alright, we will push out from here....

I agree with Jude. If I'm on the hill, the other guy isn't, and everything has been going my way all day, I want to shoot. If I'm allowed a jump cue, or even a break cue with a phenolic tip, I would grab the bridge, pop over the 7 to a full hit on the two and bank it straight back. It looks dead on with a good chance at position. I can even miss it a little short and get it on the way back by the 3. If I can't jump to the bank, I like Jude's two rail kick. It's not that hard to pocket the ball that way.

I agree with what Jude about the "attack while winning" idea. To make it more interesting, I will add more suspense to the situation:

You are playing Tony Robles who has shown his great accuracy in making bank shots and maintaining superb CB control several times tonight (here is one example). Although you are on the hill, Tony needs only two games to steal the title from you....

Let's just say you have decided to push out, where on the table is the best spot to push the CB to?

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

I agree with what Jude about the "attack while winning" idea. To make it more interesting, I will add more suspense to the situation:

You are playing Tony Robles who has shown his great accuracy in making bank shots and maintaining superb CB control several times tonight (here is one example). Although you are on the hill, Tony needs only two games to steal the title from you....

Let's just say you have decided to push out, where on the table is the best spot to push the CB to?

I mean, assuming jump-cues are allowed and Tony isn't fond of the jump, why not push to here?

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[cuetable]

I mean, assuming jump-cues are allowed and Tony isn't fond of the jump, why not push to here?

It can be a great spot. However I should have mentioned this is a very fast table, and Tony just got the new Predator Air which has helped him many times in the tournament...

Any other spots on the table?

 

[junior718]

I mean, assuming jump-cues are allowed and Tony isn't fond of the jump, why not push to here?

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cause you dont push to a jump shot against park and expect to get back to the table. park is most likely the best jumper in the world.

 

[MikeM]

This is the first shot I thought of too...

I'm on the hill and I'm assuming my opponent isn't? There is NO WAY I'm pushing here and I'll tell you why: Pushing inherently puts you at a disadvantage. Your opponent gets to CHOOSE whether he is better off shooting or not. How can that be good?

Clipping the 2-ball is weak. So many ways you can sell-out doing that, too.

There is one great play here and it satisfies both offense and defense. Make it, you win. Miss it and he's safe.

CueTable Help

though it's been called "wild" I don't really think it is. The 2ball is either going in or being hidden. Cue ball comes back up the table with a three potential blockers for the two.

Looks like the right percentage play to me.

MM

 

[James]

cause you dont push to a jump shot against park and expect to get back to the table. park is most likely the best jumper in the world.

Please re-read the thread. Park is the one shooting...

 

[cuetable]

Pick your favorite one and explain your thoughts on that...

I thought it's pretty funny somebody just suggested: "Ask him to split!"

To keep things moving, I will show 4 possible spots for the push out shot below (A, B, C, D).

Pick your favorite spot and explain your thoughts on that...

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[AZE]

Not very good at push selection but I'd go with B, and A would be my backup.

 

[klockdoc]

I guess if I was going to push, I would try to push to C. Jacked up over the 9 doesn't appeal to me. Other options leave easy return safes.

Another option I was looking at is shown below.

The one thing that bothers me is after playing safe or giving a push shot, is that the 3 is placed in an easy position to be made after the 2 ball.

I might cross bank the 3, moving it to the middle of the table. I would be hitting thin in order to beat the double-kiss and leave the CB back down table. This would give me basically the same position as the "C" push, but, puts the 3 in an awkward position to get shapes on after (if) the 2 is pocketed.

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