Honestly, I would go primarily by feel on choices 1 and 2. One of those two would be my primary choice for sure on a Diamond, perhaps option 3 would rank higher on a Valley, but would still probably fall below one of the other two. Shot #3 would not even garner consideration on a 9-footer, however, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a Filipino player shoot that shot, as I have seen that play before from both Efren and Jose in similar situations. I think a bit of luck is required here no matter what shot you choose or what systems you have to help aim, though. No matter which of those two balls you hit first, you don't have to come up with a shot, and if you catch the 9-ball first you could end up snookered. Tough situation, IMO.
If the 9 off the 2 is not a sure thing, I would play the 1 ball in the bottom side pocket and set the cueball so that the line takes it between the 2 and 9. The key is the right speed.
I would shoot the one into the 2 soft so I moved the 2 away and replaced it with the 1 ball put the cueball near the long rail at bottom of picture taking away as much kick possibility as I could . If you hit it well you leave a difficult kick with the 9 ball possibly blocking part of the ball.
I would shoot the one into the 2 soft so I moved the 2 away and replaced it with the 1 ball put the cueball near the long rail at bottom of picture taking away as much kick possibility as I could . If you hit it well you leave a difficult kick with the 9 ball possibly blocking part of the ball.
I think there is no one correct answer to this one. You could either play safety on the one (no real gain there)... or shoot the one into any of the available pockets while trying to either contact the 2-9, or simply make the one and leave position to play a safety with the 2.
I would probably try one of the make and break out options - several ways to get there.
My idea was the same as Patrick's only I would roll the cue ball much closer to the head rail. Banking the 2-ball into the 9-ball is much easier with less angle.
It is a two-way shot that creates seperation, hides whitey, and maybe makes the 9-ball.
There are several options available here. Both for the runnout, and for the safes. My thinking is- short race, I don't want my opponent to get to the table if I can help it. So, I went for the runnout. (surprise, surprise, :smile
Now, there are several good ways to break out the 2-9. The trick is to do it with control. You DON'T want to just go into them and hope to get a shot. Especially not when it is fairly easy to do it with control. What I did is nothing more than knowing how to aim it properly, and speed control.
If you look at the diagram, the yellow line from the 1 to the 9 is an imaginary line drawn from center of the 1 to where I want to hit the 9. The dotted cb is the ghost cb to make the 1 in the bottom side. I chose the bottom side because at that angle, it is a big and close pocket.
Cue ball A is my BIH. To know where to place it, I look at where the yellow line comes into the back of the 1. I keep that spot in my head. I then move the cb around until a straight line through the center of the cb goes to that spot I picked, and also lines up for the ghost ball contact point. Now, all I have to do is hit the cb with follow and the proper speed to go a little more than to the bottom rail and off a few inches. I did that, and had a great, easy shot on the 2 for the runnout.
The point of this scenario is to show that taking a few seconds longer to set up the cb correctly pays off. No guess work involved outside of the speed. Why shoot a guestimate shot when you can shoot an aimed shot?? It's all about using what you know to your advantage. Doing that, I not only could hit the 9, but I hit the correct side of the 9. (If you chose the draw method, that also has an easy way to aim it.) One of the things that separates the players, is when one is guessing, and the other is aiming.
This is the shot alstl called and I like it too. Even if you hit the other side of the nine or even miss it, you either have a shot at the two or can play a good safe. It's hard to end up bad on this shot.
Tough at that angle, but doable. Do you know how to aim the 2 to make the 9, or would you just guestimate it??[/QUOT
That bank cut comes into play very regulay playing one pocket. I know you guys dont play much one hole there but we play it everyday down here.Id be pretty confident I would make the nine.
...- short race, I don't want my opponent to get to the table if I can help it. So, I went for the runnout. (surprise, surprise, :smile...separates the players, is when one is guessing, and the other is aiming.
Neil:
[By aiming at the spot on the opposite side of the first OB that points at my CB target] I not only could hit the 9, but I hit the correct side of the 9.
Great technique to know - thanks for the demonstration. But I have a caveat to add:
Each different shot like this (CB/OB angle, CB/OB distance, CB travel distance, required speed, cloth condition, etc.) requires a somewhat different calculation to even contact the 2nd OB, much less get on the correct side of it. I don't think most players should expect such precise control over the outcome.
I would shoot the one in the side follow to about 2 diamonds off the short rail and one diamond from the side rail. From there you should be able to easily bank the two down table while sticking the cue on the 9/ rail maybe even under the edge of the 9. With the right speed you have 3 other blocker balls. Good chance of getting BIH again and running out. If you hit it a little harder you nudge the nine closer to the pocket which then brings it the chance of the 2/ 9 combo if you do get BIH. Probably too risky too do that but it is a thought.
I would shoot the one in the side follow to about 2 diamonds off the short rail and one diamond from the side rail. From there you should be able to easily bank the two down table while sticking the cue on the 9/ rail maybe even under the edge of the 9. With the right speed you have 3 other blocker balls. Good chance of getting BIH again and running out. If you hit it a little harder you nudge the nine closer to the pocket which then brings it the chance of the 2/ 9 combo if you do get BIH. Probably too risky too do that but it is a thought.
I think they could be too close together for the carom, but still far enough apart for the safety - can't really tell from the diagram and description. I'm still surprised nobody came up with the possibility before this.
i would either play safe puting the 1 by the sidepocket near the 6 an the cb running into the 2-9 to break them out ............or play the 1 in the side an break out the 2-9 if fail play safe behind the 6 or 8
:smile
