What would you do with this 9-ball ball layout?

What would you do with this 9-ball layout: https://youtu.be/Jcge-otXqiA?t=1m59s

  • Pocket the 1 in the side and get long-side shape on the 2.

    Votes: 2 4.8%

  • Pocket the 1 in the corner and draw back for short-side shape on the 2.

    Votes: 4 9.5%

  • Pocket the 1 in the corner and and play for a bank shot at the 2.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Hit the 1 into the 3-4 cluster to break it up, and hide the CB behind the 2.

    Votes: 10 23.8%

  • Hit the 1 down table, and hide the CB behind the 8.

    Votes: 13 31.0%

  • Hit the 1 into the 9, attempting to pocket the 1-9 combo and/or kiss the 1-ball into the corner.

    Votes: 4 9.5%

  • Something else (if so, please describe your option).

    Votes: 9 21.4%
  • Total voters
    42
peppersauce said:
I'm guessing no BIH? I'm just curious because Bob completely changed the position of the CB for his second attempt at the 1-9 combination.
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That is correct. No BIH. Judge your vote based on the first CB position.

Thanks,
Dave
 
peppersauce said:
Well, I kind of ruined it for myself. I took it as BIH and voted the last option for the run out.
https://youtu.be/ooeMP2glFPg
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Not exactly a "Plan A" or "high percentage" run-out, but nicely done.

peppersauce said:
It turned out to be tougher than I thought and, hindsight, I should've chosen a good offensive safety--even if I did have BIH. I like the option already mentioned where you play the one into the 2-3 cluster and roll the CB behind the 8. I think I would hit it with a speed that allows me to separate the cluster though, if the angle allows.
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I don't think the angle allows a cluster break and hide ... not on my table anyway, but I like that option too.

Thanks,
Dave
 
I've never liked giving up the table unless I can better the situation or put my opponent in a trap.

I am shooting the one in the side. I would have to actually be at the table to be sure just where I want the cb for the two.( I am picking the easiest route, either to the upper or lower pocket for the two. Which ever is easiest to get on.) But, in any case, I am playing for an angle on the two. Then I am shooting the two and attempting the breakout on the 3-4.

I don't normally like breaking out a ball that I have to also get shape on, but this, I think, is one of the exceptions to that rule. If I don't get the breakout (which I would be peeved if I didn't get it), or if I don't like the shot on the 3 afterwards, then I can always play safe off the 3. But, I am giving myself a chance to get out with no real downside to it.
 
Neil said:
I've never liked giving up the table unless I can better the situation or put my opponent in a trap.

I am shooting the one in the side. I would have to actually be at the table to be sure just where I want the cb for the two.( I am picking the easiest route, either to the upper or lower pocket for the two. Which ever is easiest to get on.) But, in any case, I am playing for an angle on the two. Then I am shooting the two and attempting the breakout on the 3-4.

I don't normally like breaking out a ball that I have to also get shape on, but this, I think, is one of the exceptions to that rule. If I don't get the breakout (which I would be peeved if I didn't get it), or if I don't like the shot on the 3 afterwards, then I can always play safe off the 3. But, I am giving myself a chance to get out with no real downside to it.
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... so did you pick option 1?

Thanks Neil,
Dave
 
Ralph Kramden said:
Depends upon my opponents next shot. I can't plan ahead if the balls are in different positions.
I'm not planning on hiding behind the 8... so # 7 as I stated in post 16
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If the opponent is behind the 8 he most likely won't hit the 1 ball. If he can bank the CB to hit the 1 he'll probably break up your 3/4 cluster.
That's why I suggested to slow roll the 1 off the end rail as in post 16. But if he does foul, you can bank again, hiding the 1 for his 2nd foul.

.
 
Don't see what the big deal is? Shoot the 1 straight in the corner. Shoot the 2 from the short side with inside and break up the cluster. Just make sure to leave enough angle, so you keep the object ball speed reasonably low. You wouldn't want to pound this shot. This cluster is a humongous target! It's almost half a diamond, maybe even more. If you can't pull this off, then you probably will get some sort of bank on the 3 or at least a safe. You'd be quite unlucky to get hooked. Ducking shots like this won't win high level tournaments. A rail first hit will leave some sort of shot most of the time. Shooting with inside is a vital skill to master. Unless you're on super tight triple shim pockets this shot is more or less a duck, at least to make, and most will come close on the breakup too with a little practise.

If you insist on playing safe, I'd do it on the one. Just slowly drift behind the 8, trying to keep the 1 down table. That way, if you do get ball in hand, you'll be in position to break the cluster. And if your opponent does make it, he'll have to deal with it.

Realistically though, if you cannot make the 2 ball shot at least most of the time, then you probably won't run this table from the 1 with ball in hand, anyway. Breaking the cluster from a low 1 and getting good on the 2 is almost as difficult, so you're only prolonging your agony. Pointless to get ball in hand early when you can't run 5 balls. Just saying. You'd have to play safe at least one more time, breaking the cluster and hiding behind the balls, then get ball in hand and run out. It's not an easy runout for a bad player, even if the 3/4 were easily pocketable, so good luck. For instance, it's easy to get into trouble on the 7 with a bad angle on the 5, and the 7 to 8 transition can be screwed up, at least by someone who's not good.

So if you are a bad player and you know it, the best course of action is to bank the 1 slowly into the cluster (from behind) and forget about the cueball all together. Play object ball speed and direction only, very slow, just enough to reach. That way, there is a chance your opponent will screw up and break the cluster for you or you might make the ball pocketable yourself, while still hooking the opponent or giving him a tough bank. . Even if you don't reach, your opponent likely won't have a good shot and may be hooked. I think it is important to consider your own ball running ability when planning runouts like this. Also there is a chance you will have to play safe again from your ball in hand, even in this instance.
 
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Straightpool_99 said:
Don't see what the big deal is? Shoot the 1 straight in the corner. Shoot the 2 from the short side with inside and break up the cluster. Just make sure to leave enough angle, so you keep the object ball speed reasonably low. You wouldn't want to pound this shot. This cluster is a humongous target! It's almost half a diamond, maybe even more. If you can't pull this off, then you probably will get some sort of bank on the 3 or at least a safe. You'd be quite unlucky to get hooked. Ducking shots like this won't win high level tournaments. A rail first hit will leave some sort of shot most of the time. Shooting with inside is a vital skill to master. Unless you're on super tight triple shim pockets this shot is more or less a duck, at least to make, and most will come close on the breakup too with a little practise.

If you insist on playing safe, I'd do it on the one. Just slowly drift behind the 8, trying to keep the 1 down table. That way, if you do get ball in hand, you'll be in position to break the cluster. And if your opponent does make it, he'll have to deal with it.

Realistically though, if you cannot make the 2 ball shot at least most of the time, then you probably won't run this table from the 1 with ball in hand, anyway. Breaking the cluster from a low 1 and getting good on the 2 is almost as difficult, so you're only prolonging your agony. Pointless to get ball in hand early when you can't run 5 balls. Just saying. You'd have to play safe at least one more time, breaking the cluster and hiding behind the balls, then get ball in hand and run out. It's not an easy runout for a bad player, even if the 3/4 were easily pocketable, so good luck. For instance, it's easy to get into trouble on the 7 with a bad angle on the 5, and the 7 to 8 transition can be screwed up, at least by someone who's not good.

So if you are a bad player and you know it, the best course of action is to bank the 1 slowly into the cluster (from behind) and forget about the cueball all together. Play object ball speed and direction only, very slow, just enough to reach. That way, there is a chance your opponent will screw up and break the cluster for you or you might make the ball pocketable yourself, while still hooking the opponent or giving him a tough bank. . Even if you don't reach, your opponent likely won't have a good shot and may be hooked. I think it is important to consider your own ball running ability when planning runouts like this. Also there is a chance you will have to play safe again from your ball in hand, even in this instance.
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Thanks for the input.

So it sounds like your choice is option 2. Please vote. Nobody has picked that option yet.

Thanks,
Dave
 
pt109 said:
Whitey behind the eight...I may still get a chance to make the one and disturb the 3/4
while getting position on the two....
...and the cluster also gives you a three-foul option if you get BIH.

I just don't like giving up table control by riding the nine.....controlling the game is what a
session is all about....you want to be the guy 'asking' the questions, not 'answering' them.
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^^^^^This^^^^

JC
 
I do like the suggestion of banking the 1 behind the 3-4 and freezing to the 8. What level of player would get that right most of the time?
 
Bob Jewett said:
I do like the suggestion of banking the 1 behind the 3-4 and freezing to the 8. What level of player would get that right most of the time?
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I would say any shortstop, is gin, about 85% of the time. If you still go by an APA ranking, your probably at 35% or less. On the first try, no practice. As straightpool said, if you can shoot, the runout is there. I don't see any one, who has the ability to run balls, ducking in this situation.
 
Put the CB behind the 8, and the 1 ball behind the 3/4 cluster. It looks like the angle is on to do that. From there, you might win BIH, and can either go for a 3 foul, or possibly make the 1 and break out the 3/4 if there is enough room to do that (if the 1 is not kissing them).

I did not read the responses before posting...
 
iusedtoberich said:
Put the CB behind the 8, and the 1 ball behind the 3/4 cluster. It looks like the angle is on to do that. From there, you might win BIH, and can either go for a 3 foul, or possibly make the 1 and break out the 3/4 if there is enough room to do that (if the 1 is not kissing them).

I did not read the responses before posting...
Click to expand...
Sounds good.

To you and others: Please vote on the poll if you haven't done so yet.

Originally, I thought option 5 ("Hit the 1 down table, and hide the CB behind the 8.") would include options like this, but option 7 ("Something else (if so, please describe your option).") might also apply if an important part of the shot is to hide the 1 or bump the cluster.

Thanks,
Dave
 
Can't tell from the video but it looks like you might have an angle to pocket the 1 up table in the corner and send the cue ball into the 3-4 to open it up leaving a shot on the 2. The other option would be 1 uptable in the corner, draw back slightly for 2 uptable and send the cue ball into the 3-4.
 
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