Would You Attempt This Shot?

[rackmsuckr]

Congratulations on making a tricky shot! Did you run the rack out? Because it looks to me like the risk vs. reward for making that shot is pretty high, unless you are straight in on the 4 (you can't go around 2 rails with follow as someone suggested because of the 8) where you can either cinch the 4 and accept the long cut on the 5 or draw straight down table to the 5, which presents its own problems.

Assuming you get dead straight on the four, if you don't draw long enough on the 4 (or too much ), you can hook yourself behind the 9, and there is also the chance you can get too straight on the 5.

In either case, even with an angle, it is tricky to get shape above the 6 (which you will need an angle for, for the 7), because follow can run you into the 7, and draw (depending on your angle and there is a short margin for error) will probably put you on the short side of the 6, or worse, run into the 9.

Since you need an angle on the 6 to get to the 7, an angle makes running it down the rail from the short side, even tougher. From there, if you have managed all that, you will probably get out.

I don't like nudging the 5 either, as that can bury the 5 and make it harder to pocket. As a rule, I don't like running into balls arbitrarily.

If you just stop the ball, (again assuming you get straight in on the 4), cinch the ball, take the long cut on the 5, then you can get above the 6 with the angle you need to get to the 7. Depending on how I feel, it may be too long of a shot with my eyes.

I would probably be ducking in this situation. The crossover bank where you leave the cueball and object ball rail to rail comes up all the time and is a handy weapon in your arsenal. An added bonus is if you can get behind the 9, but even if you don't, the resulting layout is a tough shot to look at for your opponent.

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Sorry the yellow line is bendy. That is the path of the cueball, which ideally will land on B. The cueball's trajectory to the OB is initially shown in red, and the resulting path after contact is the blue line, which lands at A.

You don't have to hit this as hard as you think you do to get the OB all the way back up table. Put a skootch of right english on it to keep it on a straighter track after it comes off the rail, because you are cutting it ever so slightly to the right.

 

[GADawg]

I would probably be ducking in this situation. The crossover bank where you leave the cueball and object ball rail to rail comes up all the time and is a handy weapon in your arsenal. An added bonus is if you can get behind the 9, but even if you don't, the resulting layout is a tough shot to look at for your opponent.


You don't have to hit this as hard as you think you do to get the OB all the way back up table. Put a skootch of right english on it to keep it on a straighter track after it comes off the rail, because you are cutting it ever so slightly to the right.

Me too. Is a tough layout for me even if I am lucky enough to get position on the 4.

One question though. How much english is a "skootch?"

 

[rackmsuckr]

Me too. Is a tough layout for me even if I am lucky enough to get position on the 4.

One question though. How much english is a "skootch?"

LOL! That's the technical term for a teensy bit! I diagrammed it, maybe a 1/4- 1/2 tip.

 

[rackmsuckr]

DCP, I just want to know if you ended up running out from the shot you made?

 

[gromulan]

Well....I'm no pro so if someone is reading this that is A or above please tell me if my line of thought is to crazy. Assuming that the diagram is spot on I don't see myself going the rout suggested in the initial post. Drawing it to the rail and back would be a good choice but it would take a good stroke and depending on the cloth and such you could wind up behind the 9 or leaving yourself a difficult shot if not hit well. What about just hitting the 3 with a firm follow and clipping the 5 to come off the rail past the 9. The only danger is getting hooked behind the 9 but if hit with the intention to get past the 9, if it does go towards the 9 it should bump it out of the way. This would also put the 5 in front of the pocket for shape on the 6 allowing you to just shoot the 4 with mild draw or even just a stop shot. I don't like bumping balls for shape but if I felt like the angle was to extreme to draw to the rail and back this would be my choice. What do you think? Does that sound to crazy?

I can't say I like your line here. You run the risk of getting hooked by the 5 ball as well as the 9, and best case having a very difficult shot on the 4 (though moving the 5 might make it a little better). I personally don't hesitate to run into balls if I think it's warranted, but in this situation I think there are better options.

If the diagram is set up correctly I can't see shooting it in the manner of the original poster as being long-term positive, because any clip on the 5 and you're in the drink. I have to assume that it's a thin cut either way, too thin to draw to the side cushion. That being the case I'm going to shoot the ball in the right-hand corner and either hit low left to hold for the 4 off the side and end rails, or go ahead and slug it and go four rails around the 7 for position on the 4.

This is a rare situation where I might play safe too, because banking the 3 just under the side pocket and dropping the enemy behind the 5 ball looks pretty good.