WWYD 8 Ball Pro

[Chili Palmer]

Player sliced it down the long rail with a slight over cut.
Sold Out, almost made it.
All I saw was, clip r/s of stripe on the long rail left of the 5.
Bank out (stripe) to hopefully block the 5, but that's not your major move.
Land cue ball on head string, 5 as a blocker to opponents pocket.

It looks like you can cut the 15 and come across the table twice (back out in between the 12/13) for the 13 in the right side, might have to go three rails but it looks doable - for someone else.

If I was feeling froggy I might try the jump but then, my games are being televised so that's saying something

 

[straightline]

Unfortunately your opponent is shooting solids and parking the CB down there while sending the 15 up table will certainly have you returning to the table frozen to a blocker.

True. So would you just go directly past the 5 avoiding the side cushion? For that matter what do you think of jawing the rock in the top corner or even rattling it to get the cueball moving along the top rail towards the 5?

 

[ChrisinNC]

Your shot/stripes.
Pro choose the wrong shot.

Send it off the 11/15 (I can’t tell) softly with right spin and park him on the far end rail behind his orange ball (maybe the 5 ball). He has no clear pocket to play that orange ball, so he’ll likely have to respond with a low percentage table length shot or a safety of his own.

 

[Island Drive]

Obviously you don't jump well.

Not yet, but my table management is real.
All I'm doing by posting a WWYD is this.


Just trying to help others understand board play and when it's NOT in the players/or your best interest, to be on the offense.

"More pool games are won by great defensive shots' than not."

 

[lucasi1]

Your shot/stripes.
Pro choose the wrong shot.

i guess it depends on whether you want to play offense or defense. Defense is the move everyone says of putting cb up table either frozen on the 5 or the rail. I see 2 other offensive plays 1) bank 15 long rail to opposite corner with low left. 3 rail shape on either ball and your out. 2) Top rail kick in the side with (I think) 11 ball. Shape automatic whether you play soft or medium.

Either way, if you make ob you're out. Probably bank shot best option, but depends on what me eye sees at the time. Assuming you both play strong, I like playing offense. In the defensive play, good chance he either gets out or plays safe.

 

[DDiabolico]

I'm pretty confident on the long cut shot (is it the 15 by the left rail?) at aroung 60-70%. The better choice would be to hit the 15 on the right side, left spin (!!!EDIT!!! right spin) on the cueball, and park the cueball up table behind the 5.

 

[jay helfert]

Assuming I can't see either of the balls past the 8-ball, I like going off the right side of the 15 and try to get on the top rail behind the 5 ball. Definitely playing safe from here, and definitely not leaving the cue ball on the bottom half of the table.

Boom, you read my mind!

 

[The_JV]

True. So would you just go directly past the 5 avoiding the side cushion? For that matter what do you think of jawing the rock in the top corner or even rattling it to get the cueball moving along the top rail towards the 5?

Knowing my game and what I'm comfortable with. I'd hit the shot to contact the long rail below the side pocket with the CB. Put more concentrated effort on blocking the 4 to the bottom corner with the 15 (OB), and rely on the spin to reach the top rail. I should be able to get there short side of the 5.

I don't have the game to be able to park the CB in the jaws of that top pocket. Too much risk for less reward imo. From that corner pocket the 1 ball is on. A low perecentage shot mind you, but still a clear shot line. ...looking again, the 6 might be on as well if shooting from that pocket

 

[straightline]

Knowing my game and what I'm comfortable with. I'd hit the shot to contact the long rail below the side pocket with the CB. Put more concentrated effort on blocking the 4 to the bottom corner with the 15 (OB), and rely on the spin to reach the top rail. I should be able to get there short side of the 5.

I don't have the game to be able to park the CB in the jaws of that top pocket. Too much risk for less reward imo. From that corner pocket the 1 ball is on. A low perecentage shot mind you, but still a clear shot line. ...looking again, the 6 might be on as well if shooting from that pocket

Hitting the rail under the side looked a little steep to get up table comfortably. I've more than once caught the tits doing that. Sending the ball above the side opens the possibility of jawing the ball ala one hole. Hitting anywhere above the second diamond should put you there by default.
I think no matter what, you gotta leave something open complete with easy returns. Even getting behind the 5 leaves the 5 off the 2.
You could also bank the 15 into the 1, snookering that with the 10. Then you've left the 4. The more I think about it it's a coin toss on the opponent screwing up.

 

[The_JV]

Hitting the rail under the side looked a little steep to get up table comfortably. I've more than once caught the tits doing that. Sending the ball above the side opens the possibility of jawing the ball ala one hole. Hitting anywhere above the second diamond should put you there by default.

I don't agree with hitting below the side being risky. However I think we've ventured into personal perference/comfort which is always a subjective debate.

I think no matter what, you gotta leave something open complete with easy returns. Even getting behind the 5 leaves the 5 off the 2.

I think the odds of being completely safe after this shot are very slim. That said, leaving only a low percentage shot on the 4 is relatively easy. I would be thrilled if my opponent opted to attempt the 5 off the 2. I personally don't think that's on and if it is, it's easily the lowest percentage option they could swing at. Probably a better chance that the 2 kicks the balls in after the carom, then a direct pot.

The more I think about it it's a coin toss on the opponent screwing up.

Definitely... This situation isn't about generating a game winning shot. More so putting a 'pro' in the worst situation possible. Odds are the CB ends up on the top rail, with a clean pot on the 4 or 2. The pro will drop either and get out. Unfortunately anything other than the attempted safe is merely a swing at the fences. That's not the play of a pro, or anyone trying to win.

 

[straightline]

I don't agree with hitting below the side being risky. However I think we've ventured into personal perference/comfort which is always a subjective debate.

There's a big zone under the side pocket but for me, not if the ball has to clear the 5 on the left side. Going further up the rail looks more controllable.

 

[Black-Balled]

Punt and hope opponent fumbles.

 

[Chili Palmer]

i guess it depends on whether you want to play offense or defense. Defense is the move everyone says of putting cb up table either frozen on the 5 or the rail. I see 2 other offensive plays 1) bank 15 long rail to opposite corner with low left. 3 rail shape on either ball and your out. 2) Top rail kick in the side with (I think) 11 ball. Shape automatic whether you play soft or medium.

Either way, if you make ob you're out. Probably bank shot best option, but depends on what me eye sees at the time. Assuming you both play strong, I like playing offense. In the defensive play, good chance he either gets out or plays safe.

I'm a fan of those long corner banks but, IMHO, there's no place to go after that. The angle you have to hit the OB would put the CB headed straight for the 6 or 1. I like that shot but I just couldn't find a way to get shape without chancing it, and if I'm chancing it, I'm not shooting that ball, I'd rather play the safe or jump if possible.

 

[Black-Balled]

I don't agree with hitting below the side being risky. However I think we've ventured into personal perference/comfort which is always a subjective debate.

I think the odds of being completely safe after this shot are very slim. That said, leaving only a low percentage shot on the 4 is relatively easy. I would be thrilled if my opponent opted to attempt the 5 off the 2. I personally don't think that's on and if it is, it's easily the lowest percentage option they could swing at. Probably a better chance that the 2 kicks the balls in after the carom, then a direct pot.

Definitely... This situation isn't about generating a game winning shot. More so putting a 'pro' in the worst situation possible. Odds are the CB ends up on the top rail, with a clean pot on the 4 or 2. The pro will drop either and get out. Unfortunately anything other than the attempted safe is merely a swing at the fences. That's not the play of a pro, or anyone trying to win.

Punt and hope opponent fumbles.

 

[straightline]

Punt and hope opponent fumbles.

I tell myself it's not like I'm playing Efren...

 

[Fatboy]

True. So would you just go directly past the 5 avoiding the side cushion? For that matter what do you think of jawing the rock in the top corner or even rattling it to get the cueball moving along the top rail towards the 5?

Ideally yes putting the rock in that jaw would be perfect. However I don’t like rolling the rock right at the jaw-funny things can happen-splash!

So that’s why I suggested up on that rail near the pocket, ideally frozen or close to it as possible. If I was playing real good, knew the table then I’d play more aggressive and maybe risk a scratch. Right now out of stroke, I’m not going near the pocket. 2” away and try and freeze to the rail would be my shot. When your in the zone-then try the better shot near the jaw. I’m almost never rolling the rock at the jaw in a situation like this. It’s not that drastic. In 1P sometimes you have to roll right at the drink/jaw. But not here-it’s a over play.

I didn’t go into this much detail before. But that’s the best shot for me. No banks-ugh

 

[ShootingArts]

While I much admire all the folks that can park the cue ball on the rail without being a couple inches short or long to sell out, I'm going with the pro on this one. First reason, only the person behind the cue knows which shot feels best at the moment. There is another thing too however. The moiré effect on the cloth makes it hard to judge how much wear is on it however the cushions look like this isn't new cloth. With cloth with a little age on it there is a trough next to the rail. I would slow roll the shot with a little more speed leeway than the shot to freeze the cue ball on the rail and hope for a tiny little assistance from the trough if needed. The trough isn't usually a big deal but when shooting almost along it with the object ball close to the rail it is worth remembering. One disadvantage, gonna take a good bit of spin on the cue ball to offset cut induced spin to try to sneak the object ball down the rail if you brush it.

I am assuming a pro is playing another pro or highly skilled player. I am not handing such a player that low ball out and with the degree of perfection the safeties require to be effective they become very near the same risk as the shot. My personal rule of thumb is that the safety has to be fifteen percent or more easier for me to make than the shot before I select the safety. Close to the same level of difficulty, I am going to try to keep table control. The shot and the safes are all tough, I don't see fifteen percent difference.

Hu