You Make The Call: Pro One-Pocket

juanbond

juanbond

Software Engineer
Silver Member
Here's a situation from an actual professional one-pocket game from a recent Derby City Classic. It is your shot; your pocket is the lower corner pocket, marked with the "A". What shot did the player take?

I'll post the answer tomorrow sometime...

http://CueTable.com/P/?@4BDfh3CALP3DCws3EaDj4FAtj4GATr3HJbM4IFjS4JDNt3KFCM3LSGN3MTDu3NYxp3OOjB2PPxd4Qchw@


onepocket.JPG
 
I'm no one pocket player. In fact I've only played the game one time. But I would do this:
 

Attachments

  • one pocket.JPG
    one pocket.JPG
    19.1 KB · Views: 284
First of all, it would definitely depend who my opponent is.

If I were playing someone who I knew couldn't run out the balls in just one turn, I'd try this shot:

I'd shoot the cue ball into the 3 ball, with a bit of draw, with low right english, to draw the cue ball into the top long rail near diamond 1.5, and hope it would then go forward and down to the short rail, just under the 15 ball. Having hit the 3 ball this way, it's possible (although unlikely) that the 3 would hit the 10, and possibly combo in the 9 ball. If a ball were to go in my pocket (A), I'd have a good chance at running some balls... If nothing pocketed, the cue ball would hopefully be in a relatively safe position.

Could all that sell out? Perhaps, but if my stroke and touch were "on" I'd probably try it.

Flex
 
Hal said:
I'm no one pocket player. In fact I've only played the game one time. But I would do this:
Click to expand...


If you would shoot that shot, then you are indeed no one pocket player...:D
 
No way to tell whether a combo out of the pack is on from these diagrams, so I'll ignore that possibility.

One approach is to bury the cue ball under the five ball with a soft quarter ball hit on the right half of the fifteen. If you get the hook, opponent is snookered from every other ball on the table. Even if you don't get the hook, you'll knock the five away from opponent's pocket.

Another possible shot is to hit the fifteen just a little harder, to leave the fifteen back in the cluster, and using the cue to knock the five up the long rail and away from opponent's pocket.

Five or six decent shots available here.
 
Last edited:
sjm said:
No way to tell whether a combo out of the pack is on from these diagrams, so I'll ignore that possibility.

One approach is to bury the cue ball under the five ball with a soft quarter ball hit on the right half of the fifteen. If you get the hook, opponent is snookered from every other ball on the table. Even if you don't get the hook, you'll knock the five away from opponent's pocket.
Click to expand...


That is precisely the shot I would shoot based on the diagram. I'm sure the shot that will be posted will be much more exotic with some type of combo in the equation.
 
I can't believe some of the shots mentioned. I was in the process of drawing what I would do when I refreshed the page and say that what I was drawing is what SJM described. I would have hit it slightly softer than he described, sending the cue ball behind the 5 but not with enough speed to move the 5. I would want a very full hit but a lot of spin on the cue. This way, the cue goes behind the 5, and the distance the 15 travels is maximized because of the full hit. If you miss the cue ball placement, the cross bank on the 15 won't be available because it will be too close to the stack (hopefully). If the cue ball is hit perfectly and really gets wedged well between the 5 and the long rail, the opponent will be forced to move the 5 away from his own hole, because that will be the only ball he can see.

This shot is laying perfect to force you to do something simple. Anything exotic, that is poorly executed, will most likely cost you the game.
 
sjm said:
Another possible shot is to hit the fifteen just a little harder, to leave the fifteen back in the cluster, and using the cue to knock the five up the long rail and away from opponent's pocket.
Click to expand...

I thought of this shot when I saw the diagram. Appears to be the safest option. Even if the cue ball goes two rails and kicks behind the 5, you'd be pretty unlucky to sell out anything with that shot.
 
Flex said:
First of all, it would definitely depend who my opponent is.

If I were playing someone who I knew couldn't run out the balls in just one turn, I'd try this shot:

I'd shoot the cue ball into the 3 ball, with a bit of draw, with low right english, to draw the cue ball into the top long rail near diamond 1.5, and hope it would then go forward and down to the short rail, just under the 15 ball. Having hit the 3 ball this way, it's possible (although unlikely) that the 3 would hit the 10, and possibly combo in the 9 ball. If a ball were to go in my pocket (A), I'd have a good chance at running some balls... If nothing pocketed, the cue ball would hopefully be in a relatively safe position.

Could all that sell out? Perhaps, but if my stroke and touch were "on" I'd probably try it.

Flex
Click to expand...

Flex...I was thinking the same thing! LOL Definitely a gofer shot!:D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
I want to play all you guys...

Smorgass Bored said:
Hmmmm, 11-6-2, the two off the nine into pocket A ?
Doug
(no wonder I lose taking shots like that)
Click to expand...

This is a cute little ticky shot

shoot softly at the rail about the diamond close to the 5 ball
with running english -5 goes to the foot rail, CB tickys back to the side rail and goes 2 rails behind the 15. Extra credit if you freeze it to the 15

Dale Pierce
 
pdcue said:
This is a cute little ticky shot

shoot softly at the rail about the diamond close to the 5 ball
with running english -5 goes to the foot rail, CB tickys back to the side rail and goes 2 rails behind the 15. Extra credit if you freeze it to the 15

Dale Pierce
Click to expand...
I'd shoot something similar, going softly rail first, knocking the 5 ball somewhere behind the 15, with the cue ball going alittle nearer to the pocket.

This would preclude any possible kick or bank shots on the 5 and 15 balls.
 
I like hitting the fifteen and staying under the 5 mentioned, but hitting the 4,6,2 (off the 9) might be hard to pass up.
 
It looks like part of the 12 ball blocks you from hitting the right side of the 15 to go behind the 5. Either way, shooting from the rail that's a tough shot to execute and you risk selling out a bank on the 15. I really am no one pocket player but I always hear people say that when you are in a tough situation, like a trap, take an intentional foul. Would anyone else take an intentional if you cant hit the right side of the 15?
 
cuetechasaurus said:
It looks like part of the 12 ball blocks you from hitting the right side of the 15 to go behind the 5. Either way, shooting from the rail that's a tough shot to execute and you risk selling out a bank on the 15. I really am no one pocket player but I always hear people say that when you are in a tough situation, like a trap, take an intentional foul. Would anyone else take an intentional if you cant hit the right side of the 15?
Click to expand...

I don't think a foul makes sense. If hooked from hitting the right part of the fifteen, I'll either go rail first soft to take the five away (actually, the fourteen may be blocking that option) or just concede the five by knocking it in. Opponent doesn't have many threat balls here, and I can't develop much for myself with a foul, so I don't see the point in taking a foul.
 
I agree with SJM, hit the 15 on the right as much as you can, and with right english to make it curve just slightly...also easy enough to bury it behind the 5...best safety on the board that I see.
 
Well, I think a lot of you have come up with far smarter shots than the pro actually played in this situation. Sadly, I didn't choose this position because the pro made some overly amazing move. Rather, I chose it because, to me, there was no obvious best shot, yet still quite a few possibilities.

I've truly enjoyed this thread. I would keep it going longer to let more people get in on it, but I'm sure you are waiting for the answer. I plan to do several more of these "You Make The Call" threads, based on the enthusiasm shown on this one...

Without further adieu... This game was between Efren Reyes and Larry Nevel, at the 2004 DCC. Larry Nevel played this shot:

onepocket2.JPG

Larry sunk this combination-kiss on the two to go ahead 2 to -1. He left himself back down table on the rail, and then missed a near straight in ball left in front of his pocket. Efren ran about four, and played safe. Larry took another risky shot, plowing into the stack, but missed. Efren ran out for the win.
 
sjm said:
No way to tell whether a combo out of the pack is on from these diagrams, so I'll ignore that possibility.

One approach is to bury the cue ball under the five ball with a soft quarter ball hit on the right half of the fifteen. If you get the hook, opponent is snookered from every other ball on the table. Even if you don't get the hook, you'll knock the five away from opponent's pocket.

Another possible shot is to hit the fifteen just a little harder, to leave the fifteen back in the cluster, and using the cue to knock the five up the long rail and away from opponent's pocket.

Five or six decent shots available here.
Click to expand...

I still like this option best, although like he said it is hard to determine if the billiard is on. I guess it was since Larry shot and made it. Otherwise, hitting the 15 makes the most sense. And trying to duck against the bottom of the five ball.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top