Final thoughts. The 3-railer is a stiff. a. you could get a kiss. b. you could run into the ball next to the 3 ball. c. to miss the ball next to the 3 you have to send the cue ball forward, and if you do miss the kiss it will be very difficult to control the speed of the cue ball and it is doubtful that you will wind up close to the bottom rail. d. if you do make it, you have another long shot to start with (if you did get the cue ball close to the rail) , and no matter what you aint getting out with those balls jammed up on the back rail.
The bank Buddy shot, and the way that he shot it, was only good if he could have -- for sure -- got a batch of balls. If I would have chosen that shot (and I wouldnt have) I would have rolled it to my pocket and sent the cue ball to the back rail. It just so happens to be a shot (3 ball straight back) that I hit very well, hard or soft. I feature it in my books and DVDs. I can even make it if it is only 1 inch off of the rail. I still wouldnt shoot it because if defies my rule of accumulation.
I would actually pick Tom's shot over the 3 ball straight back. That would somewhat be in tune with my rule of accumulation, but it would violate my rule of not touching already spotted balls. But if the 2 spotted balls were in a slightly different position, and not on the spot, then I might cross over one of them, putting it on my side and sending the cue ball down table. That would definitely be in line with my need for accumulation.
Finally, finally. Addressing how easy Efren could stymie my lag to the 6 ball by crossing the 3 ball, aside from having to execute the shot extremely well to snooker me to the point where I couldnt even kick at the 3 ball, there is one more consideration for Effie to worry about in this supposedly fool-proof shot (besides the corner scratch and the perfect speed) --
he could very easily bank the 3 ball cross-side! Then it would be spotted up and be another plus for Buddy.
Beard
Tom, I have no doubt that you know what you are doing playing one socket, you come highly recommended from some good people. Prove them right and beat some people at the open.