IMO it's not prudent to leave a decent player at the head of the table with this layout. There are too many ways he can shoot toward his hole, including a probable cross-corner on the stripe (11?) which the shooter just banked over that way. Leaving the CB on the foot rail is much more preferable.IF you are not going to shoot
this to me is the prudent shot
would like others opinions on this ...
IMO it's not prudent to leave a decent player at the head of the table with this layout. There are too many ways he can shoot toward his hole, including a probable cross-corner on the stripe (11?) which the shooter just banked over that way. Leaving the CB on the foot rail is much more preferable.
For average players, Bill's safe off the 7 ball, or 12squared's safe by cutting in the 11 ball would be the best choices.
~Doc
That's the shot I like, but I'd draw back behind the six, with draw naturally banking the carom long.Shoot this and stick the cue ball right there.
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Bottom line, in situations like this one where you have a shot to win the game needing one ball to your opponents seven with balls in play, you need to be ..at least a 90% favorite to pocket the ball to choose the option. I say this because by missing the ball you cut your win % down from "double digits" to a number much..much smaller. Not to mention that you're sending a message to your opponent that you are a loose player and that in itself is a disadvantage. Playing a solid game is the best way to play if you like winning, it beats the hell out of playing "spectacularly"
Just my opinion.
Dr. Bill
Bottom line, in situations like this one where you have a shot to win the game needing one ball to your opponents seven with balls in play, you need to be ..at least a 90% favorite to pocket the ball to choose the option. I say this because by missing the ball you cut your win % down from "double digits" to a number much..much smaller. Not to mention that you're sending a message to your opponent that you are a loose player and that in itself is a disadvantage. Playing a solid game is the best way to play if you like winning, it beats the hell out of playing "spectacularly"
Just my opinion.
Dr. Bill
IF you are not going to shoot
this to me is the prudent shot
would like others opinions on this
i will let you know what scott shot after i milk this alittle more...
Tom, Spectacular in the context that I used the word is somewhat misleading, imo cutting at the 7ball with the score the way it is, and playing one of the greatest ball runners in the game is clearly a risky option. Yes, I consider that playing more spectacular like than playing a comfortable solid like safety. In regard to the shooter, Scott being an upper echelon player but not necessarily an upper echelon ball striker stepped out a little more than I think he should have by opting to shoot the 7ball, for that matter I really don't feel that any player regardless of their ball striking ability should choose the 7ball option, considering the situation, jmo.Bill, I hope you don't see the cut on the seven as anything "spectacular." Decisions like the one Scott was faced with has a lot to do with his degree of confidence at the time . Your assessment of the percentages to choose the seven ball shot are of course correct, but how those percentages are calculated are always going to be based in subjectivity. Tough call either way.
One other thought as i see it. Playing Efren in my opinion adds a little more weight to the cut shot. If Scott were playing a weak player there would be no need at all for him to take even the smallest risk by shooting the seven. I wonder what Efren's winning percentages are in situations like this when players elect to choose the safety as opposed to the cut. Still low I would think but I would also think still higher than most anyone else.
Your thoughts?
TOm
I like this shot if you can put the 11 on the same line as the cue ball and nine ball with the nine blocking a hit on the 11.
{ I did get the 11 ball in an arc in front of the pocket 3 times a diamond away}
Unfortunately, I could not get the balls to react that way in 10 tries.
If I got the cueball in the corner, the 11 ball was in the center of the table, if I got the 11 ball right , the cue ball was short and it left it available, to take it out.
If I put the cueball, 9 and 11 in a line, I was never deep enough in the corner to not leave a bank on the 2, that top players will probably shoot.
Maybe I did not have them set up exactly as shown , but I tried as hard as I could to make it accurate.
I hit the first shot with too much angle and hit the 6, knocking it in the jaws of the pocket lol.
I guess that's the shot!{j/k}
OOPS!! Especially if you're playing a monster, like Reyes. You don't pee in the wind, nor pull the mask off the Lone Ranger, and you don't mess around with HIM.
Dr. Bill
This is like anything else.. its easy to second guess results.. If Scott passed up the shot on the 7 and went on to lose the game people would be saying they can't believe a player of Scotts caliber passed up the cut on the 7 to win the game... If he passed on the 7 ball and went on to win the game they would say Scott used his experience and knowledge and chose to play the score instead of going for risky 7 ball shot... If he made the 7 ball everyone would be saying you have to shoot that if you want to win.. meanwhile he missed it and Efren made a great out and now we are here... Bottom line is as Tom pointed out alot of times its abut how you feel and how confident you are..
Normally I always play the score and would generally opt for playing Dr. Billys safety however playing Efren I would be tempted to cut the 7 ball and end the game right there.. If you miss it you have to make sure you at least hang the ball so Efren can't go for the bank on the 2 ball up table during his run.. If you hang the 7 ball Efren will have to give it to make it and scratch with those 2 balls up table so he will still need 3 and you 1.. I just can't believe how bad Scott hit it.