Advanced position play - Answers

[Wayne]

The way I was practising getting position was with backhand English and I was getting good results as follows:
START(
%AN7O5%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%H[6N5%Ip7P0%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%P[7T7%Ui9Y8%VY9D5%][6C9%^[8M5
%_Y4D6%`[3M4%a[6S3
)END

A very strong local player did it in the same way but instead of backhand English he hit the cueball with slight right English and jumped the cue ball slightly to the same spot on the rail as the prior shot and the cue ball spun down to similar position.

Bill (a senior pro) did it the way Popcorn described it in his post. Using slight low right and drawing it back as follows: START(
%AN7O5%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%H[8M7%Ip9O5%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%P[8S6%Uj7J1%V^3Z6%W[3D5%X[6L9
%_]7Y9%`[9N6%a[8R8
)END

Max Eberle made it look very simple by cheating the pocket slightly as someone suggested but he spun the cueball enough to end up as follows:START(
%AN7O5%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%H[7M9%Ip0P4%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%P[6U2%W[0C9%X[7L8%eC2`6%_]3D5
%`[6N6%a[5T3%bm3J6%c]9C8%d^2C9
)END

I also like the stun shot with force follow that was mentioned and I will try that tonight. Of course someone like Mike Massey or John Schmidt would probably force follow it 4 rails for perfect position (they like to entertain). I also saw Shane Manole just jack up and hit the ball right in the side and Masse the cueball down for perfect position (there were other balls on the table at the time so his options were more limited).

Give the different ones a try and I am sure you will find one you can execute.

Wayne

[Rod]

The way to shoot this is a way that you can make at least 9 of ten times. I think this shot should be 10 of ten though. Consistency wins games not a show-boat shot. Personally a stun follow easily gets me to a good shot. The other way I'd choose draw, you don't even have to use side english for a good shot but a little is ok. Another way is just straight top right and go 1 rail.
START(
%AN7O5%BL7P8%CJ5O4%DL7N1%EM7P1%FK6P1%GK6N8%H[7M9%Ip0P4%JK6M5
%KJ5P7%LJ5N2%MK6Q4%NJ5R0%OJ5M0%P[6U2%W[0C9%X[7L8%eC2`6%_]3D5
%`[6N6%a[5T3%bg7Y6%c]9C8%d^2C9
)END

My thinking is if you can make any of the shots every time, having a slight cut on the 9 shouldn't be any big deal for a good player. For those that can't handle the cue ball just follow it up for a longer cut. It's always better shooting for a reasonable chance to win as opposed to probably leaving an easy sell out.

Rod

[tateuts]

Wayne,

If you practice the force follow shot I diagrammed, use high right with a lot of follow and try to follow the object ball into the side pocket. What happens is the cue ball spurts a little to the right before the follow takes, so the cue ball doesn't go into the side. This shot is extrememly useful when you ever find yourself "hooked straight".

Chris