51:42 I'm glad you took this shot! LOL I often take similar 'weird' shots just out of curiosity to know it will play out. If a 'curious' shot is too risky to take (puts match in jeopardy), I try to memorize the ball positions and then play it later.
@@OnTheSnap Yesterday, I had the opportunity to “bend the pocket”. The 8 was snugged to the point of the side pocket. I’d seen it several times on RUclips but had never faced it in a match and can’t say I’ve ever practiced it. I made my last ball and got perfect position to slam it home for the win and 2-1 match.
@@dumbref1459 That's epic! So fun to pull that off, especially for the win. Good on you for not only having the knowledge to recognize that shot, but execute it.
@0:15 Me too! I think I have lost about 8 of the last 10 lags @19:50 I like the 6 here because you have almost all (if not all) of the cue ball, but if you are not zoned in, it is definitely a miss-able shot. When you are jacked up, getting position is tough, but you almost grinded out a good run. @22:54 I was thinking the same thing. @23:20 Looks like he is looking at the cue ball tangent line, and figuring out that he needed to apply low english. @30:15 I like your train of thought starting with the 11-12-9-14 and 10 as your money ball if it does not go past the 9. If you played the 11 slightly lighter, you were out. @40:45 I have heard professional commentators talk about this, and they mentioned pace to rule out table roll, low to rule out incidental throw, and like you said, outside to rule out the scratch. The pros have apparently made this shot robotic. @47:00 When you were shooting the 7, I was thinking that you would draw a few inches and leave the cue in the middle of the table. This way you have the angle to go 2 rails around and come down the straight 9 ball path. Maybe that is just me because I prefer a smooth center (or a hair low) ball with a 45 degree rather than an almost straight top with some pace, because my stroke is straighter and I am more fundamentally sound that way. However, what you did is totally good too, and I know you have played the almost straight top english shot with pace a million times, so I thought nothing of it when you shot the 7. Maybe just a lapse in focus or your eyes playing tricks on you on the 8 at that moment. Happens to the best of us. Although, I have heard some professional commentators talk about the object ball being thrown on some occasions when top is used. I wonder if that happened to you. The cue ball goes straight into the rail and kicks right off the rail substantially and you missed the 8 left. Maybe right english was inadvertently applied? @50:05 He needed to hit that harder for the low english to take. I have seen the pros play the right side thin, bank the 1 to the middle of the top rail, and send the cue 2/3 rails down to the bottom rail with the 6/7 as cover. You didn't seem really comfortable today, but your knowledge and training had you grind out a good win. 👍 And congrats on getting on the BCA Team! Looking forward to the next one, Anthony!
19:50 I like the 6, now that you point it out. Better chance of it working out well. 30:15 I felt good about this pattern, just didn't hit the 11 right. Was a shame to not get out here, but it happens! 40:45 Good points, this all makes sense. I just need to drill it to where it's automatic. 47:00 I absolutely needed to just play a stop shot on the 7 and let the angle off the 8 do the work. Paid the price for making the 8 too simple and not affording myself easier position on the 9... I do think that I was attempting to apply a tough of right spin to get straighter on the 9. That "throw" effect could definitely have come into play here. Did not consider that! 50:05 I agree that sending the CB downtable and the 1 up to the top short rail is the way to go. Trying to drag the CB across the table at that slow speed is very hard to control. Thanks, as always, Ryu!
@@OnTheSnap Speaking of throw, I have noticed may times SVB applying some side english when his shot is almost straight, as if he is intentionally aiming off the pocket and playing the throw. Have you ever looked into this? Another level for me, I guess🤣
29:23 I think taking the solids was fine he just needed to shape the three after he made the seven to go in the bottom right corner. Then take the one in the side. Six in the top right corner. Four in the corner. Eight in the side. At least that’s what I saw 🤷♂️
With ball-in-hand, it definitely would have been possible to get from the 7 or the 1 onto the 3, the 3 being the better of the two since the 1 makes a better key ball. Definitely could have worked!
It appeared to me on 8 you missed, you were really trying to control the speed coming off the end rail for shape on the nine. At least that’s always my excuse
Not a big thing, but that's the reason I don't use a template rack at home generally. I will if I'm trying to dial in something and want repeatable results, but most of the time will hand rack. It'll be different depending on the area, but in my area there is very little to no template rack use in match play, in league, in tournaments, in the state tournaments even, so it becomes more of a crutch than a useful practice tool.
It is interesting how the rules of pool allow a lot of luck, even at the pro level. It seems to me 'the rule makers' should try to eliminate luck, and make the rules emphasize pure skill. Just a rule for 'calling your pocket' would go a long way to that end. I've heard Earl Strickland talk about trying to come up with a format where even the break is eliminated and players would each start with tables setup with the balls placed in a set pattern, then each player get s a chance to start with the same layout of balls.
It is an interesting aspect of the game. There are certainly levels to how much luck is allowed in a given format. APA 9-ball on Valley tables is going to feel dramatically different than pro-level 10-ball on a 9' Rasson, but even then weird things can happen in a match. There are always going to be rolls and accidents. Even if you hermetically seal everything and reduce the competition to a comparison of results on drills, there would still be some luck involved. And at the end of the day, who would really want to play that way? As much as luck is silly and frustrating and unfair, I think we all secretly love the drama and it's what keeps our gambler brains coming back for more!
Calling your pocket is standard at every pro level event except 9ball. Alot of amateur leagues also play call pocket for every format except 9ball. Apa allows for slop mainly because they want to cater towards amateurs.
Your game is looking good. That new mental game looks like it's really paying off. Those things that used to mess with you seem to be non-existent. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, Chris. Definitely feeling more relaxed out there, and my approach seems healthier. I don't agonize over the silly stuff, and I try to welcome mistakes as opportunities to improve. Overall, I'm just enjoying the game more, which is really nice!
40:51 the reason you spin the ball firm vs floating the 9-ball in is to remove the opportunity of a skid. stroke it with a little low outside greatly reduces the skid potential.
You have a habit of grabbing the cue ball when it's headed to a pocket for a scratch. I recommend not doing that. The scratch at 22:02 might not have actually scratched if you had not caught the ball with your hand. It was going to hit the point on the left side and could have jawed. I've seen what looks like obvious scratches bobble in the jaws and not fall in. (same as with object balls) It depends on what spin is on it and whether it hits the point on the way and yes, most of the time it's obviously going to go in but sometimes it wont! Let it fall in first!
This is good advice. I do try to avoid that impulse; it's a bad habit for lots of reasons. I'll still do it sometimes more as a show of frustration. Gotta kick that.
Have you seen improvements in YOUR game? Let us know here!
51:42 I'm glad you took this shot! LOL I often take similar 'weird' shots just out of curiosity to know it will play out. If a 'curious' shot is too risky to take (puts match in jeopardy), I try to memorize the ball positions and then play it later.
Couldn't resist!
@@OnTheSnap Yesterday, I had the opportunity to “bend the pocket”. The 8 was snugged to the point of the side pocket. I’d seen it several times on RUclips but had never faced it in a match and can’t say I’ve ever practiced it. I made my last ball and got perfect position to slam it home for the win and 2-1 match.
@@dumbref1459 That's epic! So fun to pull that off, especially for the win. Good on you for not only having the knowledge to recognize that shot, but execute it.
@0:15 Me too! I think I have lost about 8 of the last 10 lags
@19:50 I like the 6 here because you have almost all (if not all) of the cue ball, but if you are not zoned in, it is definitely a miss-able shot. When you are jacked up, getting position is tough, but you almost grinded out a good run.
@22:54 I was thinking the same thing.
@23:20 Looks like he is looking at the cue ball tangent line, and figuring out that he needed to apply low english.
@30:15 I like your train of thought starting with the 11-12-9-14 and 10 as your money ball if it does not go past the 9. If you played the 11 slightly lighter, you were out.
@40:45 I have heard professional commentators talk about this, and they mentioned pace to rule out table roll, low to rule out incidental throw, and like you said, outside to rule out the scratch. The pros have apparently made this shot robotic.
@47:00 When you were shooting the 7, I was thinking that you would draw a few inches and leave the cue in the middle of the table. This way you have the angle to go 2 rails around and come down the straight 9 ball path. Maybe that is just me because I prefer a smooth center (or a hair low) ball with a 45 degree rather than an almost straight top with some pace, because my stroke is straighter and I am more fundamentally sound that way. However, what you did is totally good too, and I know you have played the almost straight top english shot with pace a million times, so I thought nothing of it when you shot the 7. Maybe just a lapse in focus or your eyes playing tricks on you on the 8 at that moment. Happens to the best of us. Although, I have heard some professional commentators talk about the object ball being thrown on some occasions when top is used. I wonder if that happened to you. The cue ball goes straight into the rail and kicks right off the rail substantially and you missed the 8 left. Maybe right english was inadvertently applied?
@50:05 He needed to hit that harder for the low english to take. I have seen the pros play the right side thin, bank the 1 to the middle of the top rail, and send the cue 2/3 rails down to the bottom rail with the 6/7 as cover.
You didn't seem really comfortable today, but your knowledge and training had you grind out a good win. 👍
And congrats on getting on the BCA Team!
Looking forward to the next one, Anthony!
19:50 I like the 6, now that you point it out. Better chance of it working out well.
30:15 I felt good about this pattern, just didn't hit the 11 right. Was a shame to not get out here, but it happens!
40:45 Good points, this all makes sense. I just need to drill it to where it's automatic.
47:00 I absolutely needed to just play a stop shot on the 7 and let the angle off the 8 do the work. Paid the price for making the 8 too simple and not affording myself easier position on the 9... I do think that I was attempting to apply a tough of right spin to get straighter on the 9. That "throw" effect could definitely have come into play here. Did not consider that!
50:05 I agree that sending the CB downtable and the 1 up to the top short rail is the way to go. Trying to drag the CB across the table at that slow speed is very hard to control.
Thanks, as always, Ryu!
@@OnTheSnap Speaking of throw, I have noticed may times SVB applying some side english when his shot is almost straight, as if he is intentionally aiming off the pocket and playing the throw. Have you ever looked into this? Another level for me, I guess🤣
@@cosc137 Interesting...I have never noticed that. I will have to look into it!
29:23 I think taking the solids was fine he just needed to shape the three after he made the seven to go in the bottom right corner. Then take the one in the side. Six in the top right corner. Four in the corner. Eight in the side. At least that’s what I saw 🤷♂️
With ball-in-hand, it definitely would have been possible to get from the 7 or the 1 onto the 3, the 3 being the better of the two since the 1 makes a better key ball. Definitely could have worked!
I think it was Tiger Woods said " It's better to be lucky then good"
To that I say "Why not both?" 😏
It appeared to me on 8 you missed, you were really trying to control the speed coming off the end rail for shape on the nine. At least that’s always my excuse
I think you're right. Trying too hard for tidy shape and didn't deliver the cue properly.
Not a big thing, but that's the reason I don't use a template rack at home generally. I will if I'm trying to dial in something and want repeatable results, but most of the time will hand rack. It'll be different depending on the area, but in my area there is very little to no template rack use in match play, in league, in tournaments, in the state tournaments even, so it becomes more of a crutch than a useful practice tool.
Good thoughts on this. I might start doing the same!
It is interesting how the rules of pool allow a lot of luck, even at the pro level. It seems to me 'the rule makers' should try to eliminate luck, and make the rules emphasize pure skill. Just a rule for 'calling your pocket' would go a long way to that end. I've heard Earl Strickland talk about trying to come up with a format where even the break is eliminated and players would each start with tables setup with the balls placed in a set pattern, then each player get s a chance to start with the same layout of balls.
It is an interesting aspect of the game. There are certainly levels to how much luck is allowed in a given format. APA 9-ball on Valley tables is going to feel dramatically different than pro-level 10-ball on a 9' Rasson, but even then weird things can happen in a match. There are always going to be rolls and accidents. Even if you hermetically seal everything and reduce the competition to a comparison of results on drills, there would still be some luck involved. And at the end of the day, who would really want to play that way? As much as luck is silly and frustrating and unfair, I think we all secretly love the drama and it's what keeps our gambler brains coming back for more!
Calling your pocket is standard at every pro level event except 9ball. Alot of amateur leagues also play call pocket for every format except 9ball. Apa allows for slop mainly because they want to cater towards amateurs.
Your game is looking good. That new mental game looks like it's really paying off. Those things that used to mess with you seem to be non-existent. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, Chris. Definitely feeling more relaxed out there, and my approach seems healthier. I don't agonize over the silly stuff, and I try to welcome mistakes as opportunities to improve. Overall, I'm just enjoying the game more, which is really nice!
40:51 the reason you spin the ball firm vs floating the 9-ball in is to remove the opportunity of a skid. stroke it with a little low outside greatly reduces the skid potential.
Thank you! Others have been letting me know about this as well. I'll be adding it to my repertoire.
You have a habit of grabbing the cue ball when it's headed to a pocket for a scratch. I recommend not doing that. The scratch at 22:02 might not have actually scratched if you had not caught the ball with your hand. It was going to hit the point on the left side and could have jawed. I've seen what looks like obvious scratches bobble in the jaws and not fall in. (same as with object balls) It depends on what spin is on it and whether it hits the point on the way and yes, most of the time it's obviously going to go in but sometimes it wont! Let it fall in first!
This is good advice. I do try to avoid that impulse; it's a bad habit for lots of reasons. I'll still do it sometimes more as a show of frustration. Gotta kick that.
22:47 that pattern choice made me cringe
Yeah that one was not the highest percentage...
Where do you live that you are still wearing shorts lol
haha I just like shorts! I tend to wear them year-round unless it's super cold outside.
@ Im a sales rep for frito we have guys that work that do the same.. if they come to work in long pants you know its going to be brutal out there lol
@toddrobertson1398 haha oh boy. They're the true thermometer.