how to play safe for this final black?

[mchpddl1]

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can someone teach me how to play safe professionally for this shot? please describe power, type of spin, and as much details as possible, thank you very much,

[Camio]

You've got several options.

The easiest is to send the black to the baulk cushion (lets assume we're seeing that table there as it is on tv, so baulk cushion is the upper one on your image) and either let the cueball in the rail (where the black currently is) with some draw, or put the cueball mid table, so your opponent needs the rest (basically, just past the blue spot, on the baulk side, middle of table).

You can also send the black 3 rails (baulk cushion, left cushion then top cushion) to the top cushion so it goes tight on the rail, in line with the black spot. Its a more risky shot and for this, you gotta put some left and follow, left or follow only (up to you) so the white will either go on either on the left of the baulk cushion, or to the middle of it, tight on the rail, in line with the brown spot. This is what pros would do but this option is risky if you miss-hit the black, you can leave it.

Personally, when I face a shot like this, this is what I always play. I didnt got the object ball where I intended on a few occasions at first (be red or any colors) but after playing that shot maybe 5-10 times in matches, I've began having pretty good results with this, both with the object ball and cueball.

You can also bank the black 2 rails, so it goes to the baulk cushion, roughly in line with brown spot and white comes back to sit behind black spot, roughly. The danger with that option is the double kiss, on top of leaving the black on either of the bottom corner pockets.

Personnally, I'd play the 2nd option, unless the ball on the rail there wasnt the black and I was forced to go with option 1 for some reason. Also remember, some players seem to have troubles with the rest so if you're playing someone who struggles with it, dont be afraid to force them to use it. They might end up totally miss-hitting their next shot and leaving you an easy black.

Another reason why I'd play the 2nd option is, sometimes, during matches, you'll have to play that shot because you've got the white there, out of position, and there's a red there. You send it 3 rails back in the top of the table (near reds and black spot) and keep the white behind the colors.

For that reason, you should have some experience with this type of shot/safety (3 railers).

[hotpot]

I,d go for putting the black on the baulk cush , its hard to judge when sending a ball off a few cushions when its tight so that shot i think would be too risky .

[spike]

I agree with hotpot, but instead of putting the black, I suggest you try and pot it instead..

[CueAce]

Just remember when you're in a black game - the most important thing is to concentrate on ALWAYS getting the object ball safe. Always better to do a simple tap up to a cushion than try a cocked hat shot coming off four cushions and failing.

[Marlboro]

Against weaker opponents (30 break players) we can just push the black 1-2 inches along the cushion. The white would come off the cushion to the middle of the table and leave a double to the corner pocket..or a cross double. Which wouold be very foolish for anyone to try.
Cue the white ball just below the centre, no side spin.

[loopy2]

Also agree with Hotpot. A light 3/4 stun to leave the black on the baulk cushion and the cue ball near the side.

[willtyson]

I would play this with a top spin with a bit of cue power put the white on the top cushion and the play down the other end of the table although the black might go into the pocket it's closest to already.

[beechy1212]

That black needs lambasing as hard as possible and leave the white where the black is. The black might go in. Even if it doesn't, it should run safe. Whack it lol

[damienlch]

Against weaker opponents (30 break players) we can just push the black 1-2 inches along the cushion. The white would come off the cushion to the middle of the table and leave a double to the corner pocket..or a cross double. Which wouold be very foolish for anyone to try.
Cue the white ball just below the centre, no side spin.

Ahem, I'm one of those 30 odd break builders and you'll be leaving me with a decent double attempt while sending the cue ball safely towards baulk or a relatively easy safety...

I'd choose pushing the black safe against the baulk cushion and hope my opponent messes up the next shot. I think the priority is to play the easiest shot and leave the black in a non-pottable position during a black ball finish.

[Rane]

Ahem, I'm one of those 30 odd break builders and you'll be leaving me with a decent double attempt while sending the cue ball safely towards baulk or a relatively easy safety...

I'd choose pushing the black safe against the baulk cushion and hope my opponent messes up the next shot. I think the priority is to play the easiest shot and leave the black in a non-pottable position during a black ball finish.

I´m one of the weaker as well, but I would never go for a double to the corner pocket, as the risk of wobbling is far too big, and then it´s game over.

[Terry Davidson]

In a black ball frame or a tie black frame (same thing anyway) the best objective is to get the object ball to the middle of a cushion and if you can get the cueball to the middle of an opposite cushion (baulk and top cushions are best). With this type of shot I would try hitting the black full in the face with lots of top spin, trying to get the black to go similar to a cocked-hat double but with intentional error so it goes past the middle pocket and hopefully comes to rest near the middle of the top cushion in this case while the top spin on the cueball should get it to the baulk cushion.

The error comes in if you happen to come too close to the cocked-hat double and catch the jaw, but you still have the cueball on the cushion and any pot except one very near a pocket becomes very difficult.

I would not leave any opponent the chance of a double into the middle pocket as I've found they are likely to make it or else miss it but leave you on the cushion with a very tough safety shot. Do not let your opponent have a hand-on-the-table shot whatever you do

Terry

[DandyA]

it's not a cocked-hat double into right centre is it? the cocked hat looks better for right bottom corner to me (ie black pocket, green side assuming baulk is at the top of the picture) ...

I quite fancy hitting it full on (maybe a fraction right of centre) with stun to leave the white close to the right cushion and hopefully the black on or just off the left cushion ... ie, the half-and-half position (as I call it, I don't know if it has an official name) which most pros go for when playing the first shot of a respot (except at the other end of the table) ...

that seems safer for (very) amateur players like me with a lot of margin for error - I like the idea of just tapping it onto the baulk cushion but I'd seriously worry about hitting it too hard and leaving either a gettable pot or a shot for nothing into top left (as we look) ... or hitting it too soft and leaving a cut to top right ... and even if I get it right, surely I'm leaving an easy safety - white straight down the table to the black cushion, black off the left side cushion and back to centre top cushion ...

[poolqjunkie]

In a black ball frame or a tie black frame (same thing anyway) the best objective is to get the object ball to the middle of a cushion and if you can get the cueball to the middle of an opposite cushion (baulk and top cushions are best). With this type of shot I would try hitting the black full in the face with lots of top spin, trying to get the black to go similar to a cocked-hat double but with intentional error so it goes past the middle pocket and hopefully comes to rest near the middle of the top cushion in this case while the top spin on the cueball should get it to the baulk cushion.

The error comes in if you happen to come too close to the cocked-hat double and catch the jaw, but you still have the cueball on the cushion and any pot except one very near a pocket becomes very difficult.

I would not leave any opponent the chance of a double into the middle pocket as I've found they are likely to make it or else miss it but leave you on the cushion with a very tough safety shot. Do not let your opponent have a hand-on-the-table shot whatever you do

Terry

Hi Terry,
In this situation would you recommend to hit the cue ball with a bit of right hand side, a bit thin on the black to leave the black on the bottom cushion and the cue ball close to the other bottom cushion,.
Basically just have the black go one cushion to rest on the baulk cushion (top cushion in the diagram), the cue ball also going one cushion to rest on the black cushion (bottom cushion in the diagram).
I am just more confident with this shot than the shot which requires the black to go several cushions because I tend to hit the ball too hard sometimes trying this shot.
Thank you.
Thank you.

[The Statman]

I would always favour the most simple shot available guaranteeing a safe object ball. So I would always send the black to the middle(ish) of the baulk cushion because there is plenty of margin for error and there will be no attractive pot wherever the cue-ball ends up.

I'm a bit of a better standard than some who have posted on here, and I certainly don't see the worth of putting extra difficulty getting the black safe off three cushions when there is an easy safe position off just one.


Remember, though, if you're 7 points in front, it is always worth going for a double, more or less whatever the risk.

If you miss it, there is a roughly 50-50 chance of it going safe or difficult (especially if you have thought about leaving a good cue-ball), and even if your opponent does pot the black, he can only tie and not win outright.