NV B.77 - Playing for exact position instead of to an area, from VEPS III

http://dr-dave-billiards.com

Dr. Dave and Tom Ross describe, illustrate, and demonstrate how to aim for an exact spot or along an exact line, instead of to a general area, when playing for position on the next shot. This is an example shot from Disc III of "The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots" (VEPS). The VEPS series includes over 750 shots in 50 different categories, with over 250 "gems" of the game. The series is the most comprehensive collection of pool shots ever published. Disc III covers safety play and strategy.

http://dr-dave-billiards.com

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[GetMeThere1]

Very often, knowing where to TRY to position the ball is a more critical factor than how good you are at controlling the ball/putting it where you want. I've seen very good players put the cueball precisely where they want--only to then realize that they should have given it more thought. This is actually a quite common mistake.

[DrDaveBilliards]

@GetMeThere1

Great point. Thanks for the comment.

Dr. Dave

[DrDaveBilliards]

@GetMeThere1 : Thank you for you comments. You make some good points.

Dr. Dave

[GetMeThere1]

And in fact, with the example you have set up here (but with slightly less angle on the shot), many old timers would try for position without even hitting a rail--drawing the length of the table for the shot on the 7 (and applying tiny variations of english to vary the angle of the shot/draw angle).

Partly IMO, there are some players who use draw a great deal for position because they have been burned by tables that weren't level--or tables with poor cloths or lots of debris on the table.

[GetMeThere1]

Check out some of the 147 maximums of Ronnie O'Sullivan, for example. You will see the many times he works his way around the pack without hitting rails, picking off red balls through tiny windows that you don't even notice when viewing only from a single camera angle. It looks like magic--and it's not something you see watching 9-ball.

[GetMeThere1]

...so, IMO, modern players often don't get EXACTLY where they want to, but have a higher probability of getting NEAR where they want to. The difference, I think, comes from the games played. Fifty years ago, people were interested only in straight pool--where there are MANY shots that require super precision position, without hitting a rail. Now everybody plays 9-ball. more

[GetMeThere1]

@DrDaveBilliards : But to me, a more interesting point is the choice of path to get the ball where you want. This is a problem that vexes even pros--because, in the ultimate analysis, complex probabilities would come into play: the issue of how much a slight error in how you carry out the position will effect the next shot. Real old-time experts seem to hit fewer rails to get where they want to than modern players do--and I think modern players have greater consistency...more