With BIH, behind the string, I have been playing that shot that way, all my one pocket life, in that situation
That's because you are an idiot. I don't place the cue ball, for quite as thin a cut, as John has, but almost !...To me, IMO that is the correct way to play the shot, when needing only one, and there are no balls impeding my route to go 2 rails to get back up to the end rail with the cue ball.
It works in a variety of similar situations too !..Unless you really butcher the shot, it works as planned, I'd say about 95% of the time. (the 'make' percentage is almost as good, for me, as shooting it from the side rail) Would anyone bet (these days) that they could make 9 or 10, out of 10 spot shots ?
SuperDuck ---> Ain't givin up NO game, on a stinkin' "fire in the hole" spot shot..
PS..I see your logic Frank, but theres still a lot more that can go wrong, (in that exact layout) slow rolling it..than by shooting it the way John, (or me) would choose to shoot it !.. Let me explain my thinking..Assuming you miss..(unless you jaw it) your oppo is almost sure to have a way out, and the game goes on..or, get a little unlucky he may even have a shot to win the game..I'm going to make it, way more than I'll miss it, just as you will..But, I could miss it by a lot, and my oppo, is still going to be in a world of hurt..from about 9 ft. away !