Ok, since people have been reviving old threads, and other people want to see more wei table shot choices, here's a game situation that I posted about 2 year ago.....The guys that were here back then probably will remember the thread, but it's a good shot choice discussion for you newer guys...
This is a situation that came up for me the other day in a game - I've had this same situation come up other times too, and it's a simple, but interesting example of a tough one pocket shot decision.....It's my shot, the top pocket is mine, I need both balls and my customer...uuh, I mean my opponent
needs one.......My decision is whether to pocket the sure-thing 12 ball and then play a safety (there's too much angle to hold the cue ball for a bank on the 5 ball with my next shot, even if it doesn't look that way in the on-screen table here - the 5 ball is frozen on the rail), settling for playing it out from there with the score tied 7 to 7......Or, pass on making the 12 and being on the hill, and instead gambling to get out right there by shooting the 5 ball two-rail bank, which is laying just about dead ahead (imo, any good to excellent player would be a huge favorite to not miss it by more than an inch or two, if he didn't make it), hoping to make it and then shoot the 12 ball in for the win - If I choose this option, I would shoot the 5 at pocket speed and draw back a little and try to snooker my opponent behind the 12 ball in the event that I miss the 5..... Assume the pockets are average size - 4-1/2", and you are playing someone that you play about even with - what's your choice >>>
- Ghost
PS, Last time I put this thread up, 2 years ago, the replies were about 50/50 between the two shot choices.
PPS, Forgot to say...I hit multi-rail banks well, and I love these 2-railers - and I like the very likely snooker result if I miss the 2-railer shooting at pocket speed...all that said, my choice here was/is definitely to 2-rail the 5.