What Would the Pros Do? Vol. 1
by Samm Diep © July 2011

Over the past few years, I’ve had the tremendous honor of watching and interviewing so many of the best players in the world. Amidst the countless hours of world class pool, I’ve seen the best do some amazing things. However, most of the time, they aren’t really doing anything special. They’re just making smart decisions. Those are the things that make the game look so simple for them. Each of us can win more games by choosing ideal patterns and learning from what the pros would do.

Volume 1 takes place at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada during the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. In a race to 8, Spain’s David Alcaide is up 7-5 against Dennis Haar from Indiana when he left himself a funny angle on his final 8 ball.

He has a few options.

Option A. Slide into the 10 ball and play the 9 in the opposite corner.

Option B. Draw across table, missing the 10 ball to also play the 9 in the opposite corner pocket.

Option C. Use high-right to spin around the 10 ball to play for a much larger window for position on the 9 in the side.

David chose Option C.

Option A is risky. Clipping the 10 ball too thin could send the cue ball loose. Hitting the 10 ball in the wrong place could leave you jacked up over it. With the position of the 9 ball, there is always the risk of scratching in the side pocket if left with the wrong angle. True, the scratch can be avoided, but it may cost you a tougher shot on the 10 ball.

Option B is not ideal either because you ultimately send your cue ball against the line of the shot. If your plan is to play the 9 in the corner, draw an imaginary line to the object ball from where you want the cue ball to be. With this shot, the cue ball is coming across that line. This means there’s only a small window for when your cue ball is in position. And again, with this shot, when you come too far you’re flirting with the side pocket scratch on the 9 ball.

Option C is the most practical choice in this scenario. The right hand english can make it easier to pocket the ball. It also assists the cue ball to continue rolling on its organic path. As an added bonus, the target area for position on the 9 in the side is much greater than playing it in the corner. The cue ball is coming into the line of the next shot and with an angle anywhere within the shaded area, position can be easily achieved to have a good shot on the 10 ball.

Remember, you always have options. Sometimes the ideal shot is more obvious than others. Look at the entire run out, not just the shot in front of you and choose the best pattern that allows you to play natural position and lead the cue ball into the line of your next shot, not against it. That’s what the pros would do.

Samm Diep, “Cherry Bomb” (DenverCherryBomb.com)
House Pro at Rack ‘Em Billiards (Aurora, CO)
Author of “You Might Be A D Player If… (101 Classic Moves That All Pool Players Can Appreciate)”
Player Representative for Chris Byrne Custom Cues, PoolDawg, Predator, Jim Murnak Custom Cases, & Delta-13 Rack

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