On Tuesday 11/4/03 I played a shot that was questioned by both my team captain and the player from the opposing team. Now both of them were curious, why I shot the shot the way I did, and I appreciate the opportunity to answer them though I don't think I did so to their satisfaction that night.
Let me explain my style of playing quickly, I like to play the pattern of shots that give me, in my opinion, the highest percentage chance of winning the game. That does not necessarily mean pocketing the ball. Safety play is always on my mind
The scenario, is, my opponent is on the hill, in other words if I miss I had better not leave him a shot, I have ball in hand. I could try to run the 2 up the rail past the side pocket a 75% shot, maybe, a 100% sell out if I miss. I could try the 2, 7, combo, the 7 being out away from the rail just far enough to make the shot iffy 50%, if I make the 7 there is really no way to make sure I would have a shot on the 2. Again my opponent is out if I miss. My choice was to bank the 2 ball to the lower left corner pocket a 50% shot and 100% safety. I missed leaving the 2 ball on the rail down by the corner pocket, and the cue ball in the middle of the table where my opponent had a very thin cut, that he had to use a crutch to shoot, he missed. I had another opportunity, I missed and he won the game. But the point is I had a second chance and if I had been shooting at a reasonable level I would have been out.
