(S&D) Safety & Defense – Shadow Zones

(About the author)

Safety Toolbox (Advanced)

(This is today’s bit of advice from the book Safety Toolbox.)

A shadow zone is the table area behind one or more blocking balls. It is the key element of a hidden ball safety type. Any target ball within the shadow zone can be reached either by jumping the blocking ball (if rules allow) or shooting the cue ball off one or more cushions.

There are ways to make the kicking requirement more difficult. When you place the cue ball closer to a blocking object ball, the size of the shadow zone is increased. If the easier angles to kick at the target object ball are blocked, the hidden ball safety is even more difficult.

Single blocking ball shadow

With one blocking ball, the shadow zone size is dependent on how close to the blocker the cue ball is located.

When the cue ball is further away from the blocking ball, the shadow zone is much smaller.

S&D Shadow Zones, Single Ball (far away)

S&D Shadow Zones, Single Ball (far away)

With the cue ball close to the blocking ball, the shadow zone is dramatically increased.

S&D Shadow Zones, Single Ball (close)

S&D Shadow Zones, Single Ball (close)

Wall of balls shadow zone

Several blocking balls can combine shadows to hide larger areas of the table. Getting the cue ball behind several balls requires less precision.

S&D Shadow Zones, Multiple Balls

S&D Shadow Zones, Multiple Balls

 

Buy the book – Help your opponent lose!!

The FAQs of Pool & Pocket Billiards


Get the Book!!

book-PDF PDF book (good for smart devices)
(Includes my Money-back Guarantee)

book-red Printed book
Featured Posts

(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool - Chapter 7 - outmaneuver enemy

(About the author) At it's most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from "The Art of War" ...

Read More

(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool - Chapter 2 - roused to anger

(About the author) At it's most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from "The Art of War" ...

Read More

(FAQ) How do you analyze a lost pool match?

(About the Author) Whenever you play competitive pool matches, you will once in a while find yourself on the losing side. ...

Read More

(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool - Chapter 4 - common herd

(About the author) At it's most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from "The Art of War" ...

Read More

(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool - Chapter 4 - beyond the possibility of defeat

(About the author) At it's most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from "The Art of War" ...

Read More

(FAQ) How do you warm up for a competition?

(About the Author) The warm up process is designed to take you from an off-the-street condition to your ready-to-play condition. The ...

Read More