How often do you play kill/drag shots?

Jimbojim

Jimbojim

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm practicing with this pro once a week and I'm picking things up slowly but surely to improve my game and I started to notice a lot of things about his game and its the massive use of drag.

We all use it when the situation requires it but I noticed that its how he's able to spin the ball effortlessly at pocket speed and maximize his speed control - Only when the shot can benefit from it obviously.

Do you guys play a lot of drag shots, are you comfortable with them?
 
Its a standard shot and you need to perfect it...

I learned it a long time ago in Buffalo at Classic Cue. The tables had severely worn out Simonis 760 at the time, and it was like playing on glass. At first, I couldn't control my rock as I was hitting it slow to compensate for the tremendous speed of the table. I quickly gathered that I had to hit the ball harder with a good stroke to actually make the ball do what I wanted.

You'd be surprised how often this type of stroke comes into play.
 
It's a stroke that is relatively unknown unless you are exposed to very experienced and knowledgeable players. If you watch very high-level players with your antennae up, you will notice it.

It's a great shot to have when you need to keep a ball downtable after making the OB, and it it also preferable to slow-rolling when you play on a suspect table or one that has a bit of roll-off to it.

With practice, you can also add a bit of bottom left or right spin (allowing for swerve over the length of the table) to open up even more applications of this shot.
 
IMO, it's THE most important shot on the table to master.So many variations, based on spin,speed,etc.

I would venture to say that only a small percentage of B level and lower, even know it exists.
 
I'm by no means a good 9 ball player but that is probably the most useful shot to play good position. Dragging the cue ball one rail with spin to kill it off the rail takes a lot of practice.
 
I've used it to great effect a few times. Had no idea it was so unknown? Judging by the "what was that?" reactions I got I guess it isn't a common shot. Shrug.
 
Actually, I think Bert Kinister was one of the first to show the shot on one of his early tapes, and actually call it a drag shot.
It's funny, when someone gets that "lightbulb" moment when they're shown how to use it.


great question......
 
Danimal said:
It's a stroke that is relatively unknown unless you are exposed to very experienced and knowledgeable players. If you watch very high-level players with your antennae up, you will notice it.

It's a great shot to have when you need to keep a ball downtable after making the OB, and it it also preferable to slow-rolling when you play on a suspect table or one that has a bit of roll-off to it.

With practice, you can also add a bit of bottom left or right spin (allowing for swerve over the length of the table) to open up even more applications of this shot.
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Yeah I'm at that point. I just noticed that my partner plays that kind of shot more than anyone else I have ever seen.

Its really a fantastic shot to have in your arsensal. They can be so subtle at times too. I bet you sometimes your opponents won't even notice it unless he is familiar with it.
 
I'm surprised it's considered to be a separate kind of shot, actually. Growing up, it didn't seem particularly special, mysterious or rare. Anyhow, I don't use it much for 9-ball, but I use it quite a bit in straight pool. If I didn't get out of line so much, I'd use it a lot less, but I often end up near a rail, with the wrong angle, and need to just get the cue ball to hold up without making things worse. No one ever asked, "Hey, how'd you do that?" so I'm assuming it's reasonably well known around here too.
 
Tooler said:
Actually, I think Bert Kinister was one of the first to show the shot on one of his early tapes, and actually call it a drag shot.
It's funny, when someone gets that "lightbulb" moment when they're shown how to use it.


great question......
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My friend uses it all the time, even when the CB and OB and close together to ensure to have maximum spin on the CB for specific shots while minimizing speed.
 
john coloccia said:
I'm surprised it's considered to be a separate kind of shot, actually. Growing up, it didn't seem particularly special, mysterious or rare. Anyhow, I don't use it much for 9-ball, but I use it quite a bit in straight pool. If I didn't get out of line so much, I'd use it a lot less, but I often end up near a rail, with the wrong angle, and need to just get the cue ball to hold up without making things worse. No one ever asked, "Hey, how'd you do that?" so I'm assuming it's reasonably well known around here too.
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Yeah I hear you, a drag shot wasn't anything special in my mind too but it might be the situations where he uses it that put me on to this.
 
Jimbojim said:
Yeah I hear you, a drag shot wasn't anything special in my mind too but it might be the situations where he uses it that put me on to this.
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I think it must depend on where you grew up and who you played with. For example, the room I play in now you rarely see a masse or jump. Occasionally, but pretty rare. I've been in other rooms where it seems like everyone is chronically jumping or curving something.
 
Back in Jersey we call that a skid shot.
I learned it in 1963 or so from a local player that was the the king of the skid shot. His name was Ernie Lager known as "The Ern".
Pretty good player.
Its a hell of a weapon to have.
 
Jimbojim said:
I'm practicing with this pro once a week and I'm picking things up slowly but surely to improve my game and I started to notice a lot of things about his game and its the massive use of drag.

We all use it when the situation requires it but I noticed that its how he's able to spin the ball effortlessly at pocket speed and maximize his speed control - Only when the shot can benefit from it obviously.

Do you guys play a lot of drag shots, are you comfortable with them?
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Lots.

I wonder how many posters will say that it adds unneeded variables and that pros rarely use it unless absolutely necessary.


Freddie <~~~ not a pro
 
Cornerman said:
Lots.

I wonder how many posters will say that it adds unneeded variables and that pros rarely use it unless absolutely necessary.


Freddie <~~~ not a pro
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I wonder if we are all even talking about the same shots? I hit below center on many of my non-follow shots. Is that what we're talking about?
 
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Well

Shoot at a ball from 8 feet away that is maybe 3 inches off the rail and a thin cut on fast cloth. Make the rock hit the rail reverse and kill 6 inches from the rail you just hit.
That is a drag man. Good luck with it. It is great for every game. It also can be used for a low follow.
Monster shot. Many ways to exploit it's vertures. Speed is everything.
Nick :)
 
TATE said:
I wonder if we are all even talking about the same shots? I hit below center on many of my non-follow shots. Is that what we're talking about?
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Tate, a drag shot as I understand it. Hit it with enough energy so that the slide or backspin just wears off before contact with the object ball. Ergo the "kill" in the shot.
 
Tooler said:
IMO, it's THE most important shot on the table to master.So many variations, based on spin,speed,etc.
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^^^^^ This, there's so many different nuances to this shot that cover a myriad of position options. A bread & butter shot for me.
 
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