Spot Shot English

Tennesseejoe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
In One Pocket, you both need one ball. It is your shot...a spot shot, cue ball in the kitchen, and your pocket is on the left. What English would you put on the shot? I have heard several strong opinions....What is yours???
 
In One Pocket, you both need one ball. It is your shot...a spot shot, cue ball in the kitchen, and your pocket is on the left. What English would you put on the shot? I have heard several strong opinions....What is yours???
Whatever's least likely to screw the shot up. In other words, none.

pj
chgo
 
So who are you playing?
Is it the only ball on the table?
Have you made a spot shot in the last month?
Are you familiar with "the rule of 4"?
 
So who are you playing?
Is it the only ball on the table?
Have you made a spot shot in the last month?
Are you familiar with "the rule of 4"?
Both are B players. Only one ball on the table. Yes, several times as it is a warm up shot for me.

No, what is the rule of four? Thanks
 
I agree with doing whatever is highest percentage for you. It is strange to argue on this one. Telling someone they should feel more comfortable hitting it differently than they prefer is kind of pretensious.

As for strategic merit (i.e 'what if I miss?) I prefer to go all in on spot shots in this situation and would prefer to max out my make percentage than start planning for a miss.

I don't even have a preference. Sometimes I shoot this with high center, sometimes high with some outside, usually I'll draw to the side rail with a twist of outside. Just depends what looks comfortable at the time.
 
I agree with doing whatever is highest percentage for you. It is strange to argue on this one. Telling someone they should feel more comfortable hitting it differently than they prefer is kind of pretensious.

As for strategic merit (i.e 'what if I miss?) I prefer to go all in on spot shots in this situation and would prefer to max out my make percentage than start planning for a miss.

I don't even have a preference. Sometimes I shoot this with high center, sometimes high with some outside, usually I'll draw to the side rail with a twist of outside. Just depends what looks comfortable at the time.
I don’t play one-pocket, but my hunch is you’re going to have difficulty hitting the object ball thin enough to bank it and hard enough to draw the cue balll to the side rail without risking scratching in your opponent’s corner and without risking the object ball not ending up near your corner pocket if you miss, which is most the critical goal for this shot.
 
Last edited:
Whatever's least likely to screw the shot up. In other words, none.
If I have ball in hand in the kitchen, I'll set it up like this and roll the cue ball at comfort speed.

Of course in competition you can't use spare balls to locate the CB as shown - instead I place it on the line from the near corner pocket to the edge of the spotted ball.

pj
chgo


Half Ball Spot Shot - Easy Setup.jpg
 
Last edited:
I don’t play one-pocket, but my hunch is you’re going to have difficulty hitting the object ball thin enough to bank it and hard enough to draw the cue balll to the side rail without risking scratching in your opponent’s corner and without risking the object ball not ending up near your corner pocket if you miss, which is most the critical goal for this shot.
Nobody mentioned banking but you can bank it safe 4 rails.
 
I don’t play one-pocket, but my hunch is you’re going to have difficulty hitting the object ball thin enough to bank it and hard enough to draw the cue balll to the side rail without risking scratching in your opponent’s corner and without risking the object ball not ending up near your corner pocket if you miss, which is most the critical goal for this shot.
Sorry, I was totally confused with my first answer, assuming you had to bank the object ball off the side rail, but if you had ball in hand in the kitchen, it’s just a simple spot shot.

Most players will place the ball about one site off from the side rail to give their bridge hand ample room to lay on the cloth. If it is one pocket you’re playing, obviously you’re going to stroke it easy enough to leave the ball close to your pocket if you miss, but some players who are more confident letting out their stroke a little on the shot, aren’t as much worried about leaving the object ball close to their pocket if they miss, as they don’t plan on missing. If that’s the case, they’re going to strike it at the speed which will die the cue ball up near the end head rail if they happen to miss.

Many prefer a little outside spin, some prefer center ball slightly above center to roll the cue ball and a very few like myself might choose a touch of high inside spin. You want to choose the cue tip location you are most confident you can pocket the shot with.
 
Last edited:
I like firing that ball in. High percentage it goes, if it doesn't, there wont be a cross corner.
 
Top english. My home school pool learning causes me to believe that top spin will cause the CB to track truer and a true track is essential to pocketing long shots. Pocket speed.
Yes, the center axis hit with no sliding (4/5 of maximum follow) should be most reliable.

pj
chgo
 
obviously nobody yet here has ever played onepocket more than maybe a few games.

shame on you pat. think about it.
 
If I have a spot shot at one pocket and I'm not comfortable with the simple, slow roller for any reason, I'm going to play it with outside draw to kill the cue ball off the side rail and try to park it on the foot rail.
 
This question reminds me of a story I heard about Ronnie Allen. At Tacoma Whitey’s place he made a spot shot proposition bet. The proposition was one handed spot shot and the cue ball would not touch a rail. One attempt for all the money any wanted to bet. The pockets on the table were full of money. He did it!
I was told it required a curving cue ball that hooks into the spotted ball and makes the contact fuller than a simple cut. Hence it doesn’t get to the end rail after pocketing the object ball.
 
This question reminds me of a story I heard about Ronnie Allen. At Tacoma Whitey’s place he made a spot shot proposition bet. The proposition was one handed spot shot and the cue ball would not touch a rail. One attempt for all the money any wanted to bet. The pockets on the table were full of money. He did it!
I was told it required a curving cue ball that hooks into the spotted ball and makes the contact fuller than a simple cut. Hence it doesn’t get to the end rail after pocketing the object ball.

You can make a no-rail spot shot without getting fancy. A slow roll will do it.
 
Back
Top