Any tips for success with this shot?

BRussell

BRussell

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a lot of trouble with this shot. You need to follow a straight-in ball when it’s less than about a half ball width away. I more often screw it up by failing to hit it solidly than by double hit. I’m too afraid of the double hit. I’ve been practicing it but it’s still tough. Any suggestions?


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BRussell said:
I have a lot of trouble with this shot. You need to follow a straight-in ball when it’s less than about a half ball width away. I more often screw it up by failing to hit it solidly than by double hit. I’m too afraid of the double hit. I’ve been practicing it but it’s still tough. Any suggestions?


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Shoot a stop shot on the one and then bank the two up table and duck behind the three. Take what the table gives you.
 
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Depends how close it really is. Nothing special but what I do if necessary and at all possible, is elevate to shoot down at the ball. This will create instantaneous perfect rolling.
 
BRussell said:
I have a lot of trouble with this shot. You need to follow a straight-in ball when it’s less than about a half ball width away. I more often screw it up by failing to hit it solidly than by double hit. I’m too afraid of the double hit. I’ve been practicing it but it’s still tough. Any suggestions?
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There are multiple techniques for playing on a close ball. See Dr. Dave's site -- maybe he can provide a page reference.

One technique is to grip way, way forward. Like almost at the joint. Your forearm will be nearly horizontal when the tip hits the ball and your arm will actually stop the stick because your hand can't travel any farther forward.

In the context of playing close-ball shots, half a ball is a huge distance.
 
Well hell, that's a hard shot! I'm just a banger... you said you don't double hit it, but rather are scared of the shot. Maybe a way to train your brain is to actually go for the double hit on purpose. Shoot a double hit 5 or 6 times in a row. Then, back off from that slowly until you get a clean hit with follow. That might make your brain less scared of the shot and teach your brain how to execute it.
 
iusedtoberich said:
Well hell, that's a hard shot! I'm just a banger... you said you don't double hit it, but rather are scared of the shot. Maybe a way to train your brain is to actually go for the double hit on purpose. Shoot a double hit 5 or 6 times in a row. Then, back off from that slowly until you get a clean hit with follow. That might make your brain less scared of the shot and teach your brain how to execute it.
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Bangers do't give advice that is that good.:cool:
 
Two ways that I know of:
1- In Phil Capelles,(sp?) book he says to master a shot called either the jab or punch shot. (I forget and I'm too lazy to go look). It is a very short stroke with a sudden stop, ie: zero follow thru. shot. I found it difficult to achieve without getting draw which would not help the situation in your diagram.
2- Is to hit CB at high angle with follow and a shortened grip. I have done this ,but speed needs to be perfect for the roll.
I'm sure Dr. Dave knows how to execute that shot.
 
Tor Lowry covers these types of shots using 'maximum high' where you hit super high on the CB or what looks like it anyway (remember only the bottom of the tip actually makes contact).

As for abbreviating your stroke, you need to address the ball closer to where your stroke would finish. Bob's suggestion is the most extreme but if you are lower over the cue you run out of runway way sooner by just scooching your hand up the cue past 90degrees to just about where your arm usually stops.
 
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iusedtoberich said:
Well hell, that's a hard shot! I'm just a banger... you said you don't double hit it, but rather are scared of the shot. Maybe a way to train your brain is to actually go for the double hit on purpose. Shoot a double hit 5 or 6 times in a row. Then, back off from that slowly until you get a clean hit with follow. That might make your brain less scared of the shot and teach your brain how to execute it.
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I have not tried your progression, but generally, the lighter the cue, the higher the chance for a legal compact hit.
 
For a shot like this. I like to have a very high follow on the CB with a jab Stroke with a medium stroke.
 
If I'm playing for small stakes, I jack up on the ball and try to roll down for position. If I REALLY want to win, I stop it and duck behind the 3.
 
Here’s Dr Dave’s video on the subject:
(I should have known!)
So many of those ideas seem like gimmicks that are fun to try and demonstrate like trick shots. If you make a video you can do many takes, but you wouldn’t do most of them in a game. I want to practice a fairly close shot, not a millimeter away but more like a half ball or even ball away. It’s easy to angle the cue and nip it if you want to stop or draw, but you can’t do that if you want to follow.
 
iusedtoberich said:
Well hell, that's a hard shot! I'm just a banger... you said you don't double hit it, but rather are scared of the shot. Maybe a way to train your brain is to actually go for the double hit on purpose. Shoot a double hit 5 or 6 times in a row. Then, back off from that slowly until you get a clean hit with follow. That might make your brain less scared of the shot and teach your brain how to execute it.
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Great idea!
 
BRussell said:
I have a lot of trouble with this shot. You need to follow a straight-in ball when it’s less than about a half ball width away. I more often screw it up by failing to hit it solidly than by double hit. I’m too afraid of the double hit. I’ve been practicing it but it’s still tough. Any suggestions?


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cheat the pocket to the left a little and stun the cue ball to the top long rail. Use CIT and SIT to give you a little better angle. This also keeps you above the 2 so you are not straight and need another heroic shot to get out of the weeds.
 
Looks like you're playing the carnival game of three ball here, so the stop shot and then the safety is not an option. Mark's shot in post 16 is a good idea, although getting the speed right is no bargain, but if I had to run out here, I'd rather bank the two than try to make good shape onto the two.

PS I guess you could possibly be playing 14.1 here. If so, stop shot and then safety off the left edge of the three. You could also be playing bank pool, but then you must play safe right now. Can't think of any other game in which the one, two and three can be the last three balls on the table, although I suspect there are others.
 
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There's no set answer for your question.
And it may not be a shot that can be done because of separation of the two balls is too close or ....
Play conditions, cue ball type & especially weight, EXACT distance between the two, is it new cloth?
It's almost like asking.
How hard do I hit the object ball if it's 3 feet from the cue ball and get it to come back 17''.
 
sjm said:
Looks like you're playing the carnival game of three ball here, so the stop shot and then the safety is not an option. Mark's shot in post 16 is a good idea, although getting the speed right is no bargain, but if I had to run out here, I'd rather bank the two than try to make good shape onto the two.

PS I guess you could possibly be playing 14.1 here. If so, stop shot and then safety off the left edge of the three. You could also be playing bank pool, but then you must play safe right now. Can't think of any other game in which the one, two and three can be the last three balls on the table, although I suspect there are others.
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I’m just looking for advice on follow when the balls are close.
 
BRussell said:
I’m just looking for advice on follow when the balls are close.
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BR, try this. I am assuming this shot is straight in. Aim the cue a little to the right with a little high left English and an 45 degree elevated cue. It is a little tricky and you will probably double kiss foul till you get the hang of it. It is a great shot to know.

As an after thought, this is one of the shots that you should look at the cue ball last.
 
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