The best shot you ever played?

[Rubik's Cube]

It wasn’t the greatest shot in the world, or even the most profitable, but after playing pool for over forty years one particular shot has stuck in my mind above all others…

The match-winning ball (the 8) was hanging over the jaws of a corner pocket. Alas, the path to this black was blocked by two object balls in very close proximity, the gap between them appearing possibly too narrow to squeeze the cueball even if directly in line… which I wasn’t.

I endeavoured to shoot three rails at a pace that should the white indeed foul one of the blocking balls it would not be strong enough to also topple the black and lose me the game.

Lo and behold the cueball bounced from the three cushions as hoped, barely missing several obstacles in its path before arriving at the three balls by the pocket. Miraculously it rolled very slowly through the impossibly small gap and, with its last rotation, just touched the 8 ball… which dropped after a second’s pause.

To me, it was rather reminiscent of Tiger’s famous putt on the 16th at Augusta.

 

[skor]

I once made a straight in shot, no kidding

 

[lfigueroa]

Playing Efren at the 2000 US Open 1Pocket.

Second game he puts me in a crazy death trap with the CB near the side pocket on my side with multiple balls around his hole.

I am screwed.

We are in front of bleachers with probably a couple hundred watching.

I am screwed.

So I’m walking around the table like this is normal for me. Walk in park, playing Efren at the US Open in front of multiple witnesses, la-de-da.

I am sweating bullets.

I’m trying to figure out how to not just throw my skirt up in the air and completely sell out and then I remember the 3-Rail Spot on the Wall System. So I look from behind my pocket, pick out a spot as far away as the room setup would allow (the top of an ash tray), and shoot.

It works. I have threaded the needle and hidden the CB behind the balls surrounding Efren’s hole. The crowd goes nuts. Buddy Hall and Steve “Cookie Monster” Cook on the two adjoining tables stop to see what the ruckus is about.

I rule.

I attempt but undoubtably fail to look like I do this shit all the time. After my shot and the CB comes to rest in a totally safe spot, Efren just smiles and proceeds to put me in another trap.

Lou Figueroa
Lou loses 4-2

 

[George the Greek]

I've played some pretty good shots throughout the years and one really stands out . I broke and made a ball or two and the next ball on was on the rail and 1" or 2" from the side pocket. The CB was even with the OB about 8-10" away. A comment was made that nobody gets out from here. I hit the on ball and it went over the CB airborne into the opposite side pocket and ran out from there and looked at the commentor and said I guess I'm nobody lol

 

[Flakeandrun]

Having only played on an American table for just over two years, and at the same location which utilizes cameras on all tables, my most memorable shot I actually have a video of, to have and to hold, forever (until something trumps it). hill-hill to 21, I think it's my second or third time playing for an amount of money I would miss if it left my wallet... I'm snookered up table after a safety. I was unsure if the 2/4 which are stuck together mid-table were wired toward a 9 which was 3/4 inches from the bottom left corner (not exactly hanging). Something in my brain said, "F it, go on then...." - Jumped over the obstruction and into the combo, the 4 hit the 9 plum and sunk it. Opponent smacked the edge of the table with the palm of his hand loud enough to stop the entire hall (I shat my pants a little as I thought he was going to lose his shit), then stuck out his hand to shake. I was a very happy boy for quite a while after that.

 

[SmoothStroke]

I could tell you the worst ones.

 

[straightline]

I make some pretty complex shots but only because I will go for them. Nothing of consequence except to me.

 

[Biloxi Boy]

Similar to the OP's:

"Late Saturday night/early Sunday morning at Boot’s Hat & Cane on McDowell Road in Jackson, Mississippi, in ‘81 or ‘82. I had been playing 8 ball and holding the table pretty good -- playing for beers and giving them away.

I was down to the 8 ball, which was in the kitchen, positioned about a foot from the corner pocket. My opponent, who had 3 or 4 balls left, deliberately scratched (thinking he was a pool genius and running his mouth to prove it) giving me ball in hand, in the kitchen, with no direct shot on the 8. I call and make the 8 on a 3 rail kick shot. I always loved the rails, I always loved kicking, but above everything, I always loved luck." AZB, 9.1.2020

Can't get a "good" link, but there is a 4 page thread "Your greatest pool shot/moment".

 

[billiards_watch]

Too many to remember.

If you can remember a shot then you are not making enough. Unless, its a memorable shot to win a lot of money or a tournament.

I like to chase hard shots when I should be playing safety. One of my favorite shots growing up was cutting a ball all the way down the rail. You don't see that often. Every opponent will say nice shot. I still cut them down the rail at every opportunity. It's rare because as you get good, those kind of shots are pretty much avoidable.

It feels great to cut one down the rail where it passes the side pocket and still hugging the rail. It's the prettiest shot in pool.

 

[skor]

I once made a straight in shot, no kidding

Maybe some clarification....

I was playing at the 2010 World Team Championships in Germany, my first time playing at a pro event, a big pro event...
Tables had tight pockets and very slick and fast cloth (not Simonis), the balls were sliding on the cloth like sliding on ice.
I wasn't supposed to play; I came as a photographer, but due to a snowstorm, some delegation didn't make it, and we had enough people on our team to put up a second team, the B-team.
I didn't even have a cue with me, and I bought a set of cues right there, a set I'd never played with and with a standard wooden shaft, while by that time I was used to a low deflection shaft for over 10 years.

I was playing singles 10ball (I hate 10ball) and was faced with this shot below.
I elevated the cue and smacked the 9-ball in the corner, stopping the CB on the spot for the 10-ball.
It was a great feeling to hear the crowd cheer.

There are two more shots that come to mind that felt great, both were during an 8-Ball tournament, in both matches I was on the hill, both times I needed to bank the 8 ball to win the match, first time was 2 rails bank, the second time the 8 ball was between 2 balls that blocked the path and I had to bank it. Got them both and won the matches

Found a picture of me from that 10 ball match

 

[straightline]

Looks like Jasmine Ouschan in the back.

 

[skor]

Looks like Jasmine Ouschan in the back.

Yep
Albin was a kid back then, carrying her case, never thought that one day, he'll be a world champion

 

[LowRight]

This one I remember. This is from back in 1996. I was playing a league 8-ball match against the other team's best player and it was a "must win." I broke and ran a tough rack, but got slightly hooked on the 8 by the 4. I called the 8 in the bottom right corner, caroming it off of the 3. It went straight in like it had eyes.

 

[alphadog]

Playing a 4 handed ring game money on the 5 and 9. I made the 5 on the break and the 9 on my second shot. I loaded up the high right and stabbed the 3 in 100mph. Whitey came out hit the 9 and came down and bumped the 4 / 8 leaving my a simple run out.

 

[Texas Carom Club]

ion know

 

[mr3cushion]

My Best, Most Creative 'Game ball shot' playing 1 pocket!

I got a few playing 3 Cushion; I'll post one up later.

In 3C, also the 'Out Shot' in a tournament in 1981.

The CB is Yellow, contact the White ball banking it off the short rail back into the CB to make it Carom around the table 3 rails to score!

 

[markjames]

one great question is worth a hundred answers!

 

[MitchAlsup]

I am caught with CB near side rail with an interfering ball 3-ball diameters away from 8-ball about 1 foot from pocket.
Options:
Massé -- nope not this time interfering ball too close to 8-ball.
1-rail -- nope interfering ball too close
2-rail -- could make contact, no chance of potting ball -- save for last option backup
3-rail -- nope no chance
5-rail -- scant hope
Jump -- with CB a pinkie away from rail and 8-ball on rail, there is too great a chance of CB leaving table giving BIH

I setup a 5-rail shot, remember to compensate for 8-balls position on the rail. From the initial CB position, I have to use top-inside so CB comes off the far side rail and end rail in the proper direction--this means I have to hit it really hard--and really precise.

I shoot the 5-rail shot, and heads towards the 8-ball, barely missing the interfering ball, and kisses the 8-ball down the rail and into the pocket but does not drop.

No sell-out, easy win next shot.