Creating your next shot with caroms

Dan White

Dan White

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was watching dmgwalsh's video titled, "Jeff Mohl 35 and 55" and noticed a neat little shot on I think the second rack of the 55 ball run. It inspired this post, which is also a challenge to anybody to show everybody more examples of this kind of shot.

First of all, here's what the shot looked like:

CueTable Help



He shot the 2 ball knowing that he would push the 14 down to the foot rail, and that the cue ball would follow down for the next shot. This can be tricky because if the cue ball did more than just glance the 14, then the cue ball could have just sat there next to the 10 ball (not sure I have the same ball numbers as in the video). I bet he was comfortable with the shot because he had a shallow angle and knew it was going to glance that 14.

So in my mind this is a "sure thing" kind of shot where you absolutely know you will have another ball to shoot after the carom. That isn't always the case so if you can recognize shots like these it makes life easier.

Here's another example where you can break the balls (let's say "separate" the balls) and you are sure to get at least one shot:

CueTable Help



The 7, 12 and 13 are frozen. Shoot the 9 and you have to get a shot on the 13 next. Does anybody have any other examples where you are caroming into other balls, yet have the confidence that you know what your next shot will be?
 
stevekur1 said:
Hey Dan,

And here's the 2nd one.....yeah i was playing around with video editing !! LOL

Steve
Click to expand...

Ha. I got a good chuckle out of that. You went into four frames, then zoomed into one, I smiled. Then you went with the slow motion and I had to laugh. Good stuff, though!

Dan
 
Blackjack said:
Here is an another example of that - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkLSHrJBNPQ&feature=player_detailpage#t=103s In that video, I have 2 balls tied up, and I nudge one out and use the other as my break ball.
Click to expand...

These are good videos (yours and Steve's) but they aren't quite what I was thinking of. In these videos you are nudging balls to create a break ball. What I'm talking about is nudging a ball with the intent of shooting it next. I guess another example of this would be when shooting a close combination, and playing shape on the first ball in the combination for the next shot.
 
Hi all,

in my opinion this is a theme for all games-not just 14-1. And it s about fundamental knowledge for playing with control. Situations like shown up happen all the time during the game.
Everyone should take his time and REALLY practice advanced cueball-control. I ve had in the last 2 weeks some funny discussions with students about cueball control. I just said to one guy, that if he just even don t know how the cueball rolls (theoretical knowlede), then he has to work on it- because it would be a too large deficite. I gave him some advanced drills to practice several tangent-line shots with *howto* and *why*. Following similar positions where he has to use follow and even draw.
He s a real good shotmaker--but his knowledge is very poor, so that i wonder how he sometimes *pocket* balls. Just after 2 practice times he quit the tanget-line drills with the reason "this will not be bring me any further-it s too easy" ...lol. Of course not able to complete one drill successfully...

what i just wanted to say is-- things like shown up here should be in your arsenal. If you already *see* it, you re step further. Then you have to practice cueball-control to perfection. And all ll become easier.

lg
Ingo
 
Ratta said:
what i just wanted to say is-- things like shown up here should be in your arsenal. If you already *see* it, you re step further. Then you have to practice cueball-control to perfection. And all ll become easier.

lg
Ingo
Click to expand...

I'm actually pretty accurate at coming off rails and bumping balls. One thing that keeps getting me is predicting the path of the first ball in a combination shot. Invariably it will end up getting in my way one way or the other. :embarrassed2:
 
Ratta said:
Hi all,

in my opinion this is a theme for all games-not just 14-1. And it s about fundamental knowledge for playing with control. Situations like shown up happen all the time during the game.
Everyone should take his time and REALLY practice advanced cueball-control. I ve had in the last 2 weeks some funny discussions with students about cueball control. I just said to one guy, that if he just even don t know how the cueball rolls (theoretical knowlede), then he has to work on it- because it would be a too large deficite. I gave him some advanced drills to practice several tangent-line shots with *howto* and *why*. Following similar positions where he has to use follow and even draw.
He s a real good shotmaker--but his knowledge is very poor, so that i wonder how he sometimes *pocket* balls. Just after 2 practice times he quit the tanget-line drills with the reason "this will not be bring me any further-it s too easy" ...lol. Of course not able to complete one drill successfully...

what i just wanted to say is-- things like shown up here should be in your arsenal. If you already *see* it, you re step further. Then you have to practice cueball-control to perfection. And all ll become easier.

lg
Ingo
Click to expand...

Good post, there's a huge difference between knowing the exact line the cue ball will take and having a good idea of where it will go. Bumping balls comes in handy in all games. I've had many situations where the tangent line bumped the next ball into a favorable position and my opponent thought I got lucky by being sloppy, lol.

Lots of people can make balls from the lights, it's cb control that seperates great players from decent ones.
 
@Cameron

Exactly- just funny about "shooters" like *mine* in this way. Makin really often 50-70 balls in straight-pool constantly.
But when it s about starting really practicing on the really important things he s getting lost. Think that s just about really really willing. Imo guys like him understood what you/i telling him. But then are seeing and feeling that it will be a hard time with a lot of tabletime to make the important things rockstable to let them out unconsciously.
So i just try to learn for myself to not gettin crazy about it-- if he don t want to improve.....it s not my turn to say *please do it*.
That s why there are very good players and just serious ball bangers^^

lg
Ingo
 
Ratta said:
@Cameron

Exactly- just funny about "shooters" like *mine* in this way. Makin really often 50-70 balls in straight-pool constantly.
...

That s why there are very good players and just serious ball bangers^^

lg
Ingo
Click to expand...

50 to 70 balls a day is a pretty serious banger!
 
Ratta said:
@Cameron

Exactly- just funny about "shooters" like *mine* in this way. Makin really often 50-70 balls in straight-pool constantly.
But when it s about starting really practicing on the really important things he s getting lost. Think that s just about really really willing. Imo guys like him understood what you/i telling him. But then are seeing and feeling that it will be a hard time with a lot of tabletime to make the important things rockstable to let them out unconsciously.
So i just try to learn for myself to not gettin crazy about it-- if he don t want to improve.....it s not my turn to say *please do it*.
That s why there are very good players and just serious ball bangers^^

lg
Ingo
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity, did your player ever have to put structured practice in? Or was it a fairly easy development process? I've found that good players who had a comparitively easy ride to their skill level have the most problems learning new skills through structured practice. That is to say, they have a hard time committing to an excercise or routine they can't master instantly.
 
He is for sure Dan-
but a typical "why shall i fix something if it works....."-guy.
And after telling him that he ll have a really big problem (if never perhaps) to get to the next level.....he s a bit ignoring me :)
how i said- if a guy who s already a shotmaker like that, the real hard work is waiting for him-to recall his abilities *on the point* and if it s necessary. Many of the guys here in the straight-pool forum are able to make wonderful runs and also high-runs. But the most are happy to do em from time to time. But imo most of us do know 100% *why*-
We re not able to spend the affordable table-time. And the hard work which is 100% necessary to play every day on a top-level (next to a bit talent of course).

This young-gun won t reach it-im sure. Searching too much for excuses (the bades thing imo) and is too satisfied with his ability.

First thing i say is always if someone starting to practice seriously: "No excuses".


lg
Ingo
 
Cameron Smith said:
Out of curiosity, did your player ever have to put structured practice in? Or was it a fairly easy development process? I've found that good players who had a comparitively easy ride to their skill level have the most problems learning new skills through structured practice. That is to say, they have a hard time committing to an excercise or routine they can't master instantly.
Click to expand...


Exactly this is the point my friend :)
this what i meant *now the really hard work would start* to come further.

lg
Ingo
 
Here's one that comes up a lot. Shoot the 7 and you can't help but bump the 4. But can you bump it the right amount to bounce it off the rail and give yourself an angle to break the cluster? And to take the pressure off I give you the 3 in the side for insurance.

CueTable Help

 
Last edited:
alinco said:
Here's one that comes up a lot. Shoot the 7 and you can't help but bump the 4. But can you bump it the right amount to bounce it off the rail and give yourself an angle to break the cluster? And to take the pressure off I give you the 3 in the side for insurance.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's a great example. That came up for me at least once in a game tonight. I'm not having the best success with massaging that 4 ball, so it's something for me to work on.
 
Not a big thing Dan,

such a situation comes often- but even if it comes up often 1-2 inches can make the big difference to make it hard to get position after the carambolage. Her is just one thing important: experience :) and of course to execute the stroke ^^

lg
Ingo
 
Ratta said:
Not a big thing Dan,

such a situation comes often- but even if it comes up often 1-2 inches can make the big difference to make it hard to get position after the carambolage. Her is just one thing important: experience :) and of course to execute the stroke ^^

lg
Ingo
Click to expand...

I'm thinking on shots like this maybe it pays not to get too cute. Maybe try to play for position on another ball instead of the 4, or at least have a decent safety ball before trying to get shape on the 4.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top