Has anyone ever seen this trick shot?

[Taxi]

I just learned about an ancient trick shot that used to be performed by the late Charlie Peterson of the St. Louis Billiard Academy.

He'd place a silver dollar on its edge, placing it between two cubes of chalk at one end of the table. He'd then stroke the coin toward the opposite end, where it'd bounce back and land where it began, between the two pieces of chalk.

I'd never heard of either Peterson or the shot before today, but here's a screenshot of a Harvard Crimson article from 1934. So at least Peterson was legit, and apparently this shot with the silver dollar brought him more acclaim than any trick shots he made with pool balls.

When someone asked him his secret, he replied "All it takes is a steady cue".

 

[KeithS66]

Charlie Peterson was very legit. That's a nice find!

 

[alphadog]

At fund raising tournaments i would offer chances to do it and keep the silver dollar if successful. 5 or 10 dollar chances. I never had anyone park it between them.
If they could get it to go down and come straight enough back to hit the chalk they were in a drawing for a silver dollar. This is easier then it sounds.

Silver dollars were about 20 each back then so i could donate 3 or 4 and raise 2to3 hundred.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Back in college (1974) I could take a CB in top corner, knock in a OB in bottom corner, bounce off end rail 4 times and knock in OB in other bottom corner--all top-spin.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I've played the silver dollar shot. I got it to come back between the chalks a couple of times although touching the chalk. Silver dollars were still given in change in Nevada about the time I started to play pool, so they cost a dollar each.

I think I've seen the shot in print, but I looked in some trick shot books and couldn't find it.

 

[markjames]

 

[straightline]

I've played the silver dollar shot. I got it to come back between the chalks a couple of times although touching the chalk. Silver dollars were still given in change in Nevada about the time I started to play pool, so they cost a dollar each.

I think I've seen the shot in print, but I looked in some trick shot books and couldn't find it.

Were silver dollars balanced?

 

[jay helfert]

I just learned about an ancient trick shot that used to be performed by the late Charlie Peterson of the St. Louis Billiard Academy.

He'd place a silver dollar on its edge, placing it between two cubes of chalk at one end of the table. He'd then stroke the coin toward the opposite end, where it'd bounce back and land where it began, between the two pieces of chalk.

I'd never heard of either Peterson or the shot before today, but here's a screenshot of a Harvard Crimson article from 1934. So at least Peterson was legit, and apparently this shot with the silver dollar brought him more acclaim than any trick shots he made with pool balls.

When someone asked him his secret, he replied "All it takes is a steady cue".

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I saw Jimmy Caras make this shot in an exhibition he did at the U. of Oklahoma in 1963. I also saw Charlie Peterson make an appearance at a pool tourney in Michigan in 1961. He was exclaimed as the best trick shot shooter of all time and he could make some doozies. He must have been well over 70 then.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I saw Jimmy Caras make this shot in an exhibition he did at the U. of Oklahoma in 1963. I also saw Charlie Peterson make an appearance at a pool tourney in Michigan in 1961. He was exclaimed as the best trick shot shooter of all time and he could make some doozies. He must have been well over 70 then.

Charlie's tag line was, "Show me a shot I can't make." I imagine the deal was the proposer had to make the shot. Charlie probably knew all of them already and if he didn't, he learned a new one. There are some videos of him on YouTube.

 

[jay helfert]

Charlie's tag line was, "Show me a shot I can't make." I imagine the deal was the proposer had to make the shot. Charlie probably knew all of them already and if he didn't, he learned a new one. There are some videos of him on YouTube.

Thanks for reminding me Bob. Yes, he used that line in all of his promo material. I should have got one of his posters when I had a chance.