"Impossible" side pocket shot

[westcoast]

Sorry, I don't have any video to post about this, but I'm sure most people are aware of this type of shot:

the object ball is frozen to the rail situated close to the side pocket. It looks impossible to pocket it in the side pocket, but it is possible. I remember Allen Hopkins doing it on ESPN for the "Tip of the Day" during one of the matches he was covering and I saw Corey Deuel do it in person at the US Open 10 Ball this past May in Vegas.

I heard Hopkins' explanation of somehow bending the rail, but I don't fully understand what he was talking about. Can anybody explain this shot more fully?

 

[Cuebuddy]

Yes it works on corner pockets as well. Corner shots seem to come up more in real game situations then the side pocket shots.

 

[Klopek]

0000000000

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

Essentially you use speed to compress the point/cushion. Here's a video of the shot from Dr. Dave's website with a complete explanation and slo-mo close up:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-28.htm

 

[westcoast]

You hit the shot quite firm with lots of bottom. More than half the object ball has to be past the point, and the rail will give a little. The object ball is frozen to the rail, don't think the shot works if it's off the rail.

Dr. Dave could explain the exact physics involved, I just know it works. Rarely comes up though.

I was surprised by how firm Corey hit the shot- he played it against Pinegar at a crucial point of the match. Kinda astonished the audience even though the audience was quite knowledgeable. It is a strange shot to witness

 

[westcoast]

Essentially you use speed to compress the point/cushion. Here's a video of the shot from Dr. Dave's website with a complete explanation and slo-mo close up:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-28.htm

Thanks- that's a great demo video

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

Thanks- that's a great demo video

If you ever get a couple of weeks off work for a vacation, you could spend it on Dr. Dave's site easily.

 

[jay helfert]

An interesting variation on this shot is to place an object ball one ball width out from the point of the side pocket. Then move it slightly closer to the point, so it is now less than a ball width away. You can shoot the cue HARD into the pocket, compressing the point as it squeezes past the object ball, which NEVER moves! A cool shot that always amazes people. Try it, you'll like it! This one may take a few tries to get it right, but when you do it will feel good. Don't give up, it goes! You must hit the cue ball with a very solid and firm stroke.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Both Martin and Byrne explain the shots in their books. Here's Martin's version:


It's on page 76 of Byrne's Trick Shot book in both the side- and corner-pocket versions. There are lots of trick shots that depend on the compressibility of the cushion including: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuOLaU5pwpM which starts out looking like a "force it through the point" shot , but it's not.