Is there any ONE SHOT in Pool that is More IMPORTANT to MASTER than Another?

Obviously, every shot is important, but the one that will give you the most benefit is to master a stop shot at different distances.

Once you can shoot a stop shot at any distance, you have the ability to send the cue ball pretty much where you want it after it contacts the object ball. The stop shot is the bench mark shot for draw and follow, as well as using tangent lines to play position.

Steve
 
First thing comes to mind is the BREAK......since the outcome of the majority of such games quite often hinges on what transpires when whitey meets the rack......I can see where specific games....1 pocket comes to mind.....where the bank shot could be considered a better tool ......but even in 1 pocket, a lot rides on the break.....JMHO
 
I was told by a very knowledgeable teacher that a top snooker player would shoot this shot multiple times every day, really exercised this over and over again. The shot does not even have an object ball, Shoot with slight top rolling the cue ball table length and back to the tip. He would shoot this shot everyday for real periods of time 20 minutes to an hour plus.

Why shoot this shot over and over again hours at a time, This gives the ability to line up square and shoot through the center of the ball with NO side spin.

In response to the stop shot guys you are right, for feeling the stroke the stop shot does make you work the stroke to give the effect at various different distance. However hitting the cue ball square and in the center is probably first. Master the straight rolling cue ball with no side spin.
 
Honestly I do not than you can ever totally MASTER the Game of Pool, or any Particualr Shot, as everytime you break a rack of Balls the look of the table is different.
 
First thing comes to mind is the BREAK......since the outcome of the majority of such games quite often hinges on what transpires when whitey meets the rack......I can see where specific games....1 pocket comes to mind.....where the bank shot could be considered a better tool ......but even in 1 pocket, a lot rides on the break.....JMHO

I will agree with you that the break is the most important shot, but only at a high level of play. That level is when the running racks determines the outcome of matches.
 
Is there any ONE SHOT in Pool that is More IMPORTANT to MASTER than Another?

If you think there is what is it, and what is the reason behind you thinking.

yes!!
According to Willie Mosconi there is.

"present shot, only shot"

Master this shot and never look back.
steven
 
So far, what I've discovered in my journey is that its essential to learn the stop shot.

If you can't find the center of your cue ball, then you can't consistently pull off follow (top), draw (bottom), and english (left and right). Mastery of the stop shot at varying distances will also teach you speed control of the cue ball.
 
Very general question but with regards to bar box 8-ball which is what most amateurs compete in I would say the Chinese hook is a shot that noone practices yet comes up heaps. Practicing the stroke of the shots when you are Chinese hooked is a pretty huge thing really that comes up all the time.

Another is the long bank. Alot of people have a fairly good grip on the bank side off the long rail, but the long banks into the corner, especially when the cueball is within a diamond of the rail or closer is a huge shot that comes up alot but it is rare for most people to have any real feel for those shots and they are usually shooting them blind.

Of course the most simple routine shots are the most critical, but that goes without saying. The above shots are something that alot of fairly good shots stumble on a great deal.
 
they kinda go hand in hand but the dead straight shot is the most important and it doesnt really have anything to do with how well you play its about concentration because EVERYBODY take it for granted every once in awhile and miss it all the time but that kinda goes in hand with the stop shot because they are usually straight or very little angle
 
I agree with the previous posts that say (1) stop shot (because it's the founding basis for position play) and (2) Mosconi's present shot (it's always the important one not to be taken lightly and again your basis for position play).

In addition, I consider the following shot to be of high importance since I've seen way too many people blow games that they should have had in the bag by missing:

70+ DEGREE CUT OF A BALL FROZEN TO THE RAIL: How often have you seen a weaker player either try to cut it in with no english (e.g., not using extreme right english to hit the rail first to cut the ball to the right) or trying to bank the ball instead? Whereas, using english makes it an easy shot (and win).
 
The break encompasses many different games and different forms of the break. I think the stop shot is much more important in all games.
 
Very general question but with regards to bar box 8-ball which is what most amateurs compete in I would say the Chinese hook is a shot that noone practices yet comes up heaps. Practicing the stroke of the shots when you are Chinese hooked is a pretty huge thing really that comes up all the time.

.........

What is a Chinese Hook? Havn't heard that term before, but sounds kinda sinister.
 
I was told by a very knowledgeable teacher that a top snooker player would shoot this shot multiple times every day, really exercised this over and over again. The shot does not even have an object ball, Shoot with slight top rolling the cue ball table length and back to the tip. He would shoot this shot everyday for real periods of time 20 minutes to an hour plus.

Why shoot this shot over and over again hours at a time, This gives the ability to line up square and shoot through the center of the ball with NO side spin.

In response to the stop shot guys you are right, for feeling the stroke the stop shot does make you work the stroke to give the effect at various different distance. However hitting the cue ball square and in the center is probably first. Master the straight rolling cue ball with no side spin.

That drill is a good drill. But a true stop shot does the same thing. By true, I mean, the cue ball stops dead. No movement at all, in any way shape or form. No 1/4 turn to the right.. it stops.

To answer CC's original post, the 'reason' this is such an important shot is it's the basis, or root of so many other shots that need you to control your CB. If you can't stop the rock, how can you tell it how far to go forward or backwards while stroking the ball? (as opposed to rolling the ball) Rolling you are at the mercy of the table rolls. Stroking, you are more in control.
 
Back
Top