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

My first thought was the stop shot. But immediately I began to think that the draw shot is most important to learn to control. If you can draw the cue ball almost the exact distance you want to from any distance than you will certainly be able to execute a stop shot and win a lot more games. At the higher levels of competitve pool the break shot becomes the most important.

Every decent pool player can execute a stop shot, but how many can draw back exactly 2 feet when the distance between the cue ball and object is 6 feet apart?
 
efirkey said:
My first thought was the stop shot. But immediately I began to think that the draw shot is most important to learn to control. If you can draw the cue ball almost the exact distance you want to from any distance than you will certainly be able to execute a stop shot and win a lot more games. At the higher levels of competitve pool the break shot becomes the most important.

Every decent pool player can execute a stop shot, but how many can draw back exactly 2 feet when the distance between the cue ball and object is 6 feet apart?
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I would agree that a 2 foot draw is important, and very difficult to master as you described it.
I do think a 2 foot draw comes up a lot less often than the need to know how to send the cue ball to a stop or down the tangent line (stun shot) which is just a stop shot on a cut angle.
That is why I would teach a stop shot to a new player before a 2 foot draw from 6 feet away.
Mark
 
efirkey said:
My first thought was the stop shot. But immediately I began to think that the draw shot is most important to learn to control. If you can draw the cue ball almost the exact distance you want to from any distance than you will certainly be able to execute a stop shot and win a lot more games. At the higher levels of competitve pool the break shot becomes the most important.

Every decent pool player can execute a stop shot, but how many can draw back exactly 2 feet when the distance between the cue ball and object is 6 feet apart?
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The controlled draw shot is an extention of the stop shot at various distances. If you stroke the cue ball as if you were shooting a stop shot at a distance of two diamonds, but the actual object ball is only one diamond away, you should get draw distance of about 1 diamond.

You must know how to hit all the stop shots before you can control your draw distance.

Steve
 
pooltchr said:
The controlled draw shot is an extention of the stop shot at various distances. If you stroke the cue ball as if you were shooting a stop shot at a distance of two diamonds, but the actual object ball is only one diamond away, you should get draw distance of about 1 diamond.

You must know how to hit all the stop shots before you can control your draw distance.

Steve
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The next time I play I will try your stop shot two diamonds away should draw a diamond. In theory it sounds good but I doubt it is the reality. I do agree that a beginner should learn the stop shot first
 
pool101 said:
I would agree that a 2 foot draw is important, and very difficult to master as you described it.
I do think a 2 foot draw comes up a lot less often than the need to know how to send the cue ball to a stop or down the tangent line (stun shot) which is just a stop shot on a cut angle.
That is why I would teach a stop shot to a new player before a 2 foot draw from 6 feet away.
Mark
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The two foot draw was just one example. I will bet some type of draw shot comes up just as often as the stop shot. Plus isn't the stop shot just a draw shot that doesn't draw. I can certainly hit below center and execute a stop shot.
 
There are only 2 types of shots in pool


1)the kinds you make
2) the kinds you play safe on


Everyone under the sun knows how to shoot for their hole.

That said:

THE MOST IMPORTANT SHOT TO LEARN IS THE SAFETY!

Grey GHost
 
My opinion in playing matters little as I am horrible, but my opinion in matters of matching up and winning is almost always invaluable.

The most important shot over time will always be the one that wins the game.

The most demoralizing, game-altering shot in a game is when a player misses the set-winning ball. Look back at how many times a player is leading then misses the game winner and proceeds to lose the set.
 
The Lay Up.

Ball sitting in the pocket.

This is the shot that most don't practice. After all we know we will sink the OB. But there are so many things needing to be considered
with the OB so close to the rail(s). The corner pocket lay up is even more difficult since speed control is more delicate out of a corner. In addition to
possibly dealing with cushions the perfect stop or controlled draw is many times required.

Just ask yourself how many times or what percentage do you come up with perfect shape pocketing a lay up. It's harder than it looks and should be studied since it's a given there's another shot coming your way. Don't blow it.
 
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I have not read every response IM certain someone has to have said this...

There is no question, None.

The stop shot/stun is the most important shot in pool, and it's not close IMO.

The stop/stun shot is the entire basis for the tangent line, and the beginning of understand cue ball control.

Effectively being able to shoot the stun/stop from varying distance and angles allows you to know exactly where the cue ball will deflect... once you understand that you can begin to alter that tangent line and begin to master englishes tops/bottoms, rights and lefts... but it all begins with the tangent line, the tangent line is mastered using the stop/stun.

It all starts there. The Stun/Stop is "go".
 
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robleyf7 said:
try this aim the top of cb to top of ob an u will make any straight in shot
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Good tip but, I think the other way aim it botttom to bottom then take it up to the equator, that is the point of contact. Got to hit hit the spot if it is dead straight in there is little or no forgiveness.
 
dsearcy said:
How do you stun the ball?
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Im gonna go out on a limb and figure your not fuxing around asking this question...

a stun shot & stop shot are the same in execution of stroke. If you were to hit a ball full face the result would stop, if you were to use the same exact stroke but not hit the object ball full face, say.. same stroke but cutting the ball into a pocket the cueball would not "stop" it would deflect perfectly along the combined tangent line of the two balls at the contact point.
 
For what its worth, the center ball stop shot is the second shot documented in Ray Martin's 99 critical shots in pool. The first shot in his book is the angle shot, basic lesson is to find the object ball contact point. In the context of mastering shot mechanics, I think we all agree.
 
If I had to pick only one, id say the break, followed by the stopshot.
 
efirkey said:
The next time I play I will try your stop shot two diamonds away should draw a diamond. In theory it sounds good but I doubt it is the reality. I do agree that a beginner should learn the stop shot first
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so how did this work out for you when you tried it?

Steve
 
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