Is This A Split Hit?

[Tennesseejoe]

This is an old proposition shot. Set up three balls frozen and stand a nail in the center of them. Now shoot the cueball in to the 2 ball and 3 ball, trying to knock the nail down with the cueball. The cueball should be the same weight as the other balls. This is not a jump shot.

It is difficult to do but can be done. Could this be a split hit on the 2 and 3 balls?

CueTable Help

 

[Bob Jewett]

This is an old proposition shot. Set up three balls frozen and stand a nail in the center of them. Now shoot the cueball in to the 2 ball and 3 ball, trying to knock the nail down with the cueball. The cueball should be the same weight as the other balls. This is not a jump shot.

It is difficult to do but can be done. Could this be a split hit on the 2 and 3 balls?

CueTable Help

Yes, that would be a split hit, and I would pay to see it.

If you do manage to get a simultaneous hit on the two balls, the one ball will go straight ahead, the cue ball will bounce back towards you some, and if it has enough follow, it will go forward over the nail. If someone wants to try it without gaffs, I'll give them 15 tries.

 

[DWoods6354]

Prop shot???

I can hear the carnival music now...

Step right up ladies and gentlemen, she walks, she talks, she crawls on her belly like a reptile.... You sir - you look like a strapping lad...

 

[Scott Lee]

Tennesseejoe...Know why Bob would give you 15 tries?...'cause it's NEVER gonna happen. Fortunately, for this proposition shot, it doesn't matter which ball you hit first. You just have to be able to knock over the nail...which is child's play (if you know the secret).

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

This is an old proposition shot. Set up three balls frozen and stand a nail in the center of them. Now shoot the cueball in to the 2 ball and 3 ball, trying to knock the nail down with the cueball. The cueball should be the same weight as the other balls. This is not a jump shot.

It is difficult to do but can be done. Could this be a split hit on the 2 and 3 balls?

CueTable Help

 

[Tennesseejoe]

Willie Jopling set this shot up for me in the AZ room at the DCC several years ago. There were several players watching and to my surprise, I made it on the first try. Several tries later I could not duplicate it. He did not change cue balls nor did I use a jump shot. I just shot it easy with a little follow.

Well Scott, since this is an educational pool forum---What's the secret?

 

[poolgod1984]

the nail has to be touching the balls it cant be done if the nail is in the center of all three. it is a trick shot that will win you alot of money if you find the right suckers....

 

[WoodyJ]

the nail has to be touching the balls it cant be done if the nail is in the center of all three. it is a trick shot that will win you alot of money if you find the right suckers....

Oh, I don't know about that.

First time I've tried it. Nail was not ever touching any balls.

The first half a dozen times from various angles the nail won. Then I shot straight at a corner ball (such that one of the other two balls was straight behind the one I was shooting at). Put top on the cue ball and made it a half dozen times in a row with the cue ball knocking down the nail.

So, I'll take that bet any day.

----------------------------------------------------------
Edit: Will have to put the nail in my bag. Will make a fun addition to 3-ball games. I just now set the nail up and broke 3-ball style a bunch of times and never knocked down the nail (got close a couple of times after balls rolled around the table and rolled next to the nail).

Would be fun to add the nail to a 3-ball game and give the person playing a -1 if they knock the nail down at any time during their turn (or say -2 on the break and -1 if after the break).

Heh, heh, heh. Then the proposition bet comes into play at the end of the game! I just "nailed it" another half dozen times. Haven't missed since the first time I made it.

 

[Aaron_S]

I've never tried this prop, but my first thought is that trying to hit precisely between the two balls would be the least effective approach, because you can't predict which ball you will hit first. Wouldn't you want to intentionally hit to one side or the other to eliminate that variable?

Aaron