Luther Lassiter

cuejoey said:
You guys keep talking about the great Luther..i really respect that man..can any of you post several pics of him ..thank you..Happy New Year Cuejoey
If I'm not mistaken, jhendri2's avatar is Luther Lassiter.
 
I think out of all the great players Laster gets lease mention. From what I've read the guy really was up there with the greats of the game.
 
But the rail first shot is quite difficult if the object ball is a bit more far off the cushion or is completely frozen, isn't it?

If the 8 is frozen, what will he do, extreme right hand 4 rails?

Richard
 
Then he would just cue lower and put a real good stroke on it,making sure he hit the ball and rail at the same time.If hit well,the cue ball would come straight across the table.I have tried it with the ball frozen.You have to hit it really sporty:)
 
Onepocket73 said:
Then he would just cue lower and put a real good stroke on it,making sure he hit the ball and rail at the same time.If hit well,the cue ball would come straight across the table.I have tried it with the ball frozen.You have to hit it really sporty:)
That is a very tough shot. I have tried, and I could make the ball, but could not get enough juice on the cue ball to go down table.
 
I've shot this about 40 times (Extreme right English and extreme bottom right English) with the 8ball frozen to the rail. I can't even get the cue ball past the side pocket. It's just too much angle.
 

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Hal said:
I've shot it about 40 times (Extreme right English and extreme bottom right English) with the 8ball frozen to the rail. I can't even get the cue ball past the side pocket. It's just too much angle.

You can quit trying Hal it's not possible as shown. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure his friend had best intentions when explaining but hitting so little of the o/b (rail first) at that angle, it just ain't gonna happen.

Rod
 
Hal said:
I've shot it about 40 times (Extreme right English and extreme bottom right English) with the 8ball frozen to the rail. I can't even get the cue ball past the side pocket. It's just too much angle.

You're not alone Hal, I can't do it either. Maybe Tate can You Tube this one for us!

Jim
 
I just want you guys to know how jealous I am that you can go try the shot right on the fly. For me, I'd have to go to the poolroom!
 
jhendri2 said:
You are correct sir :D

Jim
The thing I love about Lassiter is that he always looked like he had been up all night with the flu. Always sniffling. Clothes always mussed. And then he would come in and just shoot lights out. Sniffling and fidgeting the whole time.
 
Hal said:
I've shot this about 40 times (Extreme right English and extreme bottom right English) with the 8ball frozen to the rail. I can't even get the cue ball past the side pocket. It's just too much angle.
Hal move the eight ball off the rail about a 1 / 4'' and try it. Also you could move the cue ball more to center of the table and try rail first, low right, and see if that gets you the position on the end rail. That shot and variations of it was very well known to the players on the old 5 X 10 tables with the mud balls. Tugboat Whaley showed me the shot about 40 years ago. Tugs old buddy Clarence Kimbel played Whimpy some 10 ball at Cocorans in the real early 50's on a 5 X 10 table, Kimbel won. Maybe thats where Whimpy learned the shot. Happy New Year, George
 
Hal,This shot can be done.I have successfully accomplished it many times.So did the guy that showed me.Maybe the cue ball was back toward the end rail that the 9 is on.Maybe a few more inches or so?Try that out...:)
Hal said:
I've shot this about 40 times (Extreme right English and extreme bottom right English) with the 8ball frozen to the rail. I can't even get the cue ball past the side pocket. It's just too much angle.
 
lassiter lessons

One of the great pools lessons I had came from Wimpy.

I was at St. Elmo's Pool room in Norfolk. This was Wimpys' home joint.

It was upstairs. It was hot.

When I walked in Wimpy naturally asked me to play some 9-ball. I said I would play some even one-pocket. He said no way.

We couldn't match up so we talked. We were sitting right in front of the table that he practiced on all the time. I noticed that the pockets were huge and the side pockets were even larger. When I asked Wimpy about it he laughed and said, “Everyone thinks you need to practice on a tight table but I think they are wrong. You need to practice on a loose table to get your rhythm. Practicing on a tight table makes you gun-shy and gets you out of stroke.”

He also told me “When you do have to play on a real tight table just try to stay on the vertical center of the cue ball.”

Worked for me and by the way. Wimpy was one of the greatest tight-pocket players I have ever seen.

Bill Stroud
 
lassiter

One of the great pools lessons I had came from Wimpy.

I was at St. Elmo's Pool room in Norfolk. This was Wimpys' home joint.

It was upstairs. It was hot.

When I walked in Wimpy naturally asked me to play some 9-ball. I said I would play some even one-pocket. He said no way.

We couldn't match up so we talked. We were sitting right in front of the table that he practiced on all the time. I noticed that the pockets were huge and the side pockets were even larger. When I asked Wimpy about it he laughed and said, “Everyone thinks you need to practice on a tight table but I think they are wrong. You need to practice on a loose table to get your rhythm. Practicing on a tight table makes you gun-shy and gets you out of stroke.”

He also told me “When you do have to play on a real tight table just try to stay on the vertical center of the cue ball.”

Worked for me and by the way. Wimpy was one of the greatest tight-pocket players I have ever seen.

Bill Stroud
 
Onepocket73 said:
Hal,This shot can be done.I have successfully accomplished it many times.So did the guy that showed me.Maybe the cue ball was back toward the end rail that the 9 is on.Maybe a few more inches or so?Try that out...:)
I know I can make it if there was less angle. But when shot as diagrammed, I just don't think it's makeable.
 
I may have diagrammed it too steep.It was a while back and possibly I didn't draw it out exactly as it was.It was pretty close though:)
 
With that shot, I think if the 8 is frozen to the rail it is easier. With the eight frozen, as long as the cue ball hits the 8 after leaving the rail, then it should be a lock to go in, as long as its hit w/ enough speed and running english. You gotta aim to miss the eight though. Frozen or not, its still a scary shot.
 
I believe the ball is supposed to be a tiny bit off the cushion. This angle as shown is fine if there is some gap. I can't do it if the ball is frozen. May be I just dont have the stroke.

If the ball is frozen, and if the angle is not as steep, I will use lots of extreme low right english, hit it soft with lots of follow through, and try to go four rails. I have made it a few times, but I have to hit it soft so if the table is slow with dead cushions, I cannot do it.:)

If you can do it, would you mind to show us a video? I really want to watch it when the balls are frozen.

I have also seen this shot made when the pot is a bit less than a 3/4 ball hit, which is very full. The cue ball goes across table, then the spin takes to drive it down table, very nice shot to watch.
 
bstroud said:
I noticed that the pockets were huge and the side pockets were even larger. When I asked Wimpy about it he laughed and said, “Everyone thinks you need to practice on a tight table but I think they are wrong. You need to practice on a loose table to get your rhythm. Practicing on a tight table makes you gun-shy and gets you out of stroke.”

Bill Stroud

I've always thought this was true. To me, getting in stroke has always been the most important thing about practicing.
 
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