Most Difficult Shot in Pool

the chicken

the chicken

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
You know the shot: The game ball is close to the middle of the table while the cue ball is near the far corner pocket, about a diamond away from the hole. You see that the shot into the opposite corner pocket is dead straight.

How do you stroke this shot:

A) Shoot for a stop shot; better safe than sorry

B) Shoot smooth and low for a draw shot; if you make it, you'll psych-out your opponent

C) Shoot a soft center ball shot; control is the name of the game

Shoot safe!

John
 
the chicken said:
You know the shot: The game ball is close to the middle of the table while the cue ball is near the far corner pocket, about a diamond away from the hole. You see that the shot into the opposite corner pocket is dead straight.

How do you stroke this shot:

A) Shoot for a stop shot; better safe than sorry

B) Shoot smooth and low for a draw shot; if you make it, you'll psych-out your opponent

C) Shoot a soft center ball shot; control is the name of the game

Shoot safe!

John
Click to expand...
Quarter tip below center with a smooth medium but firm hit. I dont think this is really that hard of a shot.
8/10 at worst
 
If the table rolls straight, I use a short back stroke, short follow through (same lenght as backstroke) , and use (edit) "rolling" english. On a center ball hit, the cue ball slides for a short distance. Dont hit high enough for follow, but to start the cue ball rolling at contact. Make sure you don't hit off to the side (left or right), even slightly. Most people think they are hitting center ball (horizontal plane) when they are not.
 
Last edited:
the chicken said:
You know the shot: The game ball is close to the middle of the table while the cue ball is near the far corner pocket, about a diamond away from the hole. You see that the shot into the opposite corner pocket is dead straight.

How do you stroke this shot:

A) Shoot for a stop shot; better safe than sorry

B) Shoot smooth and low for a draw shot; if you make it, you'll psych-out your opponent

C) Shoot a soft center ball shot; control is the name of the game

Shoot safe!

John
Click to expand...

While option C is safe for tables like yours and mine (RKC) the stop shot is my choice.

It allows me to shoot firm but not hard. I actually practice these shots and I make sure that the cue ball is with in one inch of dropping into the corner pocket and the eight is dead nutz in the middle of the table. I will try and get five in a row before I move on.
Many nights of trying where I never get five together. :embarrassed2:
 
buckshotshoey said:
Dont hit high enough for follow, but to start the cue ball rolling at contact.
Click to expand...
This.

For some reason it took me years to figure this out. I've always been 'cinching' these long straight-in shot as a hard stop shot, where the CB doesn't move at all after contact. But I've realized that most of my misses are the result of throw, and that stroking these shots as stop shots maximizes throw. In other words, any intentional side spin due to stroke imperfections (which I have a plenty) throws the OB away from the target line the most with a stun/stop shot. With the CB rolling slightly at impact, the amount of throw reduces substantially.

The down side is that you have to pay a bit more attention on the vertical dimension of your tip placement on the CB. Obviously you don't want to hit the shot with too much follow that you risk scratching.
 
The only proper way to shoot this is with the famous RAM Shot. It will demoralize your opponent like a silver cue through the heart.
 
one diamond out or in the corner pocket?

The OP says the cue ball is about one diamond from the opposite corner pocket, all it takes is shooting the shot with confidence. Easy shot to make, easy shot to miss. One diamond out I start the cue ball rolling as soon as possible. There is enough distance to that shot that it is easily made shooting soft but not extremely soft, Get the cue ball rolling and let the cue ball roll ahead a diamond or less, doesn't hurt a thing.

If the cue ball is very near the corner pocket then the shot is tougher but this is an excellent time to break out a slip stroke to free up the swing of your grip hand and arm a little bit when you can't stroke back and forth much due to where you have to bridge and where the cue ball is. A couple three practice strokes to get comfortable that you are on line, let the grip hand slip back a couple extra inches on the back stroke and hit just over center ball.

Hu
 
jsp said:
This.

For some reason it took me years to figure this out. I've always been 'cinching' these long straight-in shot as a hard stop shot, where the CB doesn't move at all after contact. But I've realized that most of my misses are the result of throw, and that stroking these shots as stop shots maximizes throw. In other words, any intentional side spin due to stroke imperfections (which I have a plenty) throws the OB away from the target line the most with a stun/stop shot. With the CB rolling slightly at impact, the amount of throw reduces substantially.

The down side is that you have to pay a bit more attention on the vertical dimension of your tip placement on the CB. Obviously you don't want to hit the shot with too much follow that you risk scratching.
Click to expand...


Good post JSP ... you have it right. :thumbup:

Sidespin IS maximized with a stun/stop shot. A stop shot is a stun shot that is perfectly straight.

Rolling the cue ball OR drawing the cue ball will reduce throw. Either will increase your pocketing of those tough long straight shots. You will probably end up liking one over the other - but practice both. I suggest placing the OB at 2-21/2 diamond and the CB about the same off the opposite corner. After getting a "straight" line mark the spots with donuts etc., in order to repeat the shot.

Take a little extra time in aiming these shots and stay exactly on the vertical axis. Even missing slightly to either side of vertical will cause spin induced throw. Result ... a missed shot.

Here's to "straight stroking"
 
Last edited:
I find myself with shot often and it's the money ball. I usually hit hard and low if its a tight pocket table. This usually rattles my opponent especially if its the first rack. 9 out of 10 the CB will rattle the corner. If loose pockets, I hit high and medium. After the CB hits the OB, it'll go off the rail before the pocket. To each their own.
 
1/2 tip of follow at a 3 speed and I cheat pocket slightly . works everytime ( one shot under pressure on command ) rackem up fast Eddie
 
I'm hitting this firm every day of the week, and bringing the cue ball back around 2 ft or so. Never understood why people choose to slow roll these types of shots, it lets the table conditions play a bigger part in the shot than it needs to.
 
lastdimetaker said:
1/2 tip of follow at a 3 speed and I cheat pocket slightly . works everytime ( one shot under pressure on command ) rackem up fast Eddie
Click to expand...
"Everyone is a Hustler till proven otherwise, Everyone....."

This is most likely the most universally true statement ever made.
 
i would shoot this with a small amount of draw
reason the draw spin on the cue ball makes the obect ball start rolling naturally from the gearing action of the balls
with follow the cue ball puts alittle back[in on the object ball making it slide before it starts rolling
in most circumstances it doesnt matter
but it make sense to me
rather than side track this thread
pm me your opinions if you think im crazy
im here to learn....:smile:
 
bbb said:
i would shoot this with a small amount of draw
reason the draw spin on the cue ball makes the obect ball start rolling naturally from the gearing action of the balls
with follow the cue ball puts alittle back[in on the object ball making it slide before it starts rolling
in most circumstances it doesnt matter
but it make sense to me
rather than side track this thread
pm me your opinions if you think im crazy
im here to learn....:smile:
Click to expand...

Your not sidetracking, you are right. In fact, everyone that posted is right. For me, I'm more accurate with the cue ball when rolling it med speed. More accurate then trying to stop shot it. For others its viseversa. What this does for me is tell me I need to practice half table stop shots!
 
buckshotshoey said:
... Dont hit high enough for follow, but to start the cue ball rolling at contact. ...
Click to expand...
I'm confused. If you hit at 70% of the height of the cue ball, it will start rolling smoothly from the start. Is that where you mean? On the other hand, smooth rolling is about as much follow as you can get on the cue ball (with a level stroke and without hitting an object ball).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top