My good fortune of Backward Jan's philosophy of "First be a Shot Maker" was right in sync with Mr Herb's baseball coaching of "Be A Hitter" they will find a place for you in the field. Shrug 
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Shotmaker.
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Right field!!My good fortune of Backward Jan's philosophy of "First be a Shot Maker" was right in sync with Mr Herb's baseball coaching of "Be A Hitter" they will find a place for you in the field. Shrug
I liked the outfield but always got stuck on first bcuz of my reach. That 12 for 27 might've had an impact on it.Right field!!
I loved right field. A favorite strategy was to come in and stand between the first and second basemen. Giving the hitters the virtual finger. (Hay I came to play, not stand in right field and watch) Very few could hit to the opposite field with power. As soon as their eyes went to the pitcher, I would start a slow drift back. As soon as the pitch was released I would Run for the fence. I could reach the fence before the ball if they managed to hit it good. Most popping it up. As an outfielder giving them a huge hole then filling it worked well. I always wanted the hole to be for a long fly that I could cover by getting a jump start.Right field!!
As a hitter the first base line was a favorite target. I would aim for the bag with a line drive. If I was early with the swing the pop up would go foul out of play. My strategy as a hitter in Slow Pitch was to take one strike. So I then modified that strategy to try and put a line drive into the first base dugout doorway on the first strike. Well if it was their dugout.
If it was our dug out I would aim for my first base coach. (He knew what was coming his way). If I had the patience to wait for the pitch I could place it anywhere on the field.A favorite memory had me working the left fielder in a tournament. He was playing too deep and leaving me a nice target. My first 3 at bat's had me hitting a one hop line drive straight at him. In the final inning with the winning run on second....He came in and stood where my previous hits hand landed. I hit with a 36 inch bat and choked up 4 inches....normally. He was a good athlete but ..... their catcher was good and noticed my dropping my hands to the coke bottle knob for 4 more inches of bat. He knew me and hollered and motioned the left fielder Back Up!!!! He was cocky and ignored. Sooo. The situation allowed a strategy change. The pitcher knew i always took a strike so he laid a flat one in on the first pitch.
... the exact same swing produced a line drive straight at the left fielder Again. The extra 4 inches of bat had it going over his head. He was leaning in to stop my base hit. By the time he realized it was going long it was too late. The egg on his face produced the game winning double.Kind of hard to relate my old fart story to pool but pretty sure Theresa Trap Them analogy in the story. Somehow....maybe.
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Or how about uh, Just be a Competitor.
Topic of the day excuse for another brag. Well proof of concept is a logical....
The Merry Go Round strategy was my teaching. It worked to perfect in Slow Pitch at the after work Redding ca leagues. Definitely Bad News Bears stuff. Okay the story.
My work required me to arrive late to the field of friendly strife. The score was 14-0. One point shy of the Mercy rule for the last inning as home team. The deer in the headlights eyes was unanimous. I took the helm. With the Merry go round speech. It worked to the point of 14-14 with the bases loaded and 2 outs with our Mighty Casey at the bat. The grand slam was a beautiful line drive to exit the field in power alley.
Find the pea in the center of the ball and hit it. Degrees of spin on the cueball should be within the diameter of the pea or cue tip. There
Edit: Ooops it was 13-14 as the 17-14 final is branded in the memory banks.
Topic of the day excuse for another brag. Well proof of concept is a logical....
The Merry Go Round strategy was my teaching. It worked to perfect in Slow Pitch at the after work Redding ca leagues. Definitely Bad News Bears stuff. Okay the story.
My work required me to arrive late to the field of friendly strife. The score was 14-0. One point shy of the Mercy rule for the last inning as home team. The deer in the headlights eyes was unanimous. I took the helm. With the Merry go round speech. It worked to the point of 14-14 with the bases loaded and 2 outs with our Mighty Casey at the bat. The grand slam was a beautiful line drive to exit the field in power alley.
Find the pea in the center of the ball and hit it. Degrees of spin on the cueball should be within the diameter of the pea or cue tip. There
Edit: Ooops it was 13-14 as the 17-14 final is branded in the memory banks.
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First, let me say that I would much rather watch a "shotmaking" contest as you described than an "artistic pool" contest.
However, a big part of what makes spectacular shots fun to watch is the drama involved by the randomness of the circumstances. A player having to come with a great shot to shoot out of a lockup safety, or overcome a bad roll that leaves him tough spikes the drama during a match in much the same way as does a long touchdown pass from a scrambling quarterback on a broken play. Players competing on preconceived tough shots which they have had the opportunity to practice would lack much of that drama in my opinion.
However, a big part of what makes spectacular shots fun to watch is the drama involved by the randomness of the circumstances. A player having to come with a great shot to shoot out of a lockup safety, or overcome a bad roll that leaves him tough spikes the drama during a match in much the same way as does a long touchdown pass from a scrambling quarterback on a broken play. Players competing on preconceived tough shots which they have had the opportunity to practice would lack much of that drama in my opinion.
Flashback to 1985 when Efren laid the most beautiful lock up safety playing 9 ball in the Reno Sands event. The safety took the cueball 3 rails around the table and into the Jaws of the corner pocket. With 3 blockers within 4 inches. Oooops he garbed a ball in doing it so he showed how to escape the trap by bouncing whitey off the pocket point to get a good hit and a hook. The only jump shot I have seen Efren execute.
Ani
If you can hit, nobody gives a shit if you dropped that fly or missed the worm burner that blew past you!!
Fences. They wanna see balls going over fences!!
Ability transfers. Believe it. Sounds like you were a better player than I was. Didn't have the knowledge of playing the hitter like you did. Coach would yell 'Shift' and I would. Relief on that bat to get me thru.I loved right field. A favorite strategy was to come in and stand between the first and second basemen. Giving the hitters the virtual finger. (Hay I came to play, not stand in right field and watch) Very few could hit to the opposite field with power. As soon as their eyes went to the pitcher, I would start a slow drift back. As soon as the pitch was released I would Run for the fence. I could reach the fence before the ball if they managed to hit it good. Most popping it up. As an outfielder giving them a huge hole then filling it worked well. I always wanted the hole to be for a long fly that I could cover by getting a jump start.
As a hitter the first base line was a favorite target. I would aim for the bag with a line drive. If I was early with the swing the pop up would go foul out of play. My strategy as a hitter in Slow Pitch was to take one strike. So I then modified that strategy to try and put a line drive into the first base dugout doorway on the first strike. Well if it was their dugout.
A favorite memory had me working the left fielder in a tournament. He was playing too deep and leaving me a nice target. My first 3 at bat's had me hitting a one hop line drive straight at him. In the final inning with the winning run on second....He came in and stood where my previous hits hand landed. I hit with a 36 inch bat and choked up 4 inches....normally. He was a good athlete but ..... their catcher was good and noticed my dropping my hands to the coke bottle knob for 4 more inches of bat. He knew me and hollered and motioned the left fielder Back Up!!!! He was cocky and ignored. Sooo. The situation allowed a strategy change. The pitcher knew i always took a strike so he laid a flat one in on the first pitch.
Kind of hard to relate my old fart story to pool but pretty sure Theresa Trap Them analogy in the story. Somehow....maybe.
If you can hit, nobody gives a shit if you dropped that fly or missed the worm burner that blew past you!!
Fences. They wanna see balls going over fences!!
For the fences!!Or how about uh, Just be a Competitor.
Topic of the day excuse for another brag. Well proof of concept is a logical....
The Merry Go Round strategy was my teaching. It worked to perfect in Slow Pitch at the after work Redding ca leagues. Definitely Bad News Bears stuff. Okay the story.
My work required me to arrive late to the field of friendly strife. The score was 14-0. One point shy of the Mercy rule for the last inning as home team. The deer in the headlights eyes was unanimous. I took the helm. With the Merry go round speech. It worked to the point of 14-14 with the bases loaded and 2 outs with our Mighty Casey at the bat. The grand slam was a beautiful line drive to exit the field in power alley.
Find the pea in the center of the ball and hit it. Degrees of spin on the cueball should be within the diameter of the pea or cue tip. There
Edit: Ooops it was 13-14 as the 17-14 final is branded in the memory banks.
True. That's why I put this out there. Hear pros and cons. Will shots like that remain a part of tournament pool, or are players avoiding them at all costs for the sure thing or lock safety??
I don't watch match ups or videos. No time, so I'll rely on my friends here for the deets.
Center field Fogarty. Just for you Gman!!Or how about uh, Just be a Competitor.
Topic of the day excuse for another brag. Well proof of concept is a logical....
The Merry Go Round strategy was my teaching. It worked to perfect in Slow Pitch at the after work Redding ca leagues. Definitely Bad News Bears stuff. Okay the story.
My work required me to arrive late to the field of friendly strife. The score was 14-0. One point shy of the Mercy rule for the last inning as home team. The deer in the headlights eyes was unanimous. I took the helm. With the Merry go round speech. It worked to the point of 14-14 with the bases loaded and 2 outs with our Mighty Casey at the bat. The grand slam was a beautiful line drive to exit the field in power alley.
Find the pea in the center of the ball and hit it. Degrees of spin on the cueball should be within the diameter of the pea or cue tip. There
Edit: Ooops it was 13-14 as the 17-14 final is branded in the memory banks.
If we could figure out how to present shots that noone has seen prior to the contest, I'm sure that would help. I don't want players to be able to practice shots beforehand. You gotta come in and take your 2 chances - cold - on these my friend. Only problem is coming up with enuf extreme shots for the contest without it becoming a trick shot farce. Or (Shiver) artistic in nature.
Rusty in Montana
Well-known member
Have " X " number of shots diagramed on paper and sealed in a envelopes so each player picks one the sets up the shot then shoots it .
Then it could be double elimination , just a thought ha ha
Then it could be double elimination , just a thought ha ha
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Searching my brain for my most memorable game winning shots yielded rail first or kick shots.
A favorite came when I was showing off for my work crew (all non players) and had bragged on my shooting skills. After work Playing our crew foreman for the next round. I broke and ran to the 8 ball and accidentally left myself hooked. The crew was sufficiently impressed and was giggling. The one memorable comment was to the foreman. "Well Randy at least you get a shot." Was the comment burned into the memory banks. I felt the pressure of showing my workmates that I wasn't just full of shit, so I kicked it in. Maintaining credibility with the crew was priceless. Pretty sure I was using a Wallabushka cue too.
The second favorite came in a Scotch Doubles event. I was playing with the wife and we ran to our key ball and my wife scratched trying to get me shape on our last ball. The other team with ball in hand and not a trouble ball played safe. I am Not sure why. Shrug, I just remember his look was smug as he played a safety leaving me a 2 rail kick to our only ball on the side rail a diamond from the pocket. My shot pocketed the ball and gave my partner ball in hand shape on the 8. Talk about , "Wiped That Look Off His Face." A favorite expression my Mother used when I was a smug teenager.
A favorite came when I was showing off for my work crew (all non players) and had bragged on my shooting skills. After work Playing our crew foreman for the next round. I broke and ran to the 8 ball and accidentally left myself hooked. The crew was sufficiently impressed and was giggling. The one memorable comment was to the foreman. "Well Randy at least you get a shot." Was the comment burned into the memory banks. I felt the pressure of showing my workmates that I wasn't just full of shit, so I kicked it in.
Maintaining credibility with the crew was priceless. Pretty sure I was using a Wallabushka cue too. The second favorite came in a Scotch Doubles event. I was playing with the wife and we ran to our key ball and my wife scratched trying to get me shape on our last ball. The other team with ball in hand and not a trouble ball played safe. I am Not sure why. Shrug, I just remember his look was smug as he played a safety leaving me a 2 rail kick to our only ball on the side rail a diamond from the pocket. My shot pocketed the ball and gave my partner ball in hand shape on the 8. Talk about , "Wiped That Look Off His Face."
A favorite expression my Mother used when I was a smug teenager.
One last favorite game winning shot came in a Chico CA 9 ball tournament. I was playing one of the best pure shot makers I had ever encountered. The score was hill/hill. I had left Whitey in the Jaws of a head corner pocket, narrowly avoiding the scratch, with the 9 ball a diamond and a half out of the opposite corner and on the foot rail.
After I cut it in for the win, a friend that had been sweating the match had looked away. He looked back to the table to see only whitey. My answer of, "I cut it in." To his enquiry of, "what happened ", yielded a look of amaze. So yeah it was a tough shot.
After I cut it in for the win, a friend that had been sweating the match had looked away. He looked back to the table to see only whitey. My answer of, "I cut it in." To his enquiry of, "what happened ", yielded a look of amaze. So yeah it was a tough shot.
Cole Dixon was my favorite "Shotmaker". A straight back bank playing one pocket was not uncommon. His making a straight back with a kiss in it was ingenious. He popped whitey a foot in the air after contact to allow the object ball clear passage for the game winning bank.
That's a damn good idea Rusty!!!
Those are tough, but a lifesaver if you know the shot!!
Lola
Member
Alot of people I play say I am a "shotmaker". I can make some very difficult cuts and some imaginative caroms. However, when I am making these difficult shots position is the last thing on my mind. Apparently I am not at that level yet. Therefore when making these shots it is 50/50 if I have position. At least I am aware of this weakness and do the best I can to get position but it doesnt always work out.
Welcome to shotmaker 101. With a shitload of effort It gets better. Lol.