The Hardest Shot In Pool For Me!

[tom haney]

One of my biggest problems is shooting a ball staight down the rail.
I'm left-handed and the old timers tell me it's harder for a left-hander??

 

[tom haney]

Honestly, when I slop a shot in.. It makes me try even harder, bear down if you will, on the rest of the rack. Why? Because nothing pisses your opponent off more than you running out off a lucky shot.



Russ

Yeah, I remember.

 

[Russ Chewning]

Yeah, I remember.

What what WHAT!! Oh come on now, hondo!

That "bank two rails off the back of the stack and straight into my hole" is a STANDARD One Pocket shot!!!

Russ

 

[tom haney]

What what WHAT!! Oh come on now, hondo!

That "bank two rails off the back of the stack and straight into my hole" is a STANDARD One Pocket shot!!!

Russ

I know. I've done it myself several times.
Just couldn't resist the jab.

 

[Island Drive]

I always seem to struggle with the Guilt Shot.

Def - You luck in a shot, and the very next shot you shoot is the guilt shot!

Does anyone else struggle with this one?

Part of evolution...

 

[okinawa77]

Do you believe that?

One of my biggest problems is shooting a ball staight down the rail.
I'm left-handed and the old timers tell me it's harder for a left-hander??

Do you really think a rail shot is any harder for a left hander, than a right hander?

Practice these rail shots. For the CB and OB(put the OB on the other end of the rail) frozen on the rail, it takes very good mechanics to pocket the ball....and a decent table helps, too.

CueTable Help

I can tell you from my experience, the same shot is just as hard right handed or left handed. Practice your problem shots until you own it.

...my 2 cents...

 

[Kimmo]

Hal, your modesty is only exceeded by your expertise.
Your aim is true.

oh give the guy a break...he could be implying he never shot a great shot!

 

[Demetris_gr]

I totally agree with you. It is very very common and as far as I know, good players give themselves some time to settle after such a shot. I took it one step further lately and lose the shot that I feel that will give me the game. I did it 3 times lately. It is not a choke, neither that I didn?t respect the shot. Somehow, the relaxing filling that you managed it, that feeling that you are finally secure, ruins it. I don?t mean the last shot. I mean shots like, the last 9ball shot of a good comeback that you feel will make your opponent unable to overcome and win.

 

[Demetris_gr]

A hard shot for many players is the shot AFTER they make a real tough shot. You tend to let up a little (relax) and dog the shot or the shape. Ever happen to you? Uh Huh, I thought so!

I totally agree with you. It is very very common and as far as I know, good players give themselves some time to settle after such a shot. I took it one step further lately and lose the shot that I feel that will give me the game. I did it 3 times lately. It is not a choke, neither that I didn?t respect the shot. Somehow, the relaxing filling that you managed it, that feeling that you are finally secure, ruins it. I don?t mean the last shot. I mean shots like, the last 9ball shot of a good comeback that you feel will make your opponent unable to overcome and win.

 

[Demetris_gr]

I thought I was the only one around that did that! hehe. Another shot I have issues with is when I play shape out of line a bit, and even though the next shot is makable, I get mad at myself for the other mistake and dog the shot.

How about the half-hearted combo on the 9?

lol I do that 2. Actually that is the most common for me.

1. Lost shape a bit, get mad with myself
2. After shot of a very hard important shot
3. Guilt shot (when I was young, not anymore)

 

[Demetris_gr]

I will start with the shot I shoot better than almost anyone I play is a long very very thin cut shot.

I have lacik done a few years ago, and I now have 13/20 vision in both eyes, I see the ball so well, I smile, when someone leaves me this shot, expecting me not to take it.

I used Buddy Hall's technic I read in a magazine about 2-3 years ago. Since doing these 2 things I have taken a shot I avoided to a shot that I look forward to. Maybe going from a 20-25% to damn near 90+% that I make that ball. I use this shot as a push shot often, as most would not shoot it and if they do not make it, I think it gives me a significant advantage.

The shot I struggle with the most, and I have not had any success in getting coaching is a slow forward roll for position. I think it has more to do with confidence and table time, but the local shortstops and pros in my home town shoot this shot perfectly and I struggle.

The other shot that I dread is a ball hanging and needing to shape quite a way aways from that ball. IF it was an inch or so further from the pocket shape would be a breeze.

Ken

The long thin cut shot is the hardest shot. It is actually the only shot that can't make most of the times even in practice. For most other shots I have more than 80%, even for banks. I don't think that is hard only for me. I think is probably the hardest shot in pool. How do you manage it? What was the article that you speak of? Please, advice

It seems that I relate to many posts here

 

[mjantti]

If I get a roll and face the dreaded "guilt shot" after it, I try to think that if my opponent gets a roll, he won't give me mercy after that, he'll just run out the rack. So, in order to "pay back", I need to take advantage of my lucky roll and try even harder to run out. Usually this means that after the lucky roll, I might take an extra round around the table checking out the angles while trying to get rid of the idea that "I'm not supposed to be at the table" or something else as ridiculous as that. There is absolutely nothing unsportmanship in seizing the extra opportunity you got. I think there's more unsportmanship behaviour in not trying your best. It doesn't matter if the opportunity comes with a lucky roll, both equally skilled players get as many lucky rolls in the long run.

On the topic, for me the hardest shot in pool is to get that lucky roll first...

 

[tom haney]

Do you really think a rail shot is any harder for a left hander, than a right hander?

Practice these rail shots. For the CB and OB(put the OB on the other end of the rail) frozen on the rail, it takes very good mechanics to pocket the ball....and a decent table helps, too.

CueTable Help

I can tell you from my experience, the same shot is just as hard right handed or left handed. Practice your problem shots until you own it.

...my 2 cents...

Thanks, man. And you're definitely right about the table.

 

[tom haney]

oh give the guy a break...he could be implying he never shot a great shot!

Hal is a regular on CCB. He sells an aiming system. Thus, the pun.
Seems very sincere, however, and has some good ideas.

 

[Omar]

Ken,

On that last shot, I see so many players hit it wrong, even good ones. With a ball hanging, the best option is nearly always to hit the rail first and then the ball. You can control the cue ball and get good shape. It's easy to come back down table hitting it that way. With accuracy too!

Once you learn this shot, it will become your first option most of the time.

I agree that the rail first option is usually the best way to go, but I feel it is worth the time to also practice cutting the object ball in different parts of the pocket to control the position route. It's easy to take things for granted when the ball is sitting in the jaw and not make a quality hit. Another good one is practice drawing the cue ball straight back from distance.