The ultimate pool challenge

SeniorTom

SeniorTom

Well-known member
Here is one of the cards in the deck of the 'ultimate pool challenge' that I am struggling with. It does not give instructions as to how to accomplish the task, I guess I have to figure that out myself. I was almost successful with high topspin but still couldn't get both balls in on one shot, I was wondering what you sharks would do in a situation like this?
 

Attachments

  • 20230531_164816.jpg
    20230531_164816.jpg
    394.7 KB · Views: 269
SeniorTom said:
Here is one of the cards in the deck of the 'ultimate pool challenge' that I am struggling with. It does not give instructions as to how to accomplish the task, I guess I have to figure that out myself. I was almost successful with high topspin but still couldn't get both balls in on one shot, I was wondering what you sharks would do in a situation like this?
Click to expand...
Extreme follow. Make sure you hit the right spot on the one ball.
 
Kind of a lazy way to draw the cue ball path as I don't think that path is actually possible. Probably too difficult to draw the proper curved path. Just need to put a nice smooth follow stroke on it. Cue ball should bounce off the rail and then curve it's way over to pocket the other ball. I always had to make sure not to use TOO much follow.

I've never really perfectly calibrated this shot. Just messed around with it here and there. I actually like the side pocket version better as it has a more practical application. That's the shot where you force follow the cue ball from one side of the side-pocket to the other, as it loops past the side-pocket and goes down table for the next shot.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Both of those work.

You could also thin the first ball and go up and down table off the two end rails.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
True. I wasn't sure if he was specifically asking about the shot in the diagram which shows the cue ball path. If I had one shot at making both balls, I'd lean towards drawing the ball.
 
easy-e said:
True. I wasn't sure if he was specifically asking about the shot in the diagram which shows the cue ball path. If I had one shot at making both balls, I'd lean towards drawing the ball.
Click to expand...
Me too, although I might go rail first to improve the carom angle and help get across with a little less power.

pj
chgo
 
Top spin to drive it back into the rail after contact Taught my kids this shot when they were younger and they had fun wowing their friends. Some like a touch of top right depending on where you contact OB
 
easy-e said:
True. I wasn't sure if he was specifically asking about the shot in the diagram which shows the cue ball path. If I had one shot at making both balls, I'd lean towards drawing the ball.
Click to expand...
I wanted to accomplish this shot as the card indicates by the white line. I came the closest with topspin and just missed it. I haven't made this shot as indicated with either Top Spin or Draw.
 
This is an absolutely standard trick/fancy shot. Playing it with follow is much, much easier than trying to stun the ball across. Even fairly average players can get the follow because the table will give it to them. At snooker this is called a "banana shot" because the follow makes the cue ball curve like a banana back to the cushion.

Here is the shot in Jimmy Caras's 1946 book:

Screenshot 2023-05-31 194154.png


Here is Robert Byrne's extension (he doesn't seem to show the simple version) from his 1982 book on trick shots

Screenshot 2023-05-31 194006.png


Here is Joe Hood's somewhat harder version which uses the same follow action but with outside english onto the side rail (1908)

Screenshot 2023-05-31 194057.png


And finally here is Mike Massey's version (2006) with one hurdle ball on the end rail:

Screenshot 2023-05-31 195451.png
 
SeniorTom said:
I wanted to accomplish this shot as the card indicates by the white line. I came the closest with topspin and just missed it. I haven't made this shot as indicated with either Top Spin or Draw.
Click to expand...
Stunning across (draw) is nearly impossible. The follow shot is easy because the table gives you the follow. Try putting the first object ball farther into the pocket. Adjust how full you hare hitting it -- you will need about 2/3 full. If you have clean equipment, you don't have to hit it very hard.
 
Cuedup said:
Draw the ball across with bottom.
Click to expand...
Can you do that one in ten?

In any case, the card shows the cue ball hitting the end rail just after the first object ball. (The illustration could be a lot better. The ball curves -- it doesn't zig-zag.)
 
Bob Jewett said:
Can you do that one in ten?

In any case, the card shows the cue ball hitting the end rail just after the first object ball. (The illustration could be a lot better. The ball curves -- it doesn't zig-zag.)
Click to expand...
When I started playing there was a practice drill I enjoyed that began with a ball in each pocket and a ball on the foot and head spot.
The object was to sink the 8 balls in as few shots as possible.

I can confidently say I've played this shot thousands of times and I've used it a time or two to ride a hanging 9. I think I could do better than 1 in 10 and I'm sure my percentage would be better with bottom rather than top.

I admittedly tend to rely on draw more than follow , to my occasional detriment.

YMMV
 
And yes, the return angle on that drawing is suspect. The draw sliding down the rail is somewhat attainable.
 
Most of the cards in the deck have exercises that are relatively easy to attain with a couple practice shots. There are a couple cards in the deck like this that I wonder how the job gets done? It's a great deck for learning different techniques although, and I would recommend it for beginner intermediate players.
 
As Bob said, this is a standard shot that most of us know. We call it the "Dipsy Doodle." I didn't name it so don't shoot the messenger. lol This shot is in our program in the Follow category and it the lowest degree of difficulty. Here are some adjustment to make the shot. If the cueball in doube hitting the end rail and it is not coming off, you are hitting the OB too thick. If the CB is rebounding off the rail too fast and not spinning over, you are cutting the OB too thin.
 
SeniorTom said:
Most of the cards in the deck have exercises that are relatively easy to attain with a couple practice shots. There are a couple cards in the deck like this that I wonder how the job gets done? It's a great deck for learning different techniques although, and I would recommend it for beginner intermediate players.
Click to expand...
You should also consider getting the books by Byrne, Martin, Mosconi, Caras, Capelle, , and a couple of others. Some of them you can get delivered to your house for under $10.
 
Bob Jewett said:
You should also consider getting the books by Byrne, Martin, Mosconi, Caras, Capelle, , and a couple of others. Some of them you can get delivered to your house for under $10.
Click to expand...
I purchased the 'Eight Ball Bible' by R Givens, it has a lot of information, but maybe a bit too much for my level. It seems a bit over the top as far as diagrams and explanations.
 
www.youtube.com

OmegaTV Presents 2023 VNEA Master's Open Team Division - Action Palace vs Tailgators

Day 8 Coverage live from the Westgate for the 2023 VNEA Teams Championship!Action Palace vs TailgatorsCheck out our free stream at https://www.youtube.com/@o...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

These videos of the men's masters division are pretty good. Scott does a nice job on commentary. He seems to really know the game.
Might be a few shots that come up in some of the matches to try to recreate for fun too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top