Vernon Elliott's impossible cross-side bank

Rarelymisses said:
I have a theory about the impossible bank shot ..... I suspect that the cue ball is hitting the object ball twice. ...
Well, maybe, but as badly as I play the shot, it could take a lot of time on an expensive high-speed camera to capture that. I do know that the shot needs lots of outside english.
 
Bob Jewett said:
In one clip of the impossible cut shot, I over cut the ball and it went about six inches towards the 3/4 diamond on the tough side of the pocket. Several times on the bank shot I over cut the ball and it ended right between the side pockets after going only about a diamond and a half. If you shoot a shot for a whole hour, some strange things will be observed.

Bob,

I dont like my chances but I'm gonna play with the cut shot, where are you hitting the cueball? thanks, i'll report back between when I make it. I tryed it 20 years ago and was close.
 
Fatboy said:
... I dont like my chances but I'm gonna play with the cut shot, where are you hitting the cueball? ... .
With as much outside english as you can muster and maybe a touch of draw. The goal is to have only side spin when the cue ball gets to the object ball. Avoid clean, polished balls -- you want to maximize throw.
 
Bob,

thanks thats what I thought just a touch of draw, i'm no champion by any streach, I was a A- player on my best days years ago, I say that so you have some insight to my experience. I noticed that in general if you put a touch draw you can get a bit more outside english on the ball, I think its because you get a milli-second more tip time on the rock and thus a bit more english-do you agree?
 
Fatboy said:
... I noticed that in general if you put a touch draw you can get a bit more outside english on the ball, I think its because you get a milli-second more tip time on the rock and thus a bit more english-do you agree?
No, I think it is because as the cue ball moves away from the tip, the draw will slow it down but little of the side will be lost. This means that the cue ball will have an increased amount of side for a given speed. This is an important concept covered lots of places but nowhere more thoroughly than in Ron Shepard's paper on billiard physics, "Amateur Physics for the Amateur Pool Player."
 
Bob Jewett said:
With as much outside english as you can muster and maybe a touch of draw. The goal is to have only side spin when the cue ball gets to the object ball. Avoid clean, polished balls -- you want to maximize throw.
If the balls are in a "normal" state of polish, using just a hair beyond "gearing" english will probably get you the most throw (ie, RWz/V = 1.05), unless the cueball is severely airborn.

Jim
 
Bob Jewett said:
... How many tries would you give up for an even money bet? (on the bank shot)

Before you answer, look at the shot on a table and try it a few times. It looks much harder in person.
For those of you who missed the string, Joe Tucker has a much better video of the shot, including placing the object ball another ball below the side pocket and then overcutting the shot. Joe shoots the shot differently, aiming into the cushion. He makes it 3 out of 4 tries. Scary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-vXWEA_TU

I think I need to get one of those thingies he's using.
 
I will believe Vernon Elliot's bank shot and Efren's cut shot when I see them in person or on video, and not one minute sooner. Pure poppycock.

That's why people who can do them and who are smart usually make you pay for the privilege of seeing it done. :-)

I have seen this shot, the cross corner bank, and many other "impossible" shots over the years.

One year Hillbilly was busting all comers with the cross corner for about an hour on one of the tables at DCC. My friend Craig brought it back to Arkansas and practiced it until he could do it one in ten tries.

I can make about 1 in 100 tries but my arm usually falls off before getting close. These type of shots will absolutely frustrate the average player with an inconsistent stroke.

If you EVER in your life had a thought that MAYBE you weren't hitting the cueball or the object ball where you THINK you are aiming then shots like these will CONFIRM it for you. :-)
 
Vernon's shot

Not too long before Vernon had the stroke that paralyzed his left side I was talking with him about this shot. For over an hour I placed the object ball on the rail and watched him shoot it. I thought there was some trick he employed ie, masseing into the ball but he had me stand behind him and beside him as he practiced the shot. He never elevated the cue. His cue was level and delivered straight thru to CB. It is a pure stroke shot. About a year ago, long after Vernon's stroke, Rafael Martinez was in town for a tournament and I introduce he and Vernon. I told Rafael about Vernon's shot and he said he too could make it. After nearly 2 hours of shooting he did indeed finally make the shot. He used extreme side spin and a slightly elevated cue when shooting it. Vernon said that was the reason it took Rafael so many shots to make it. Vernon always tried to get as many shots as possible when betting, (and he never shot it for exhibition) but he said if he had as many as 10 attempts it was a lock.
 
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