The Outer Limits was a favorite TV show when I was a Yute. My fitness program has me exploring my limits.
I have a simple challenge that is repeatable and of course not a valid test, well because you know some tables have bad rails and the sun's coming up and we'll I can't blame the chalk because none is allowed. Don't forget windage. :shrug
The challenge: Place an object ball on the foot spot. Place the cue ball on the head spot. Kick off the foot rail to pocket the object ball. Simple
In my world making 3 in a row would warrant the title of, "Kicks Like A Mule" or I guess Kangaroo would be appropriate for the down under crew.
Wish I had this in my bag of tricks in the old days. When I went in a decently busy bar but nobody would bet water was wet, literally wouldn't play for a seventy-five cent beer, I would put the cue ball on the head spot, object ball on the foot spot. Sometimes I let them bank balls but the usual thing was make the object ball in either foot pocket, without scratching!
The shot isn't a natural scratch just shooting the object ball center pocket but it was amazing how many ways people could find to scratch once they were trying to beat a scratch that wasn't there.
I would just set up the shot like I was killing time and natcherally couldn't make it but maybe one time in five or ten shots. Before long the locals would be getting antsy. "Let me show you how to make that shot." "Well OK, but I bet you a dollar you can't make it either!" Often I would get three or four people betting and trying the shot. Since there would be some misses we were playing for over fifteen dollars a rack when nobody was willing to play me for a seventy-five cent beer.
Once the ice was broken a loser or two often wanted to play "real pool" to get their money back. Prop shots are a great way to get things started if things are slow I have found. People seem to forget you are a stranger when you are all trying the same thing together too.
I wonder how it would work to practice up your shot then take it to the world's pool hall and see how many people can get roped in. Buff has a row of seven foot Diamonds now that this shot would be fun to play on. If I am feeling brave he has a ten footer too. I used to make some people there crazy just trying to pocket a ball. Soon somebody wanted to show me how. I had to explain that the idea wasn't to pocket the ball but to pocket it using a certain system. They never seemed to really believe that!
Hu