Whats the harder shot?

[Tokyo-dave]

I agree with Tokyo-Dave, if your not pocketing the long straight in shot there's something wrong with your stroke. And it seems like that's the highest vote getter here.

It took me years to figure out why I couldn't make shots. I learned that any long, straight shot where the cue ball and object are further than 36" I must use a tiny amount of left english to compenstae for some defect in my stroke. This gives me the perfectly straight long shot everytime.

I tried to correct my stroke but finally gave up on that, so that's why I use the left english, it was a much quicker fix. Any comments on this?

I know where you're coming from. Although it's not a shot that I miss often, it's still a shot that can wake me up and take me out of my zone to do my preshot routine. It's one of those shots that I feel much more comfortable with if it requires moving the CB around either way with any combination of English. But ask me to stop it on a dime and watch me slow way down and play the shot as if my life depended on it.
dave

 

[Harvywallbanger]

I agree with Tokyo-Dave, if your not pocketing the long straight in shot there's something wrong with your stroke. And it seems like that's the highest vote getter here.

It took me years to figure out why I couldn't make shots. I learned that any long, straight shot where the cue ball and object are further than 36" I must use a tiny amount of left english to compenstae for some defect in my stroke. This gives me the perfectly straight long shot everytime.

I tried to correct my stroke but finally gave up on that, so that's why I use the left english, it was a much quicker fix. Any comments on this?

I don't do it but I have seen great players who shoot the straight in with left. They all say the same about thats just how they could only make them and never corrected it over time. If it works it works.

 

[Cameron Smith]

I agree with Tokyo-Dave, if your not pocketing the long straight in shot there's something wrong with your stroke. And it seems like that's the highest vote getter here.

It took me years to figure out why I couldn't make shots. I learned that any long, straight shot where the cue ball and object are further than 36" I must use a tiny amount of left english to compenstae for some defect in my stroke. This gives me the perfectly straight long shot everytime.

I tried to correct my stroke but finally gave up on that, so that's why I use the left english, it was a much quicker fix. Any comments on this?

Technically if you know where and how to compensate for every situation and shot, I guess it would be fine. If you don't however, you are at a huge disadvantage. You won't be able to control the cue ball nearly as accurately as a player with a straight stroke. Furthermore a straight stroke can produce more spin a whole lot easier.

I would spend some time just hitting the cue ball and watching your cue hit the ball, so you can see what you are doing wrong.

Quick fixes often hurt you in the end.

 

[Maniac]

i voted the spot shot long straignt ins are ok if you focus and dead banks i'm about 50/50 on but that spot shot sometimes it goes sometimes it doesn't

Hey, Yogi Berra, is that you??? I mean, dead banks you're about 50/50 on but on the spot shot, sometimes it goes and sometimes it doesn't??? Isn't that also a 50/50 proposition???

Maniac

 

[tedkaufman]

I don't consider any bank "dead." Too many things can go wrong and there is too much variation from table to table. Of the remaining two, both are missable by anyone at anytime. All things considered, though, I'd prefer the straight in shot for the cash.

 

[pdcue]

I was still making the pole. Also tell what you think is the easiest. Kind of a tough one for me to decide actually.

All three are no challange if you can play at all, however,
the bank is an absolute hanger

Dale

 

[Jimmy M.]

Without giving reasons "why" I think this is - it's just based on comfort level - I'd most like to have the easy cross side bank and I'd least like to have the spot shot. Spot shots are a lost art, so to speak. They used to be very common shots that most players felt pretty comfortable shooting. Texas Express 9-ball changed that. At least it did for me.

 

[RiverCity]

The spot shot, you have to adjust for conditions, like humidity, throw, how worn the cloth is, skid, plus you have to line up properly and shoot straight at a small contact point.

For the long straight in, you need to line up properly and stroke straight.

Which one sounds more difficult? It seems obvious to me.

My thoughts exactly!
Chuck

 

[3kushn]

Of the 3 choices I'd say the Straight In.

Willie Mosconi was asked this same question by an old freind who is now decesed. His answer - The Lay Up. OB laying in the pocket. Reason: The CB must be hit perfect speed and english to get shape.

 

[tigerallenyim]

I am purty killer when it comes to banks, which is very awkward. I have never played 1p (nor do i know any of the rules). Sure, I can play very offensively in 1p, but after watching many hustlers in 1p. I don't think it has much to do with banks. Besides, those 1p players won't play a friendly game w/ me anyhow.

The long shots are not that bad. Out of 10, I would say i'd miss two. And the posters here are correct, good stroke is required and staying down is fundamental.

Spot shots.... well I can do 50/50. I think the main reason is that I have not focused on it too much as of yet. But I agree with other posters, it's a bit difficult to master.

 

[Aaron_S]

Spot shots are a lost art, so to speak. They used to be very common shots that most players felt pretty comfortable shooting. Texas Express 9-ball changed that. At least it did for me.

Agreed. Every time I play in a ring game I have to re-learn how to shoot spot shots. Before T.E. rules, though, spot shots were throw-in's for most decent 9-ballers.

Aaron

 

[pdcue]

Just because you can miss it, that doesn't make it alive

Ever since I gave up playing one pocket regularly, there aren't any dead banks for me either!

Short note on bank pool terminology.

A 'dead bank' is one that can be pocketed by shooting straight
at the object ball with centerball<bank players refer to this as
'hitting the ball _full in the face_'>

unlike a "dead" combination, dead banks are quite missable

Dale

 

[dave fingers]

Spot shot is the hardest for me because I have shot ball in hand rules my whole pool career. I picked up a stick in 1998. The bank is the easiest to me.

 

[zeeder]

I voted for the long straight in shot but it's a particular kind of shot that I had in mind when I voted. I assumed that this was the shot being considered:

CueTable Help

Every time I come up for this shot I hear Robert Byrnes in my head saying that it is one of the hardest shots in pool...lol!!

 

[PoolBum]

I'm only about 98% to make the spot shot, so it's definitely the hardest of the three.

 

[VIProfessor]

I'm only about 98% to make the spot shot, so it's definitely the hardest of the three.

Only 98%? Man, you're seriously slipping!

 

[Boro Nut]

I tried to correct my stroke but finally gave up on that, so that's why I use the left english, it was a much quicker fix. Any comments on this?

Yes. It doesn't make sense. Straight shots are the easiest of all shots. If you need to correct your stroke by playing side then logic says you should do it on all shots.

Boro Nut

 

[Harvywallbanger]

I voted for the long straight in shot but it's a particular kind of shot that I had in mind when I voted. I assumed that this was the shot being considered:

CueTable Help

Every time I come up for this shot I hear Robert Byrnes in my head saying that it is one of the hardest shots in pool...lol!!

Maybe a little tougher than what I was thinking when I made the poll. This would clearly be the hardest. Bring the cueball out a few inches is about what I was thinking.

 

[manwon]

For me the hardest shot of the three listed depends on how I approach the table to shot it.

If I take the proper amount of time to complete my warm-up strokes none of the listed shots are difficult.

However, if I think it is in the bag, and I just fire away any or all of the listed shots can be trouble.

So, guess the conclusion that I have come to is that for me there are no hard shots, as long as I have the proper mind set and I use the proper techniques during alignment and warm-up.

PS: I am blind as a Bat, and suffer from attention deficit disorder and I never miss a ball!!!

Manwon

 

[PoolBum]

Only 98%? Man, you're seriously slipping!

I'm old, decrepit, and blind. From 5 feet away the six ball looks like a fuzzy olive. I need the six-out.