WING SHOTS … Made Easy by Pool Physics

[dr_dave]

FYI, I just posted a new video where I demonstrate two common “wing shots,” where the target ball is moving like a bird flying (“on the wing”) when hunting. These shots are fun to practice and to use as proposition or exhibition shots. They are also a lot easier than they might look due to helpful physics. Check it out:

Contents:
0:00 – Intro
1:08 - Cut Wing Shot
---- 3:22 - Self-Correcting Physics
4:34 - Bank Wing Shot
6:36 - Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Great stuff again, Dave!

Because of the self-correcting nature of wing shots, are they actually easier (more forgiving) than the same static shots?

pj
chgo

 

[dr_dave]

Great stuff again, Dave!

Thanks!

Because of the self-correcting nature of wing shots, are they actually easier (more forgiving) than the same static shots?

The static spot shot is fairly easy, so it is tough for the wing shot to beat that. But I think the cross-corner-bank wing shot might be easier than the static bank, or at least of similar difficulty.

 

[measureman]

Back in Jersey 3 or 4 guys would post up $5 or $10 and each take 3 turns and high run in wing shots would win.
My high run was 18 all time.
Most of the time 10 or so would win.
I also have made 3 in a row behind my back, that was years ago and I would have a hard time today doing it fast enough, I'm old!

 

[dr_dave]

Back in Jersey 3 or 4 guys would post up $5 or $10 and each take 3 turns and high run in wing shots would win.
My high run was 18 all time.
Most of the time 10 or so would win.
I also have made 3 in a row behind my back, that was years ago and I would have a hard time today doing it fast enough, I'm old!

Wow! 18 is impressive! I was happy with 5. But I can see how much higher numbers would be possible with a little more practice.

 

[measureman]

Wow! 18 is impressive! I was happy with 5. But I can see how much higher numbers would be possible with a little more practice.

We used to do the wing shot gamble prop several times a week.
After a while you get consistent speed on the object ball so you can fine tune the timing of the stroke.
It also depends on the table and pocket size.
Running an 18 on one of the shimmed Diamonds at Felt would be really hard.
On the other hand on a slop bucket GC it would be easier.

 

[Rocket354]

Fun and interesting video.

My high run is 3. They were also the first three I ever attempted in my life. I thought I was a wing shot savant. Then I missed about six or eight in a row and gave it up for good. But after watching this video, maybe I'll give them another try.

 

[measureman]

Fun and interesting video.

My high run is 3. They were also the first three I ever attempted in my life. I thought I was a wing shot savant. Then I missed about six or eight in a row and gave it up for good. But after watching this video, maybe I'll give them another try.

I haven't watched the video but it's all in the timing at least for me.

 

[briankenobi]

FYI, I just posted a new video where I demonstrate two common “wing shots,” where the target ball is moving like a bird flying (“on the wing”) when hunting. These shots are fun to practice and to use as proposition or exhibition shots. They are also a lot easier than they might look due to helpful physics. Check it out:

Contents:
0:00 – Intro
1:08 - Cut Wing Shot
---- 3:22 - Self-Correcting Physics
4:34 - Bank Wing Shot
6:36 - Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

Great Video Dave. These are fun. These shots are still in our artistic pool tournaments with a little catch though. You have to hold the balls and release them like you showed at the beginning of the video. Also there is a piece of chalk on the foot spot. You have to cut the ball behind the chalk. Any contact with the chalk and the attempt is no good. You get 3 attempts and each attempt is 3 balls. Each ball is 3 points. You take your best score of the 3 attempts. Tom Rossman is the master at these. I asked him what his record was. On a 7ft table its like 58 and 42 on a 9ft table. Crazy. I shoot the other variation in our tournaments called reverse wing shots. This version you roll the cue ball out and then carom an object ball off the moving cue ball into the corner pocket. Same set up and rules. My record on this variation is 10 in a row and 13 out of 15. My practice table is a 9ft diamond table with 4 inch pockets.

I would love to see your take on the reverse wing shots.

 

[dr_dave]

Fun and interesting video.

My high run is 3. They were also the first three I ever attempted in my life. I thought I was a wing shot savant. Then I missed about six or eight in a row and gave it up for good. But after watching this video, maybe I'll give them another try.

Let us know how you do. Once you get the speed and timing a little dialed it, the shot is amazingly and shockingly easy.

 

[dr_dave]

Great Video Dave.

Thanks.

These are fun.

Agreed.

These shots are still in our artistic pool tournaments with a little catch though. You have to hold the balls and release them like you showed at the beginning of the video. Also there is a piece of chalk on the foot spot. You have to cut the ball behind the chalk. Any contact with the chalk and the attempt is no good. You get 3 attempts and each attempt is 3 balls. Each ball is 3 points. You take your best score of the 3 attempts. Tom Rossman is the master at these. I asked him what his record was. On a 7ft table its like 58 and 42 on a 9ft table. Crazy. I shoot the other variation in our tournaments called reverse wing shots. This version you roll the cue ball out and then carom an object ball off the moving cue ball into the corner pocket. Same set up and rules. My record on this variation is 10 in a row and 13 out of 15. My practice table is a 9ft diamond table with 4 inch pockets.

Thanks for the info. I showed the version I did in the video to make it easier for people.

I would love to see your take on the reverse wing shots.

I like physics better when it is helpful and self-correcting. The opposite would be true with a back-cut wing shot. That sounds scary to me. Ain't nobody got time for that.

 

[measureman]

Has anybody ever tried the 2 ball wing combo shot?
Didn't think so.LOL.
Take 2 object balls and roll them down the table with your non shooting hand and then fire the cue ball trying to make the combo in the corner pocket.
It takes a little practice to roll the balls right,you hold them stacked vertically to the table slightly angled so when you roll them they look like a static combo.
I may have made it a couple times I really don't remember.

 

[measureman]

I watched the video and the cross side wing bank shot was great.
I don't think I've seen that before,maybe but I think not.
I've seen a lot in 63 years of playing and have probably forgot a few things.

 

[briankenobi]

Has anybody ever tried the 2 ball wing combo shot?
Didn't think so.LOL.
Take 2 object balls and roll them down the table with your non shooting hand and then fire the cue ball trying to make the combo in the corner pocket.
It takes a little practice to roll the balls right,you hold them stacked vertically to the table slightly angled so when you roll them they look like a static combo.
I may have made it a couple times I really don't remember.

Dr Cue does it all the time in his shows. He even does that shot behind the back. He has so many variations of wing shots its crazy.

 

[dr_dave]

I watched the video and the cross side wing bank shot was great.
I don't think I've seen that before,maybe but I think not.
I've seen a lot in 63 years of playing and have probably forgot a few things.

I'm glad to hear to saw something new (or got reminded of something you forgot).

 

[measureman]

Dr Cue does it all the time in his shows. He even does that shot behind the back. He has so many variations of wing shots its crazy.

I've seen his show,didn't see any wing combos.
But he does put on a great show.

 

[dr_dave]

I've seen his show,didn't see any wing combos.
But he does put on a great show.

I've seen many exhibition shows by Dr. Cue. It is not the same every time. He has a vast repertoire of shots at his disposal, and he is great at most of them. I think I've seen him do a wing combo before, but it might have been from the old ESPN Trick Shot Magic days.

 

[briankenobi]

I've seen his show,didn't see any wing combos.
But he does put on a great show.

The last show I saw him do was the main act of our show at our National Artistic Pool Championships and he pulled it out there. As Dave stated, Tom doesn't the exact same show. Its close however. But Tom does do the rolling combo quite often.

 

[Banger]

Nice video.

Fats used to do that shot. Granted, he was a character, and you might want to take anything he said with a grain of salt. But he made the wing shot look easy and graceful (yeah, small table & big pockets).

Skip ahead to the very end (55:55) to see it.