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Learn a lot of little TRICKS and one
day you will wake up with a MAGIC-ACT.
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Single click on the set-up photo of a selected
trick shot below to download and play the shot's mpeg movie. If you need a
movie player for your PC, click this
Windows Media Player link to download the latest "Free" mpeg movie player
from Microsoft.
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These movies will load very slowly on a dial-up Internet connection.
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A
description of the Practice Trick Shot (PTS) set-up and shot execution
procedure follows each of the following PTS illustrations. Have fun
setting up your own Practice Trick Shots and learning to successfully
execute each one. Challenge yourself with PTSs and grow your ability
to make shots, while expanding your knowledge and appreciation of all shot
making details.
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Challenge your friends to a game of "HORSE" - take turns setting up
and attempting to execute PTSs. Each player gets 3-tries to make a
selected shot. Failure to make the PTS in three tries, results in a
letter in the word "HORSE". The player who spells "HORSE" first looses
the game.
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PTS-1
OBJECTIVE: Shoot the cue-ball 5-rails and pocket the object-ball
sitting in front of the corner pocket. This is one of the first FUN
shots many Pool players learn. SET-UP: Place the
object-ball at the center-point between the tips of a foot-corner-pocket.
Place the cue-ball behind the head-string near the head-spot.
EXECUTION: STRIKE the cue-ball with center English.
AIM the
cue-centerline at about one-diamond on the side-rail from the
foot-corner-pocket opposite of the object-ball. STROKE the
cue-ball with a medium speed stroke. ADJUST your cue-ball-aim,
depending upon the shot-results. If the cue-ball shot-error is to the
left of the object-ball target, ADJUST your cue-ball-aim to the left by 1/5
of the shot-error. If the cue-ball shot-error is to the right of the
object-ball-target, ADJUST your cue-ball-aim to the right by 1/5 of the
shot-error. "Left" and "right" for the cue-ball are with respect to a
"Little-Guy" who rides the cue-ball and facing in its direction of motion.
"Shot-Error" and cue-ball "Aim-Adjustment" are measured at right-angles to
the cue-ball's path. A 5-rail bank or kick-shot, simplifies into
a 2-rail + a 3-rail bank shot. For more of the details concerning
making bank or kick shots, see "THE BANKS ARE ALWAYS OPEN"
TM product web page.
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PTS-2
OBJECTIVE: Pocket the object-ball in the left-foot-pocket. This
is probably my favorite PTS, and it is a very challenging shot. With a
lot of practice, a good Pool player should be able to make this shot on 1/5
attempts. SET-UP: Place the object-ball against the
foot-cushion and adjacent to the middle-diamond. Place the
cue-ball on the head-spot. EXECUTION: Be sure you are
using a very good cue with a well chalked cue tip. AIM the
cue-centerline perfectly through the center's of both the cue-ball and the
object-ball. Raise up the cue-centerline to make the cue-centerline
parallel to the playing-surface of the table (level cue). Move
the cue-centerline sideways to the left (parallel to the previous
cue-centerline position) until the cue-tip is at the limit of the "Miss-Cue
Circle"; in order to achieve maximum English or spin about the cue-ball's
vertical-spin-axis. STROKE the cue-ball with a medium speed
stroke and carefully observe the amount of the Squirt-Angle, or the angle
between the initial path of the cue-ball and the cue-centerline. If
the cue-ball misses the object-ball and lands on the cushion to the right of
the object-ball, ADJUST to slow down the stroke-speed and reduce the
Squirt-Angle. If the cue-ball strikes the exposed face of the
object-ball, ADJUST to speed up the stroke-speed and increase the
Squirt-Angle. When the cue-ball lands on the cushion directly to
the right of the object-ball then changes direction toward the
left-side-pocket; the cue-ball will cut the object-ball down the
foot-cushion and into the left-foot-pocket after the cue-ball strikes the
foot-cushion. COMMENT: If a player doesn't understand this PTS
correctly, it can be a very frustrating experience the first time the shot
is attempted. I've seen highly skilled players HUSTLE a gamble with
more amateur players on this shot, betting that they could make the shot
1/10 and that the amateur player could not make it 1/10 ("$10 says I
can make this shot 1/10 and you can't. If I don't make it 1/10,
you WIN; If you make it 1/10, you WIN!").
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PTS-3
OBJECTIVE: With all balls touching the cushions, pocket the 1st
object-ball and bring the cue-ball to the opposite end of the table for
position on the 2nd object-ball. SET-UP: Position the 1st
object-ball against the end-rail cushion and adjacent to the first diamond
from the corner-pocket. Place the cue-ball against the end-rail
cushion and 1-1/4 diamonds from the 1st object-ball position.
Place the 2nd object-ball adjacent to the middle-diamond at the opposite end
of the table. EXECUTION: Be sure you are using a very good
cue with a well chalked cue tip. STRIKE the cue-ball at the 4:00
O' Clock position and with the cue-tip is at the limit of the "Miss-Cue-Circle"; in order to achieve maximum English or spin about both the
cue-ball's side-spin-axis and vertical-spin-axis. AIM the cue
toward the 1st object-ball with the cue-centerline forming about a 10°
(degree) angle with the line of the cushion. STROKE the cue-ball
with maximum stroke-speed, squirting the cue-ball to the left and pocketing
the 1st object-ball into the corner-pocket. Draw-spin on the
cue-ball (spin about the cue-ball's side-axis) will act to pull the cue-ball
back toward the side-cushion. Right-English-spin on the cue-ball
(clockwise spin about the cue-ball's vertical-axis) will act to accelerate
the cue-ball up the table when it impacts with the side-cushion.
ADJUST the "cue-centerline-angle with the cushion", as necessary to pocket
the 1st object-ball and bring the cue-ball to the side-cushion and up the
table to the cushion at the other end of the table. If this
"cue-centerline angle with the cushion" is too small, the cue-ball will
impact farther away from the side-pocket as it pulls back from impact with
the 1st object-ball, and the cue-ball is less likely to reach position at
the opposite end of the table. If this "cue-centerline angle with the
cushion" is too large, the 1st object-ball will not be pocketed into the
corner pocket. The KEY to this PTS is finding the correct
"cue-centerline-angle with the cushion".
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PTS-4
OBJECTIVE: Pocket both the object-ball and the cue-ball in the same
corner-pocket at the result of the same stroke. The object-ball is
fired into the right-head pocket and the cue-ball goes three cushions into
the same right-head pocket. SET-UP: Place the object-ball
one-diamond away from the side-rail and one-diamond toward the foot-rail
from the left-side pocket. Place the cue-ball on the 50 Percent-Cut
line, half way between the object-ball and the cushion, and on the opposite
side of the object-ball from the right-head pocket. EXECUTION:
STRIKE the cue-ball with low-left English. AIM the cue-centerline to
pocket the object-ball in the right-head pocket. STROKE the shot
with a medium to fast stroke speed sufficient to carry the cue-ball
three-cushions around the table into the right-head pocket. ADJUST low
and left English and stroke speed, while controlling shot aim in order to
achieve pocketing of both the object-ball and the cue-ball in the same
corner-pocket on the same stroke. The KEY to this PTS is
consistent set-up of the balls, and control of cue-ball spin and speed.
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PTS-5
OBJECTIVE: Pocket two object-balls on the same stroke by making the
cue-ball curve around the one-ball, which is between the object balls at the
center of the end rail. SET-UP: Place an object-ball
between the tips of each of two pockets at one end of the table.
Place another object-ball between these first two object-balls at the center
of the end rail. Place the cue ball toward one side of the
table and at the opposite end of the table. EXECUTION: Be sure
you are using a very good cue with a well chalked cue tip.
STRIKE the cue-ball at 12 O' Clock and at the "Miss-Cue-Circle".
AIM
the cue-centerline to produce a 10 to 20 Percent-Cut angle on the
object-ball at the corner-pocket on the same side of the table as the
cue-ball. STROKE the cue-ball with a medium to fast stroke
speed. The STRIKE and follow-thru should produce "top-spin" on the
cue-ball that remains after the cue-ball impacts with the object-ball.
ADJUST the Percent-Cut angle of the shot so that the cue-ball pockets the
first object-ball, travels to the end rail, rebounds, and then curves toward
the end-rail to also pocket the second object-ball. The KEY to
this PTS is to impart sufficient cue-ball "top-spin-English", combined with
the right shot Percent-Cut angle.
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PTS-6
OBJECTIVE: Pocket all four object-balls on one shot attempt.
The object-ball nearest the side-pocket is to go into that pocket. The
next object-ball to the right in the set-up is to go into the far
corner-pocket on the same side of the table. The next object-ball to
the right in the set-up is to bank one end rail cushion into the
corner-pocket nearest to the player. The object-ball furthest to
the right in the set-up is to go into the side-pocket at the opposite side
of the table. SET-UP: Collect four object-balls touching
together in a straight-line using a cue as a straight-edge. Place the
group of four-balls near a side-pocket with the cue straight-edge aligned
with the tips of the side-pockets and the straight-edge forming a
right-angle to the side-cushion. Place the cue-ball on the table at a
point one-diamond from the foot spot and toward the side rail where the
object balls are located. EXECUTION: STRIKE the cue-ball in the center.
AIM
the cue-centerline so that the cue-ball impacts with the third-object-ball
just slightly before the cue-ball impacts with the second object-ball in the
group of four object-balls. STROKE the cue-ball with a medium to fast
stroke speed; no more than necessary to obtain the desired actions of the
object-balls. ADJUST the aim of the cue-centerline slightly so that
the cue-ball strikes more or less of the third-object-ball before the
cue-ball strikes the second-object-ball in order to effect the timing
between between the second and third object-balls; these two balls may tend
to collide as the third-object-ball banks away from the opposite end
cushion. The KEY to this PTS is the cue-ball's initial contact
position with the third-object-ball and stroke-speed.
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PTS-7
OBJECTIVE: Pocket the object-ball 1-rail into the right-foot-pocket.
SET-UP: Place the object-ball against the side-cushion and adjacent to
the first diamond down from the left-side pocket. Place the cue ball
on the head-spot. EXECUTION: STRIKE the cue-ball at the 1:00 O'
Clock (top-right-English) about 1/2 cue-tip away from center. AIM the
cue-centerline so that the cue-ball cuts the object-ball to the left about a
10 Percent-Cut (un-eclipsed portion of the object-ball). STROKE
the cue ball with a medium stroke speed and force the cue-ball to transfer
spin to the object-ball (top-right-spin on the cue-ball will impart
bottom-left-spin on to the object-ball, "Gear Action" of friction between
the balls). ADJUST to stroke speed as necessary for the object-ball to
take the desired path into the right-head pocket. Increasing stroke
speed should bring the object-ball toward the right of the pocket;
decreasing the stroke speed should bring the object-ball more toward the
left of the pocket. The KEY to success on this PTS is correct stroke
speed.
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PTS-8
OBJECTIVE: Pocket the object-ball into the side-pocket, while
the tip of the cushion at the pocket is blocking the path of the shot.
SET-UP: Place an object-ball against the cushion near a side-pocket
opening, with about 3/16" of cushion blocking the path of the object-ball
straight into the pocket-opening. Place the cue-ball about 12"
back from the object-ball on a line straight into the side-pocket-opening.
EXECUTION: STRIKE the cue-ball with center-English.
AIM the cue-centerline to shoot the cue-ball straight into the object-ball.
STROKE the shot with a very high stroke speed in order to bend over the
intervening tip of the cushion that is blocking the path of the object-ball into the pocket
opening. The KEY to success on this PTS is a high stroke
speed that makes the force of the cushion tip small compared to the forces
involved in the ball impact.
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PTS-9
OBJECTIVE: Make the object-ball in the right-foot pocket and the
cue-ball never touches a cushion. SET-UP: Place an
object-ball against the side-cushion and adjacent a diamond from the
left-foot pocket. Place the cue-ball against this same object
ball on a line that is perpendicular to the cushion. EXECUTION:
STRIKE the cue-ball with top-left-English, and outside of the
"Miss-Cue-Circle". AIM the cue-centerline parallel to a line
thru the centers of the cue-ball and object-ball. Use an "open
bridge" so that the cue can intentionally miss-cue from the face of the
cue-ball; getting the cue out of the rebound path of the cue-ball and
object-ball. STROKE the cue with a medium to fast stroke
speed. ADJUST the amount of left-English used to direct the
object-ball into the right-foot pocket. It excessive
left-English is used, the object-ball will hit the end-cushion or go left of
the right-foot-pocket. If insufficient left-English is used,
the object-ball will hit the side-cushion above the right-foot pocket.
The KEY to achieving success with this PTS is applying the correct amount of
left-English, and a stroke-speed sufficient to attain the desired rebound
action of the cue-ball and the object-ball. Top-spin-English on
this shot acts to stop the cue-ball as it rebounds from the stroke action.
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PTS-10
OBJECTIVE: Pocket the object-ball into the left-foot pocket and
draw the cue-ball back across the mid-string line at the center of the
table. SET-UP: Place the object-ball against the
side cushion and two diamonds away from the left-side-pocket.
Place the cue-ball against the side cushion and one diamond away from the
left-side pocket. EXECUTION: STRIKE the cue-ball at
6 O' Clock (Draw-English), while keeping the cue's centerline as level as
possible. STROKE the cue-speed slow to medium, smooth with a
follow thru (as slow as possible to minimize "jump" action); while being
careful not to "jump" the cue-ball from the playing surface of the table.
AIM the cue-centerline in line with centers of both the cue-ball and the
object-ball (check for accurate alignment of the edges of the side rail
cushions beforehand). The KEY to this PTS is to keep the
cue centerline level and minimize stroke speed in order to avoid "jumping"
the cue-ball from the playing surface of the table.
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PTS-11
OBJECTIVE: Pocket the object-ball into the left-foot
pocket from the illustrated set-up position (this is not a legal game shot)
SET-UP: Place the object-ball against the foot cushion.
Place the cue-ball at an acute angle with the object-ball and the line of
the cushion. EXECUTION: STRIKE: Don't
strike the cue-ball with the cue-tip; rather, push the cue-tip into the
cue-ball to create "gear action" due to friction between contacting
surfaces. Push the cue-tip with "low-right-English" within the
"Miss-Cue-Circle"; being careful not to deflect the cushion during the push
stroke action. AIM the cue-centerline to form an acute angle
with the line of the cushion. STROKE the cue at a very
slow speed, just sufficient to travel the object-ball to the pocket. The
KEY to this PTS is a soft-push and minimization of deflection of the
cushion.
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PTS-12
OBJECTIVE: Pocket the object-ball in the right-head-pocket from
the illustrated set-up position of the balls (this is not a legal game
shot). SET-UP: Place the cue-ball against the
cushion and adjacent to the middle diamond at the foot of the table.
Place an object-ball against this cue-ball and on a line up thru the
centerline of the table playing area. EXECUTION:
STRIKE: Do not strike the cue-ball with the cue-tip; rather,
push the cue-ball into the object-ball with maximum "right-English" (within
the "Miss-Cue-Circle") allowing for maximum "gear action" due to friction
between the balls. AIM the cue-centerline straight up the middle
line of the table. STROKE the cue with a slow speed, and a long
smooth stroke action to maximize spin transfer between the balls (chalking
the contact point between the balls will increase friction between the balls
and make the shot less difficult). The stroke is actually a two
handed pushing of the balls with the cue-tip. The KEY to
success with this PTS is a very smooth, slow pushing action; keeping the
balls in frictional contact.
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PTS-13
OBJECTIVE: Pocket the object-ball into the left-foot pocket from
the illustrated ball set-up position. SET-UP: Place
an object-ball against the side cushion and next to the right-tip of the
left-side pocket opening. Place the cue-ball on the
foot-spot. EXECUTION: STRIKE the cue-ball with
center-English. AIM the cue-ball to impact with the left-tip of
the left-side pocket and rebound into the object ball to send it into the
left-foot pocket. STROKE the cue speed with medium-speed
sufficient to pocket the object-ball. The KEY to success on this
PTS is the aim of the cue-ball into the tip of the side-pocket.
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PTS-14
OBJECTIVE: Pocket the stripped object-ball in the corner-pocket
by "Masse" action around the interfering 8-ball. SET-UP:
Place a stripped object-ball in the center of the corner-pocket opening.
Place an interfering 8-ball along the side rail somewhere near the
side-pocket. Place the cue-ball adjacent to the side-cushion
near the opposite end of the table. EXECUTION:
STRIKE the cue-ball at 3:00 O' Clock (right-English), while elevating the
cue-centerline at about a 45 degree angle to the table surface.
AIM the cue-centerline to provide sufficient clearance for the path of the
cue-ball to Masse around the object-ball. STROKE the cue speed
slow to medium, while striking thru the cue-ball to impart spin about the
cue-ball's forward-spin-axis. The KEY to success on this PTS is
practice necessary to develop "touch" for the "Masse" (curve) shot.
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PTS-15
OBJECTIVE: This is a timing shot, and offers some surprising FUN
to the un-initiated. The one-ball or the object-ball is to go
into the right-side pocket. SET-UP: Place the object-ball
against the cushion and adjacent to the first diamond from the right-side
pocket. Place the cue-ball against the cushion and adjacent to
the object-ball, on the opposite side of the object-ball from the right-side
pocket. Be sure the object-ball and cue-ball are touching each other
and the cushion. EXECUTION: STRIKE the cue-ball with
top-right-English by elevating the cue slightly so that the cue-tip strikes
the cue-ball within the "Miss-Cue-Circle". AIM the
cue-centerline for one-ball diameter to the left of the cushion point at the
left of the left-side pocket. STROKE the cue with a speed just
sufficient to move the object-ball over in front of the right-side pocket
opening. ADJUST the "right-English strike" of the cue-ball to
direct the cue-ball toward the center of the right-side pocket opening.
Insufficient "right-English strike" directs the cue-ball toward the right
side of the right-side pocket opening. Excessive "right-English
strike" directs the cue-ball toward the left side of the right-side pocket
opening. The KEY to this PTS is adjusting both stroke speed and
"right-English strike", while always putting the balls in the same places,
so that the cue-ball arrives at the side-pocket opening as the object-ball
moves up in front of the pocket opening.
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PTS-16
OBJECTIVE: Pocket three called object-balls on single cue
stroke; two object-balls into the left-foot pocket, and one object-ball into
the right-foot pocket. SET-UP: Place an object-ball
adjacent to the left-side cushion at a point so that the ball is tangent to
the one-diamond line on the side toward the middle of the table. Place
two additional object-balls against the first object-ball so that a line
drawn thru the centers of these two object-balls points at the right-tip of
the right-foot pocket cushion, and about 40% of the intervening ball is
un-eclipsed by the object-ball at the cushion, when looking over the balls
toward the right-side pocket. Place the cue-ball about in the
middle of the table. EXECUTION: STRIKE the cue-ball
with top-right-English within the "Miss-Cue-Circle".
AIM
the cue-ball to pocket the object-ball positioned against the cushion in the
left-foot-pocket. The cue-ball is to come off the side-cushion
after playing the object-ball at the cushion, and then strike the middle
object-ball; which then caroms off the middle object-ball into the
left-foot-pocket with the object-ball furthest from the cushion being
"Thrown" into the right-foot-pocket. STROKE the cue speed medium
to fast, with sufficient energy to carry all three object-balls into their
respective pockets. The KEY to success with this PTS is careful
set-up of the balls, and accurate execution of the object-ball at the
cushion into the left-foot-pocket.
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