Another resistance draw shot!

Ok, so this is the same concept as the last shot- it's one of those illegal push shots! Except on this one you will need to hit it harder and go 3 rails with the cue ball. I've seen this shot set up like 20 different ways. My husband, Stefan, sets the 5 balls way further out from the short rail, but for my stroke, this is where I need to put the set up. I've left the cue on the table to show you how we set up the row of 5 balls so they are straight. I put the middle ball right in the middle of the short rail. Because of where my cue lies on the table during set up, I place the 5 ball in the corner after the set up of the other balls. As in ALL resistance draw shots all 5 balls must be frozen!!

So look at the english I've put on this shot. WAY bottom right, to spin around the table clockwise as you're standing at the shot. Sometimes people look at this shot and think that left spin gets you around the table... no... common mistake... think.. the cue ball is coming back at you. Push right through the cue ball. I aim at where I've placed the chalk. You may have to play with aim and set up, but I'm sure you will all get this one!! You only have to make the 4 and 5 ball on this shot.

As a side note, I was attempting this shot in competition (the 2008 Masters I think) and made the 1, 2, 3, and 4 ball, but missed the 5 ball by about a half inch. Dr. Cue says from the crowd "She should get something for making all four of those balls!" It's actually VERY rare for the four to go and come that close to the fifth. I just wish that fifth had dropped!!!

Push Around The Rack

This is a really fun shot. But for all of you who are 'by the book' shooters... this may take a few tries to get right. Why?? Welllll... it's a 'push' shot. Which means this particular trick shot is accomplished with an 'illegal' shot on the cue ball. Which I have to say is why it's just so much fun to do - that and if you look at the cue ball path below... now that's cool!!

So lets get to the set up of the shot. First, take the rack and put it on the table (notice the rack outline below.) Now notice how I have the cue stick on the table, this is purely for ease of set up. I place the butt of my cue about an inch to the right (as if you were standing at the end of the table) of the 1st diamond on the short rail and line it up to the middle of the far corner pocket. Now take the cue ball, 1 ball, 2 ball and 3 ball and place them along the cue stick with the back edge of the cue ball even with the back edge of the rack you placed on the table. All of these balls must be frozen. Now carefully roll the cue stick away from the balls without disturbing the balls. Place the 4 ball in the left hand corner pocket.

Now how to execute the shot. Notice the english you'll be putting on the cue ball. Extream low right english. Your aim point is at the chalk I've placed on the short rail on the far end of the table. You may need to adjust this point depending on your push stroke. Now, with a mid-firm hit, strike the cue ball with a long follow thru. This is what makes this shot 'illegal'. If you could see this shot in slow motion, the cue stick stays in contact with the cue ball for a significant amount of time. This is what basically puts a 'level cue masse' on the ball. The resistance of the 1, 2, and 3 ball combined with the massive amount of draw right english is what allows the cue ball to arc back around the rack making the 4 ball. Oh.. and the cue ball can never contact the rack or upper short rail!! Have fun with this shot!!!

In The Rack Masse

The first time I attempted this shot was about two years ago. I was looking down at the cue ball and thinking ... no way. But yeah.. way. And it's really easy. This is one of those impressive looking shots that takes so little effort. Ok... the set up: Put the cue ball on the rail on the third diamond. Place 14 other balls frozen to each other around the cue ball in the form of a rack. Oh.. this shot really needs 17 balls or just leave off the top ball as in the diagram below. At the first diamond place a blocker ball a ball and a chalks width away from the rail. Actually I hit this shot with the blocker ball only about a ball and 5mm off the rail (try it, it'll go.) Place a ball in the corner pocket. Easy set up right??

Now how to execute the shot. Note the english I have on the cue ball. That is NOT bottom left. That is 7 o'clock masse english!!! Which means.. you are viewing the cue ball from the top!! Your cue with that kind of hit will basically land in the small triangular gap created by the cue ball, rail and one ball as per the diagram. This spin brings the cue ball back to the corner pocket and hugs it to the rail. It also clears that one ball out of your way. Yeah.. the cue stick clears that ball out of the cue's way, not the cue ball coming back. Tricky right? So just elevate the cue to between 80 and 90 degrees- make sure that remaining 10-20 degrees of cue is AIMING straight down the rail. If you're new to masses have someone stand up table and see where your cue is aimed. Once you elevate the cue to such an angle, it's hard at first to figure out all the mechanics of the stroke. Now take a pretty hard hit- drive the cue to the table- and then get it out of the way fast. Balls scatter, and the cue ball escapes the pack to zip down the rail to make the ball in the corner. It's a fun shot!! Good Luck!!!

This shot has it All!!

Ok, the set up is pretty easy. First take 13 balls and freeze them to the long rail and to each other. I can't stress how important that they all be frozen together!! Start with the first ball just hanging over the corner of the pocket. Next, you'll see that in the below diagram I have a cue on the table.. disregard that. What you need is a rack, place the point in the pocket and turn it so that the flat edge is across the table (like the cue in the diagram). Cuetable.com doesn't allow for a rack on the table, so this is my best effort. Next place a blocker ball (the 13 in the diagram) so that it is the 5th ball out from the short rail on that first diamond line. Place the cue ball on the rail so the edge of the ball is flush with the point. Place the one ball approximately 2mm away from the cue ball.

Note the english I have on the ball. And that's not even high enough!! You need to jack up on the ball about 30 to 35 degrees. And hit the top of the ball. Really, totally not kidding. I struggled and struggled on this shot up until I saw Stefan hit it and I was to the side of him. It looked like he was going to miss the cue ball all together!! Way, Way up there .. with left. This is a type of fouette shot (meaning whip). It's way odd, it doesn't seem that hitting the ball on top like that would work, but trust me... it does. To be honest my fouette shot stinks, so in order to make this shot I need to aim where the chalk is on the table. If you are spinning the ball too much (lucky dog!) aim more up table. If you are running the ball up the table and missing the rack, aim more down table. Medium-hard hit.. punch through it!! Good luck!!