JUST SHOWING OFF
Here's the first trick shot I'd like to share with everyone. It's called "Just Showing Off". The late GREAT Steve Mizerak "The Miz" shot this shot in a Miller Lite commercial. Steve attributed that commercial to changing his life. The commercial has 3 consecutive trick shots, by which I mean that he plays position with the cue ball from one trick shot to the next without ever picking up the cue ball. The last trick shot he shoots, his line in the commerical is "...let me tell ya' something, you can work up a real good thirst even when you're just showing off." Hence the naming of this shot. This shot has shown up in various books on pool since the 60's, but will forever be linked to The Miz! The YouTube link to watch the commercial is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=sGNqiYmuv50, the commercial is at the END of the video.
So, lets look at how to set the shot up and shoot it:
Depending on the table the one and two should be aimed at the center of the side pocket. The three - four are in a direct line across the table at rail distance from edge of pocket. The four - five line of tangent is to the right side edge (the edge of the long rail) of the corner pocket (to accommodate throw.) The six is between the pocket points. Cue ball position is as diagrammed, but should be moved to adjust for missing the six. The hit on the two ball is a quarter ball hit. Remember, newer cloth will let the cue ball run long, meaning the cue ball will hit the short rail by the six. If you miss the six long, move the cue ball closer to the long rail; move the cue ball further out from the long rail if you miss the six short (the cue ball hits the long rail around the six.) Use top left, 10:30 - 11, english with a medium to medium hard hit. Good luck!
This was the first shot I practiced when I was preparing to shoot in the 2007 Artistic Pool US Open. I nailed it on the first attempt. There just really isn't anything better then the first time you get a trick to go! Then in the US Open I finally hit it on my third attempt, don't ever discount the nerve factor! Next time, I'll talk about the really, really cool way I got my nick name "The First Lady of Trick Shots" - it's a story you don't want to miss!!
