Tip Of The Week

Number: 15 Jim Tellier May 2011

TOPIC: The Drag-Draw Shot

CATEGORY: Intermediate/Advanced

INTRODUCTION:

You are faced with a thin cut on the object ball that you need (or want) to pocket. Problem is, because youre hitting it so thin, the cue ball is gonna go flying plus, your next shot is at the same end of the table! Do you hit it hard enough to go all the way down the table and back? What it theres stuff blocking your path?

TECHNIQUE:

This is really a finesse type of shot, because no two of them are ever the same, and several variables come into play at the same time for you to succeed with it. BUT, its always worth considering, especially if you cant see a guaranteed up/down table path to get shape on the next ball. The general idea is this: aim your cut shot almost the same as if you were going to smack it hard, BUT pay attention to the cut angle! Youre going to hit this one soft, so the possibility of throw comes into play. So the speed of the hit becomes more important. Estimate how hard you would have to hit the ball just enough to get it to the pocket, and drop. Factor that into your plan for the cut angle, then once youve got the cut angle figured out, hit the cue ball low, and with a sharp stroke. (This is easier to demonstrate than write about! But, what I mean by that is: a quick enough stroke to immediately get the backspin on the ball, but not enough to cause it to slide forward too much). The idea is: most of the cue energy goes into making the ball backspin, and you only want enough forward motion to get the object ball to the pocket no more, no less. Ideally, by the time the cue ball hits the object ball, it will have just barely stopped backspinning, and will have started to roll forward.

The net effect is, its as if you just hit the OB hard enough with the CB to pocket it, from a position thats adjacent to the OB! So, the CB isnt going to travel very far afterwards!

This one should be practiced from a variety of distances, both CB to OB, and OB to pocket, as well as with different angles. Its not easy easy, but not super difficult either. Its very worthwhile putting in your bag-o-tricks!

NEXT TIME: Some more thoughts about the mental part of the game.