Shot #1

In the semifinals against Alex Pagulayan, Darren runs these final three balls to move ahead 7-6. The most natural path for the cue ball, using some helping right-hand spin, sends it around the table three rails for position on the 8. The option that Darren has is to decide which pocket he wants to shoot the 8 ball.

Option A plays position to shoot the 8 ball in the corner pocket. If he’s able to get perfect on this ball, it’s not a bad choice. However, if he comes up short he could be left with a difficult shot. If he overruns position he will be flirting with the side pocket. Option A leaves a pretty small window for position.

Option B plays position to shoot the 8 ball in the side pocket. This was the option Darren chose. Opting to play the 8 ball in the side pocket affords a much bigger window to still have a good shot. If he comes up short he will send the cue ball around the 9 three rails for position. If he overruns position he can easily go around the table three rails the other direction for the 9 ball. It’s pretty difficult to foil this run out by choosing to play the 8 ball in the side pocket.

Shot #2

In this next example, Darren runs these three balls to advance 4-0 in the finals against Shawn Putnam. Darren is almost straight in on the 6 ball and again, has to decide which pocket he wants to play the 8 ball. I’ve seen many players in this instance just stop the cue ball guaranteeing they will have a shot on the 8. This may be the easier shot but perhaps not the most effective. Take a look at what a professional does.

Option A plays position for the 8 ball in the corner pocket by shooting a stop shot. The benefit to this option is the easier shot on the 6 ball but on the other hand, the position of the 8 ball can make the nearby side pocket seem awfully big if you end up with too much angle.

Option B plays position for the 8 ball in the side pocket by drawing straight back. This was the option Darren chose. The advantage to getting the cue ball to the center of the table is that, again, he has a much bigger window for position on the 8 ball. If he comes up short, he can go around the 9, if he’s straight in he shoots a stop shot, and if he goes too far he goes around the other end of the table; similar to the other example.

There are a couple different schools of thought on this second shot. Some may say the draw shot carries a higher risk of miscuing, which is true. Depending on your style of play, you may prefer less movement on the cue ball. Then, there’s also the rule of “don’t play position when you already have position” which, in this case, could easily apply.

There is one important thing to remember when faced with a situation like this. Of course you always want to select the shot you’re most comfortable shooting but remember, with three balls left on the table you want to be comfortable with all three of them, not just the one. Win more games and have more fun, the way the pros do it!

To purchase the DVD of this match or others like it, go to accu-stats.com and mention this article to receive $5 off.

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extreme right-hand english to double-kiss combo the 9 ball

Take a look at the layout. What other option do you really have? I suppose you could attempt a safety.

The only thing to be cautious of is to make sure you don’t lose the cue ball. You shoot this shot with extreme outside (right-hand) english and it’s easy to let that cue ball get away from you.

Make sure you try this one at home, kids!

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Volume 2 of “What Would the Pros Do?” takes us to the 2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships in Chesapeake, Virginia where the score is tied 5-5 between Efren Reyes and Marc Vidal. After making a remarkable shot on the 7 ball in the side, Efren leaves himself dead, straight in on the 8 ball with the 9 at the other end of the table.

Commentators quickly identified his dilemma and suggested he might attempt a jump or masse shot. Efren scratched his head and contemplated all the possibilities. In the end, the choice was clear. Let’s review his options:

Option A:   Cheat the pocket.

Option B:   Jump the cue ball.

Option C:   Masse the cue ball.

Option D:   Draw the cue ball.

Option E:   Pocket the 8 ball rail-first.

Efren chose Option E.

The risk of attempting to cheat the pocket in Option A is too high. So many things could go wrong with this choice. It’s far too easy to miss the shot when you place priority on playing position. Aside from missing the shot, there’s also the extreme danger of jumping either or both balls off the table.

Jumping the cue ball in Option B requires a perfect hit and is also incredibly risky. The possibility of the cue ball and/or the object ball jumping off the table is quite high. This shot also requires an elevated cue and a very firm stroke. Once again, there is a huge chance of missing the shot.

The masse shot in Option C is not a bad choice but it’s an extremely difficult shot that requires a lot of practice. This is not a practical shot and even with practice it’s not guaranteed that it can be executed properly under pressure in competition. If you are able to pocket the ball with the masse, the cue ball is sent loose and there is very little guarantee for position.

Drawing the cue ball straight back with low left-hand spin will get you close, but not close enough. You will have a hard time getting the cue ball anywhere near the center of the table. Once again, using such extreme spin and speed reduces the chances of pocketing the ball and in this case, with very little reward even if you do.

The best decision in this scenario is Option E. The only thing Efren has to do was decide what part of the rail to contact and adjust his speed accordingly. This shot is played with inside draw. The inside (right-hand) spin facilitates pocketing the ball and as an added bonus, it also causes the cue ball to bounce away from the 9 ball after it contacts the second rail.

This rail-first shot guarantees position on the 9 ball. In the event that you miss the 8 ball, it also carries the possibility of a safety because the cue ball is sent down table while the 8 ball usually remains up table. Efren also knew that with the newer cloth on the TV table, the balls slide more and shots are more forgiving.

Like any new shot, do not attempt to execute this without practice. If you miss the shot, pay close attention to what side of the ball you’re missing it. Don’t be afraid to cut this ball. It’s much better to overcut this shot than to undercut it. Remember that along with pocketing the ball, the other objective is to create distance between the cue ball and the 8 ball. Undercutting the 8 ball could easily result in selling out the shot.

Choosing the correct option won the game for Efren and allowed him to take the lead for the first time in the match. He went on to win 11-7. Both players demonstrated tremendous shot-making and defensive play in this feature Accu-stats match. Efren shot a .871 and Marc shot a .793.

To purchase this dvd or other great matches, go to accu-stats.com or call 1-800-828-0397 and mention this article to receive $5 off.

It was also the featured Simonis Shot of the Day on day five of the 2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships. (timestamp: 2:53)

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Over the past few years, I’ve had the tremendous honor of watching and interviewing so many of the best players in the world. Amidst the countless hours of world class pool, I’ve seen the best do some amazing things. However, most of the time, they aren’t really doing anything special. They’re just making smart decisions. Those are the things that make the game look so simple for them. Each of us can win more games by choosing ideal patterns and learning from what the pros would do.

Volume 1 takes place at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada during the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. In a race to 8, Spain’s David Alcaide is up 7-5 against Dennis Haar from Indiana when he left himself a funny angle on his final 8 ball.

He has a few options.

Option A.      Slide into the 10 ball and play the 9 in the opposite corner.

Option B.      Draw across table, missing the 10 ball to also play the 9 in the opposite corner pocket.

Option C.      Use high-right to spin around the 10 ball to play for a much larger window for position on the 9 in the side.

David chose Option C.

Option A is risky. Clipping the 10 ball too thin could send the cue ball loose. Hitting the 10 ball in the wrong place could leave you jacked up over it. With the position of the 9 ball, there is always the risk of scratching in the side pocket if left with the wrong angle. True, the scratch can be avoided, but it may cost you a tougher shot on the 10 ball.

Option A

Option B is not ideal either because you ultimately send your cue ball against the line of the shot. If your plan is to play the 9 in the corner, draw an imaginary line to the object ball from where you want the cue ball to be. With this shot, the cue ball is coming across that line. This means there’s only a small window for when your cue ball is in position. And again, with this shot, when you come too far you’re flirting with the side pocket scratch on the 9 ball.

Option B

Option C is the most practical choice in this scenario. The right hand english can make it easier to pocket the ball. It also assists the cue ball to continue rolling on its organic path. As an added bonus, the target area for position on the 9 in the side is much greater than playing it in the corner. The cue ball is coming into the line of the next shot and with an angle anywhere within the shaded area, position can be easily achieved to have a good shot on the 10 ball.

Option C

Remember, you always have options. Sometimes the ideal shot is more obvious than others. Look at the entire run out, not just the shot in front of you and choose the best pattern that allows you to play natural position and lead the cue ball into the line of your next shot, not against it. That’s what the pros would do.

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Nicole Keeney was a Meanie in Texas

Nicole & Ming from 2009 RTC Championships

Denver is not the same without her around here but she’s off havin’ fun, rompin’ around Texas.

Fortunately for her, the OB Cues Tour made this past weekend’s stop the WPBA Texas State Championship so she was able to play. Of the 30-something player field she met up with Ming Ng in the finals in a race to 7. Nicole was down 6-1. Ming 3-fouled her to get on the hill. Apparently, Nicole didn’t like that. She won the next 6 games and came back to win 7-6.

She is seriously hitting the ball so great right now! Looking forward to seeing how she’ll do this weekend in Texas.

Aimee Peterson Pummels the Field at the APA Allstars

Aimee Peterson, Ladies Top Gun & Allstars Top Gun champion

I was also very happy to hear that one of my very own students and just all-around sweetest people in pool (we’re working on breaking her of that at the table), Aimee Peterson plowed through the coed field of 40 players, undefeated, to take the Allstars Top Gun tournament this weekend.

I first met Aimee and her perfect mechanics in 2007 at the preliminary round for the US Amateur Championships. I’d never seen her before and initially took her lightly before I realized she could get out. I also played her in the finals this year for the same event.

In1998, she was the only lady to qualify in Denver for the Camel Pro Tour. She was on the raise when life and its other priorities stepped and has since delayed her progress. “I feel like I was asleep from 1998 until now,” she says. “You were, but now we’ve awakened the sleeping bear,” I told her.

Aimee and her husband have been huge supporters of mine and one of my favorite couples in pool. She also qualified for singles in Vegas next month so we’re doing everything we can this week to get her ready. I’m so excited for her!!

My Husband is still my Hero

Marc, my cowboy

Marc finished runner-up this weekend at the Golden Fleece in Seattle for the CSI U.S. Open One Pocket qualifier. That’s two back to back qualifiers now. It was a 40-player field, race to 3, with approx 10 tables. Yeah, you know where this is going.

Marc was up by 8a.m. on Sunday morning to hit balls before his 1 o’clock match that was delayed by two hours where he finally won hill-hill four hours later. Then, he played a beautiful set for the hot seat ending in an unfortunate scratch on his final ball at hill-hill resulting in another four hour hill-hill match against the same previous player to make it to the finals at 5 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING! I’m so glad I don’t play one pocket. There’s no way I have the patience for all that.

By 5 in the morning, the poor guy was completely exhausted and had given it all he had just to get there. Everyone else left, the tournament director, the streaming crew, and the spectators. They really should’ve rescheduled the finals match, and probably the one before that. Needless to say, he didn’t win the final match but I still love him for not giving up. Summer and I stayed up until 5 watching his semi-finals match.

Though he didn’t win the tournament, he won $600 which covers his entry fee that we already paid plus some of our expenses. For that, he deserves a chicken dinner with the rest of us.

Live Streaming was provided by Rail2Rail on uStream.tv.

Tom Ross Shines

Dr. Dave and me

Chris Byrne, my favorite cue maker

Todd and Anne

Being silly with Summer

There was a billiard show and benefit for Tom Ross at Greenfields on Sunday. The man of the hour made an appearance and is looking better and better each time I see him. Even Dr. Dave was there! He was selling his Video Encyclopedia of Pool and donating the proceeds to Tom. For all the work that Tom has done for our sport, he too deserves a chicken dinner.

Here’s the complete album:

Billiard Show and Tom Ross Benefit

Greenfields Bar
April 17, 2011

40 Photos

My Adventures in Bar Table Land

I had the most fun time on Saturday, hangin’ with more of my favorite girls in pool: Summer, Chris, & Kathy.

I used to play on a team with Chris and Kathy and don’t get to see much of them these days. Summer is my silliness outlet. When she’s around I just become a goofy middle schooler. It’s completely involuntary.

Oh, right. I was there for a pool tournament. We don’t get many non-handicapped, non-league-player-only ladies-only pool tournaments around these parts. So, when I heard about this one and happened to be in town and not doing anything else, I figured, “What the heck?” I know, I know, I’m hiatusing, but it’s a bar table, you’re never supposed to miss on a bar table, right?

It was only $10 entry. I donated a $20 gift certificate to my online store and supported the room with a couple meals.

Anyway, there were 27 ladies (which is sadly impressive for a ladies tournament out here) and it was a pretty fair race to 4/3. I was pretty pleased with how I was playing, considering I had pretty much hung up my cues for a while outside of lessons and clinics. I won four matches on the winner-side before losing the driver’s seat match to a strong player, Angela Jackson.

In the match before Angela’s, I had this pretty sporty shot in the first rack. I broke and ran down to my last ball before the 8 and got a little funny here. I remembered I was playing on a bar table with bucket pockets so I just played it off the 6 ball with speed for the 8. It hit between the first and second diamond and trickled in. That was fun!

14 ball off the 6 with position for the 8

After I lost to Angela, I had to play Summer. I was mad that I didn’t beat Angela so Summer and I could have a chance to chop first and second but now we had to play for 2nd/3rd instead. I ended up beating Summer and double-dipping Angela for all the marbles. That was pretty gratifying.

I was most proud of myself for overcoming all the excuses in my head for not playing well:

• Marc is back in Seattle
• I hadn’t been playing / practicing
• I don’t play on bar tables
• I have no idea where the heavy cue ball is going
• I was having way too much fun socializing out with all my friends to focus on pool
• I got a really bad cut right on my bridge knuckle the night before the tourney
• I really miss my husband…

Things I learned from Saturday:

• When you’re not in stroke, it really helps to just focus on the your mechanics. Back to basics!
• It’s inexcusable to miss a shot on a Valley bar table, no cut is too thin.
• Not practicing really forces me to focus on my mechanics on every shot.
• Follow is much easier to control than draw with a heavier cue ball.
• When you have nothing to lose and no expectations, you’re free of any pressures to win.

I want to give a big shout out to Love’s Shack (owned by Debbie Love) for adding money to our event and hosting us for the day. Love’s Shack used to be a strip joint and for a long time, had some of the poles up still. If you look closely, you can see it.

I also met Rich Montoya (super guy!) who ran the tournament all day for us for peanuts. He’s planning on having another one next month too.

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