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Table 4: Special Shots

Shots: the bank, the kick, the jump, and the masse`. You've probably seen them many times, and all together, they certainly add another dimension to the already dynamic game of billiards.   But how do you pull off these little brilliancies?  Good question.  Before you attempt reading this page, and ultimately confusing yourself, take an hour or so to practice each of these shots.  Then, when you come back, this won't be as hard to understand.

Bank Shots

Compared to the shots mentioned above, this is the easiest one to learn.  There is a mathematical approach to calculating where exactly to aim (on the rail) when attempting a bank shot.  This is a great way to make the shot...but learning this method takes time.  There are, in many billiard books, pictures and diagrams on how the calculation should look...

(picture coming shortly)

Now, I'm not taking anything away from the mathematics and physics of the game, but in my opinion, banks come with practice.  As you can see above, it gets confusing, so ``eyeballing" it is a little easier.

Ok...enough with the crap.  Tell me how to hit the bank you say.   Here's what I do:  (3 Parts) First, estimate a midpoint between the ball and the pocket you are aiming for.  (You want to make the ball hit that midpoint.)  Second thing to do is to know that the angle that you hit the object ball onto the rail, is the same respective angle that it is going to rebound off of.  The third and final thing to do is to apply a little english to help the ball along; When you want the object ball to rebound to the left, use right-handed english.  This will transfer left english onto the ball, and after the ball hits the rail, it will return to right spin...easy right?  Good luck.  To make you feel that much better: No-one taught me how to hit a bank...I practiced a lot, and now, it's almost second nature.  Good luck again.

Kick Shots

These are tough.  Not only do they look a whole lot cooler than banks, but being able to consistently pull these off adds to your game tremendously.   They are that much harder than banks though, because the cue ball doesn't directly hit the object ball.  First, the cue ball hits the rail, THEN it hits the ball.  So accuracy is ALL important.  What help I can lend is this:  draw an imaginary line from the object ball to the desired pocket...now, using the rail, make the cue ball hit that spot!  Good luck.  The only way you will learn to make these shots is to practice. 

The Masse`

This, by far, has got to be *the* most intriguing shot in all of billiards.   Making the cue ball curve around its obstacle and then hit the desired object ball requires much skill.  Don't get me wrong, it isn't hard to learn how to masse`, but perfecting this shot is damn near impossible.

Here's how I learned to masse`:  Once you are very comfortable with your bridges and stroke, get a house cue off the wall of a pool hall, and just start practicing.   BE SURE not to do this with your own equiptment.  YOU WILL ruin your table if you ahve absolutely no touch or feel for the shot.

Now, start by putting an object ball *slightly* in the way of your desired ball.  Raise the butt of your cue a little, and apply english.   (Right-handed english if you want to make the ball take a left-curve, vice-versa).   Hoc dicto, KEEP setting up shots.  Once you get a steady feel for how to shoot, then put the obstacle object ball ``more" in your line of sight.  This takes a lot of practice, but it will come with time.  Realize that you will miss 15 out of 20 shots.  BUT those 5 shots that do masse` are very pretty. 

Good Luck.

The Jump

There are two kinds of jump shots.  You can either (1) dig or golf the cue ball over the oobject balls or (2) correctly jump the ball over its obstacle.  The first way can do severe damage to the cloth of your table.  You *can* golf the ball without scratching up the felt, ~but~ in tournament play, this type of shot is illegal.  So, learn to jump correctly. 

Here is the actual BCA (Billiard Congress of America) rule on jumping: ``If a player causes a ball to jump ... deliberately, by elevating the butt of the cue and striking the cue ball in the center or above the center, the jump is legal.  If, however, a player digs under the cue ball with the tip end of his cue, causing the ball to jump, the stroke is foul.  Penalty: Loss of one point."

       So, raise the butt of the cue to about 45 degrees, and hit hard above or on center.

Easy right?????

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