Find-a-Shot Puzzle #01

This is the first of my Find-a-Shot puzzles. My inspiration for these is Ray Martin’s groundbreaking book, The 99 Critical Shots in Pool. The idea is that there is a dead ball shot in this mass of balls somewhere, and it’s your job to find it.

There are a number of interesting and valuable things that every serious player should know and be able to take advantage of. The value of that knowledge is increased considerably if you can apply it in appropriate situations that look different from the one you learned, but are essentially the same.

Good luck, and let me know what you think.

Page 1

You should assume the game being played is straight pool (14.1) unless I specifically say otherwise.

This is only because that game provides me the greatest latitude in creating these puzzles and gives you the least clues as to the correct answer.

Unlike the What’s the best shot here? exercises you’ll find on a number of the better discussion boards on the web, there is a best answer to these puzzles. If you’re unsure of your answer, you probably don’t have the right answer. If the answer comes to you in an AHA moment, you probably have it right.

. . .

. . .

. . .

. No Peeking .

. . .

. . .

. . .

Page 2

Getting this answer first involves seeing the simple carom shot of the 6 Ball off the 10 Ball into the corner pocket. The line that passes between the 6 and 10, tangent to both, points inside the right side of the upper left corner pocket. The edge of the 6 ball (not the center, this is important) will follow this line and the ball will fall easily.

Even though there is a wide latitude as to where the 6 Ball needs to be hit for the ball to head for the pocket, the cue ball cannot see any of them. It is, however, quite simple to combo the 9 ball into the 6 to make the carom.

Don’t forget, you still have to play position on this shot, you can’t just hit it without thinking just because you’re sure you can’t miss. By using high right you can move the cue ball around the pack to an advantageous position. You should also make sure that other collisions that may take place as the result of your shot won’t put balls in the way of the 6 heading to the pocket, or of the cue ball heading to its destination.


9 Responses to “Find-a-Shot Puzzle #01”

  1. ShepardNo Gravatar - December 10th, 2008

    Isn’t shooting the striped 9 ball into the solid 6 ball with the Q ball illegal? I thought in order to legally make a ball in you must first hit the Q ball into your respective ball? What I’m saying is I didn’t think you could hit the strip into a solid to get the solid in. I thought you had to hit a solid into a strip, which in turn would hit another solid in order to make it a legal shot.

  2. John BiddleNo Gravatar - December 10th, 2008

    Chris,

    That’s not quite right. As I mentioned in the description area (scrolling text) the game being played here is straight pool, also known as 14.1. In that game you are allowed to shoot any ball at any time, the only requirement being to name the ball and pocket. If you don’t make the ball you must at least have hit a rail with some ball after a collision between the cue ball and an object ball (this applies to all games, not just straight pool).

    If you are playing 8 ball the answer is a little more complicated, first because there are a number of different rule sets (BCA, APA, House rules, etc.) that people use depending on which location, tournament or league they’re playing in. In most of them, prior to suits (stripes or solids) being determined, the table is considered open and you can make any ball, hitting any ball first as long as the first ball you contact isn’t the 8 ball. Once solids and stripes have been determined, you would be correct that you must hit a ball of your suit first or you commit a foul.

  3. PoolBumNo Gravatar - February 7th, 2009

    This feature is awesome. Regarding the shot above: I think playing the carom on the 8 (hit the 14) to the 12 which would carom into the 10 which in turn caroms off the 6 into the pocket. A lot of variables and as you said, need to be sure no other moving ball will interfere. One nice thing about this is that the cue ball can easily be controlled to play position on a stationary ball. BTW, a link to your site is available now.

  4. Dennis WalshNo Gravatar - February 28th, 2009

    I think 14,8,12,10

  5. BobNo Gravatar - March 12th, 2009

    9,6 combo is the gimme.

    I think there’s potential to throw the 11 into the top right corner pocket with a shot at the 14.

    But it looks like the opposite throw shot (11,8,14 to the bottom left corner) is a sure thing — save it for later.

  6. Jack ShepherdNo Gravatar - August 22nd, 2009

    wonderful site. On a different subject, are you aware of the Ultimate Billiard Coach -UBC. See it on You Tube. I have every training gimmick out there and this is the best. Please email me your email address so I can email you directly. My telephone # is 201-569-3319.

    Best,

    Jack Shepherd

  7. Jack ShepherdNo Gravatar - August 22nd, 2009

    wonderful site. On a different subject, are you aware of the UBC the ultimate billiard coach. See it on You Tube. I have every training gimmick out there and this the best – so clever and so simple!

    Please email me so I can email you directly – a kindred spirit. My tel is 201-569-3319.

    Best,

    Jack Shepherd

  8. Tommy StephensNo Gravatar - January 31st, 2010

    the 9 , 7 combo all day

  9. BrianNo Gravatar - July 20th, 2010

    The point is to find the “dead ball” combo, i.e., the shot you don’t need to aim correctly to pocket. The 9 7 is a valid combo, and the 11 8 14 sure looks like it might work, but all you have to do for the 6 in the corner is hit it with the 9. Dead ball combo.

Leave a Reply