The Pool Hustler's Handbook

 

Shot #14 - Watermelon Seed
(solution)

Secret:

 

The secret to this shot is saliva. If you merely push down on the ball, the ball will have backspin, which negates the forward spin. You will be lucky to get the ball half way up the table. However, if you wet your finger with either saliva, oil from your hair, or even moisture from your drink, you will eliminate the backspin. This allows you to shoot the ball to the end of the table and back again.

Execution:

 Demonstrate how the shot works without wetting your finger. Allow two spectators to each have three tries. Mark their best effort with a piece of chalk. When it is your turn, secretly wet your finger. Push down on the ball and coincidentally your ball will go the farthest…every time.

Trick of the Trade:

 When someone asks for an explanation, you can use some “come-ons” to have some fun with him. First, tell him to use the middle finger of his weaker hand. When he tries that and fails, then explain the secret is to start with your finger on the front half of the ball. Next, you can tell him to push down on a thirty-two degree angle. Come up with as many false explanations as possible before revealing the real secret.

 

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