The Pool Hustler's Handbook

Shot #11

Secret: 

If you shoot the cue ball directly at the 8-ball, the quarter will fall straight down.  Some people may try to hit the cue ball slowly thinking the quarter will roll with the 8-ball.  While this is true, it will not go two feet, which is why you want to draw a large circle.

The secret to this shot is to be able to jump the cue ball.  Don’t worry; you only have to be able to jump a tiny bit. 

Execution: 

I normally place the cueball about a foot behind the circle.  Elevate the back end of your cuestick to a thirty-degree angle.  Shoot hard and aim for the center of the cueball.  Try to imagine the cuestick going through the cueball.  Although it is invisible to the naked eye, the cueball will jump into the air and then land on the 8-ball thus causing the 8-ball to jump.  The 8-ball’s bouncing causes the coin to jump out of the circle. 

Trick of the Trade: 

This shot is not as difficult as it sounds.  Just concentrate on making a clean hit on the cueball.  You may want to adjust how far away the cueball is from the object ball.  Start with the cueball about six inches away and then slowly move farther away until you find the position that works for you.

Never Try to Hustle a Hustler:

 When I was seventeen, a guy in a poolroom bet me $50 bucks that I could not knock the quarter out of the circle.  You should have seen the look on his face when I asked, “How much will you give me if I knock it off the entire table?”

Happy Hustling

 Chef Anton

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