Massey's Bag of Tricks

By Mike Massey

3 + 2 into 4 = VGTS

Here's a new shot I came up with just by adding an extra ball to the second shot that's in the Artistic Pool program. For the past four years we've had tournaments using forty shots divided into eight different disciplines. The second shot in the Prop Novelty/Trick and Fancy Shots discipline is similar to this o­ne. All I've done is added the 4 ball.

This is not a very difficult shot o­nce you get the hang of it, but the set-up is very important. The 3 ball is o­n the spot, and the 1 ball is frozen with it aligned into the left side of Pocket "C" allowing for throw. Freeze the 2 ball with the 1 ball and 3 ball as diagrammed. The 4 ball and 5 ball are frozen and near the right side of Pocket "B"with the tangent lined up for the center off Pocket "A."

Place the cue ball half way between the 2 ball and the left point of Pocket "E." Aim to hit about 1/4 of the 1 ball o­n the left side. Use about 1/2 tip of left center English and shoot medium hard with a level cue.

When executed properly, the 1 ball will kiss off the 3 ball into Pocket "D," the 3 ball goes straight into Pocket "C," and the cue ball caroms into the 2 ball making it into Pocket "C"also. Then the cue ball caroms into the 4 ball, making the combination o­n the 5 ball and then kissing into the corner Pocket "A."

Three balls plus two balls into four pockets equals Very Good Trick Shot. Good luck!