Massey's Bag of Tricks

By Mike Massey

A Little Dab Will Do Ya

Here's a neat little shot that requires a kiss shot, bank shot, combination, and carom shot all with o­ne stroke of the cue. If you use the blocking balls, you also have to curve or massé the cue ball around them to make the 4 ball.

Without the blocking balls, this is not a very difficult shot, but there is o­ne little trick of the trade secret you need to know. To make the 3 ball in the corner, you must wet the contact point between the 2 ball and the 3 ball. That's why I call it the "Little Dab Will Do Ya" shot. You can wet the tip of your finger with saliva and just touch the contact point before you place the balls against the cushion. Discretion is advised!

Place the 1, 2, and 3 balls as diagrammed. The 4 ball should be centered between the points of Corner Pocket "A."  The cue ball should be about 3 to 5 inches from the foot spot.  Aim for a half-ball hit o­n the left side of the 1 ball and stroke the cue ball medium hard about 1/2 tip above center.

This shot should send the 1 ball rocketing into Pocket "B," the 2 ball banking across the table into Pocket "E," the 3 ball back into Pocket "C," and the cue ball arcing around the blocking balls and making the 4 ball in Pocket "A."  If the shot doesn't work o­n your first try, you may have to adjust the 1, 2, and 3 balls a little. If the 2 ball goes to the "X" side of Pocket "E," you need to move the balls a little bit toward Pocket "C" and vice versa if the 2 ball hit o­n the "Y" side of Pocket "E."

To make the second version with the blocking balls, you must place the 1, 2, 3, and 4 balls in the same manner. The o­nly difference is that you must hit the 1 ball a little fuller and hit higher o­n the cue ball. You may also need to move the cue ball a little closer to the foot spot. Don't forget your little dab of saliva!

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