Las Vegas Confidential

Two In
One Shot
by Nick Nikolaidis
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Watch &
Learn!
by Shari J. Stauch
Shari Stauch is the Executive Editor of Pool &
Billiard Magazine, co-author of Precision Pool and
The Pool Player’s Edge, and a 20 year veteran of the
Women’s Pro Billiard Tour. She was inducted into the
WPBA Hall of Fame in 2007.
26
P&BÊA ugustÊ2009
It’s always
exciting to
watch a lot
of balls drop with
a single strike of
the cue. How many
balls have you
made on one strike?
Try your luck with
this shot and inspire
your imagination
to shoot for more!
THE SET UP
Place the cue ball
on the center-line of the table and on the
3rd diamond from the short rail.
Freeze 2 balls to each side of the cue ball and
have them lined-up towards the side pockets.
Set 2 balls as indicated near each of the side
pockets with the setup line aiming slightly off
the point of the corner pocket. (This will allow
for the throw of the 2nd ball into the corner).
Ever stop to pay attention – real attention
– to what your opponent is doing at
the table? Or to what the pros are
doing as they stride around the pool table on TV?
If not, it’s time to start. Your knowledge will be
enhanced by observing what ‘s happening on
the playing surface of any competitive match.
Think of your brain as a bank, and every
shot, pattern, strategy you see as a deposit
in your account. Applied watching and
learning from others will step your game
up faster than you can say, “Rack ‘em.”
Here’s four quick “watch and learn” tips to get
you making more frequent deposits in no time:
1. What’s the best shot on the table? What
would you do if it were your shot? After a quick
survey of the table, determine the strategy you
would take, then observe what the shooter does.
Did the shooter’s plan match yours? Did the plan
conclude satisfactorily or did it go awry? Could
anything have been done to change the outcome?
By remembering the concept of the shot, you’ll be
able to recognize a similar situation in the future.
2. Why did he/she do that? Sometimes the
player you’re watching (yes, even your opponent)
Nick’s Quick Tricks
Finally, the famous 2 ball split up table on
the rack spot. (Minor adjustments may be
required for precision)
THE EXECUTION:
The execution of this shot is much simpler
than it looks. Once the setup is complete, simply
use a center strike on the cue ball and aim for
dead center hit on the split shot up table.
Try various speeds to help you refine the shot.
Head Games
will do something that you don’t understand.
Sometimes he/she has a plan in mind that
hasn’t occurred to you. There is an advantage
and a disadvantage to every shot. By observing,
for example, a situation where your opponent
played a good safe when you would have
opted for a bank, you can learn more about the
risk and reward factors in your own game.
3. Observe everyone. It’s just as important to
witness unsuccessful strategies as it is to witness
brilliant execution. What works – or doesn’t – can
be learned from any player. And, while you may
assume that you learn the most from seasoned
players, the fact is that many beginners have
a unique approach they’ve invented without
the encumbrance of traditional teaching,
and that approach may just work for you!
4. What are your opponent’s strengths and
weaknesses? The best strategists know the
strengths and weaknesses of their opponent, so
keep an eye on things in your own match. Bonus:
When you observe an opponent objectively,
you achieve a level of detachment that keeps
the game analytical, rather than succumbing
to emotional and psychological responses.
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