As someone that has a powerful stroke (not actually good on some shots like this) I really struggled with rattling balls out of pockets, especially on shots like in this video. Then a Filipino literally destroyed me in a match by not missing any shot down the rails over the course of nine games - even really tough shots down the rail. He beat me 9-2. And one of the things he did was hit the cue ball MUCH slower than I was - a lot slower. Shots that rattled out for me, settled in the pocket nicely for him. This video is EXACTLY right. You can make the pocket play much larger by hitting the ball slower. Excellent tip.
james, be sure to watch niels feijen's video on making pockets larger too. he gives a few very good tips for players like us with too much power to know what to do with. good shooting buddy
Great advice! Evidently, some of your beer league champions that veiwed the video play on pool tables with five gallon buckets.And then bragging they are five or sixes in APA. Are you kidding me!
If I have to hit harder to get required shape, inside spin helps for me. Sounds like this may be a myth. If it is a result of me changing my aim or squirt, a ball in pocket is what I am after. Great video.
Inside spin is good for putting outside spin on OB, which gives it a little extra grab into the pocket. Outside spin does the opposite, so when it hits the face of the pocket, causes it to bounce towards the opposite face of the same pocket, thus starting the rattle.
Great tip. If you ever watch pros play irl, you will be surprised at how soft they hit most shots in - something that's hard to notice watching online.
in germany speed 2, or dirty speed .....if you play like this (me all the day) some opponent go crazy 🤣, and if that happens ...i ll play a couple of safe ! make pool great again ! another top video ....i have allready posted it in my training group
Yep. I used to hit these shots fairly hard, and rattled a lot of them out. Then I saw a Tor Lowry video talking about using high follow to hit rail shots and he was right it worked really well - but I was still hitting far too hard and missing shots. Hitting the ball slower is the biggest key to not rattling these shots out. The FACT you can actually MISS the pocket by almost two diamonds and STILL make the shot shows how speed is a huge factor in making these shots.
Really that was the tip I play straight pool on a snooker table using standard pool balls; that’s tight and I can make 5 or 6 in a row. So 4.5 inch pockets to me is like trying to drop a basketball into Lake Michigan. All most impossible to miss a shot straight down the rail with nothing in your way
I've noticed that this shot completely changes when it is a slight back cut. Like when both balls are near the rail but the cue wall is closer to the rail than the object ball. I can't seem to make this shot at pocket speed when it's in this situation, and have to shoot it fast I should probably mention this is the case when you are facing A cue ball and rail that is on the side of your handedness. So this is when the cue ball and rail are on the right side and the object wall is slightly leftward of that if you are right-handed
hey are you RJ? I recognized your from GCue billiards in Tempe. I'm the one you sold many pool cues too. Anyway what happened to that place of Biz. I went out of town for a couple months, came back and was so excited to go over there. and found a empty place.
I don't care that diamonds are the rage. I still prefer Brunswick tables. You can hit a firm rail shot..and diamond tables Bank short instead of a true rebound
When my opponent hits this shot and it just rattles the pocket I always says "oof too hard" and it pisses them off every time lol. (Do not attempt this with strangers)
Then perhaps you don’t need instructional videos? At my speed, I didn’t learn much, either, (APA 5-6) but there are plenty of people who could use this advice, especially players that only play Valley bar boxes and other looser tables.
@@djamo1969 whether you are a 5 or 6, or better, you can still learn from this video, or at least have this video remind you of the importance on most rail shots of hitting the ball slower. I have seen many top professionals rattle the ball out of a pocket on these shots because they just FORGOT about what they were doing. In fact, in the recent Mosconi Cup, on super tight pockets, this happened numerous times with guys hitting the ball FAR harder than they needed to.
Thanks for the video. I have a question. What about transferring spin onto the object ball to help it along? i.e. top left spin for this particular shot?
At this wide of an angle going down the rail, the spin on the rail doesn’t matter. The ball can be spinning in either direction and the rail will play the same. However, when it hits the pocket facing, it could affect the ball falling. But that’s for a later video.
Inside English helps with rail shot but when it's off the rail like this a clean stroke and speed is the most important aspect of the shot Any English causes deflection of the white and needs adjustment of you aim Practice and you find the sweet spot
