About The Shot
The shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line, but sometimes it's quicker to take a longer route. I shoot the 5 towards the corner pocket. Then, I quickly masse the cue ball around the 5 making the hanging ball clearing the way for the 5.
Discipline: Special Arts, Masse
Difficulty: Beginner
Make This Shot
This is an intermediate masse shot since you have to set up on the cue ball quickly. First, make sure the cue ball and first object ball are in line with the corner pocket. Get the speed down so the object ball will just make to the pocket; this will give you the maximum time to set up your masse. Try also to stop the cue ball dead right when it hits the first object ball. Then you'll know exactly where it will be when you're setting up for the masse.
The masse requires anywhere from 30-45 degrees of elevation. You can try to curve it around either way, but I like to go around the left side of the object ball. I think it give a little more margin for error since you can come off the long rail for the hanging ball. It's pretty much just a straight 3 o'clock hit then. You may have to aim slightly to the left of the traveling object ball in order to get around it.
Video: Quicker Curve
Tim's Tidbit
Allen Hopkins featured this shot as his Tip of the Day during the 2008 World Cup of Trick Shots on ESPN.
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