This month, I'd like to talk about a shot that I have only seen played one time in all of my career. This shot was played on me back in 96 or 97 when I was 18 or 19 and on the road in St. Louis. Martin Shulte was my opponent and he was one of the smartest players I have ever played.

The match up was Martin giving me 9-7 in a race to 5. With my confidence maybe a little too high, I had bet most of my bankroll, like $3000 or so. The score was 2-2 when he pulled this shot on me

I had my game ball nearly hanging in my pocket and Martin needed all 4. Martin also had a ball hanging in his pocket and the other 2 balls were on my side along the rail and in play. I thought he only had two choices: A. Bank the 13 ball into his ball hanging in the pocket, get those 2 then try to tear out my game ball somehow. Or B. Make the 10-ball then try the tear out. Either way, I liked my chances because controlling the cue ball on that tear out is almost impossible. ALMOST!!

I'd never seen the shot he played and what a shot. Here it is.

He loaded the cue ball up with as much top english as he could and kicked into the side rail and in the ball in my hole, rattling the 4 ball back and forth in the jaws of my pocket. Meanwhile, while thats taking place the cueball hugged across the bottom rail with all of that top english and made his 10-ball with position to bank the 4-ball next!!!

I still won the game, but would eventually lose the set 5-4. Even though I returned back to Tulsa busted, I had learned a shot that I'd never seen before and it's been about 13 years and I still havn't seen it played since then.

Proving my point yet again that one pocket is the ultimate pocket billiards game, because of the creativity and shot options that present themselves.

I'm glad to share this shot with you. I suggest setting it up and giving it a try. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most difficult, I rate this shot an 8 1/2.