How did you do on last month's stroke shot? It was a very challenging shot, and when executed properly it is a truly beautiful shot.

This month's Artistic shot is from the Jump Discipline and has a Degree of Difficulty (D.O.D.) of 6. Maybe you have seen this shot performed on ESPN's Tick Shot Magic recently. This is one of the easier jump shots. Object ball letter coincides with corresponding pocket letter.

To set this shot up place A ball centered between pocket points. Now place row of blocking balls curved as per diagram, with one end of row starting at first diamond left of pocket C and other end of row at first diamond from pocket C on the foot rail. The maximum spacing between the blocking balls is one inch.

Next you place the cue ball anywhere between the curved row of balls and pocket C. Now you are ready to execute the shot. The objective of this shot is to shoot the cue ball with a jump stroke into the foot cushion. The cue ball will rebound back jumping over the blocking balls and travel down table to make A ball as pocket letter designated.

Here are some special notes. The cue ball may touch an extra cushion on its way to pocket A ball. The blocking balls must not be touched by any means in the shot process. A scratch is allowed.

Here are some helpful hints on executing the shot. Don't elevate the butt of your cue too high for this shot. You only need to be between 20 to 30 degrees on this shot. You must use a stable, elevated open V bridge for this jump shot. When you place your cue ball align it so that when it jumps over the blocking balls it jumps over the edges of two balls instead of having to jump over a full ball. This will make the shot much easier. When you aim into the foot cushion make sure your tip is centered through the vertical axis of the cue ball. You definitely don't want any English on this shot.

Next month's shot will be a D.O.D of 8 from the Masse' Discipline. This Artistic shot has been performed numerous times on ESPN's Trick Shot Magic. It is also one of my wife's favorite shots.

This month's Artistic Shot is from the Stroke Discipline. This shot is named Stroke Around The Rack. This shot has a Degree of Difficulty (D.O.D.) of 7. Object ball letters coincide with corresponding pocket letters. To set this shot up you must first put the rack in its normal or standard position for racking making sure the rack is straight. Next place the edge of the cue ball closest to the foot cushion even with the back of the rack and two ball's width from the point of the rack. The next step is to place two object balls, (between cue ball and A ball), plus A ball and cue ball are all frozen in a straight line to pocket A. The F ball is centered between the pocket points. The objective of the shot is to shoot the cue ball into three balls, trying to go through the resistance of them, sending A ball to pocket A. The cue ball goes out past the rack and makes a curving draw to pocket ball F as pocket letter designated. A and F ball must be made. Here are some special notes. A scratch is allowed. The cue ball may hit an extra cushion by F ball. The two object balls between the cue ball and A ball do not have to be made. The cue ball may not touch the rack before F ball is made, but can after F ball is made. Here are some helpful hints on executing this shot. This stroke shot requires a very good follow through, not with power but with a fluid stroke. I use low right English and cue the cue ball at about 4:30. Aim the center of your shaft from where you're applying English to about ½ diamond segment to the left of pocket A. Try to keep the cue as level to the plane of the table as possible. If the cue ball is squirting to the left too quickly and hitting the rack then you are aiming too far to the left of pocket A. If the cue ball is going straight with the line of three balls you will need to aim further to the left. This stroke shot is a unique blend of speed and spin. Good luck to everyone.

Next month's shot will be a D.O.D. of 6 from the Jump Discipline, which was recently performed on ESPN's Trick Shot Magic.

How did you do on last month's follow shot? Was it easier or harder than the draw shot? Now you know which one you need to work on.

Well this month we are going to explore one of the harder Disciplines Bank/Kick. My first four articles on Artistic Pool were from the four easier Disciplines. The four easier Disciplines are performed on the first day of our two day, North American Artistic Pool Continental Qualifier for the World Championship. Starting this month I'll be covering the four harder Disciplines that are performed on the second day, Bank/Kick, July - Stroke, August - Jump, and September - Masse. One of my greatest accomplishments is that I hold the World Record for: Most points scored for the four hardest Disciplines of Artistic Pool (Masse, Jump, Stroke and Bank/Kick), for all continental qualifiers ever held. I set this record in October 2001 during the North American Continental Qualifier held at Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, California.

Remember those that don't want to wait to see a new shot/challenge each month can order the full 40 shot Artistic Pool Shot/Challenge Program from me for $20. This price includes shipping and handling for all 50 states. Your program will be sent priority mail. Please call me at (206) 719-2695 to order.

Onto this month's shot that had a Degree of Difficulty, (D.O.D.) of 6. Object ball letter coincides with corresponding pocket letter. To set this shot up position the object ball B in the center of the table. The cue ball is placed on the vertical centerline, plus one diamond segment from pocket B. The objective of this shot is to shoot the cue ball to B ball. Object ball B will bank to cushion #4, then to #2 cushion, then back to #4 and finally be made in B pocket. A scratch is allowed. Here are some helpful hints on executing this shot. I use a touch of low and a lot of left English on this shot. I aim the cue ball at ball B for approximately a ¾ ball aim. On this shot you will use a hard stroke. Ball B travels 14 diamonds of distance before being pocketed. If you over cut ball B it won't reverse back to cushion 4, so pay close attention to what the object ball does. Aim to hit ball B fuller if it doesn't reverse, or use a little more left English.

Next month's shot will be a D.O.D. of 7 from the Stroke Discipline.

I hope everyone did well on last month's shot. If you didn't, keep practicing your draw. This month we are cueing the cue ball with follow. This month's shot has been called the Hydraulic English Shot. This shot is from the Follow Discipline and has a Degree of Difficulty (D.O.D.) of 6.

Object ball letters coincide with corresponding pocket letters. To set this shot up position C ball and F Ball centered between the pocket points. The solo blocking ball is placed frozen to the foot cushion and halfway between the 1st and 2nd diamonds from pocket C. The cue ball is in hand anywhere behind the X line.

The object of this shot is to shoot the cue ball to C ball, then carom to the foot cushion, rebound and go around the blocking ball with curve back to F ball. Pocket C ball and F ball as pocket letter designated.

Special Note: Blocking ball MAY NOT BE HIT by the cue ball. Also extra cue ball contacts on the foot cushion are allowed, and a scratch is allowed. Here are some helpful hints on executing this shot. Keep your cue as level to the plane of the table as possible. Aim the cue ball at ball C for a 3/4 ball aim. The cloth and rail height of each table are not the same so adjustments on cueing and speed of stroke differ greatly. You shouldn't use a lot of power on this shot, and you don't need to cue the cue ball to maximum follow. Start out cueing the cue ball with follow between the horizontal axis of the cue ball and maximum follow using a crisp moderate stroke. Adjust the amount of follow and speed until you get the cue ball to rebound and curve around the blocking ball to pocket F ball. Make sure your warm-up strokes are smooth and don't forget to follow through. Next month's shot will be a D.O.D. of 6 from the Bank/Kick Discipline.

Here's another great Artistic Pool Shot/Challenge. This shot is from the Draw Discipline and has a Degree of Difficulty (D.O.D.) of 7. Object ball letters coincide with corresponding pocket letters. To set this shot up position F ball per grid one diamond segment off of the foot cushion and one diamond segment off of #4, (long rail), cushion. The A ball is centered between the pocket points. The cue ball is in hand, ON THE FOOT STRING, behind line X.

The objective of this shot is to shoot the cue ball to F ball and draw back to A ball. You must make both object balls as pocket letter designated. The cue ball may contact an extra cushion before making A ball. A scratch is also allowed. Here are some helpful hints on executing this shot. Don't raise the butt of your cue to get draw. Keep your cue as level to the plane of the table as possible, i.e. lower your bridge hand. Pay close attention to how low you are cueing the cue ball. Don't use excessive power. Make sure your warm-up strokes are smooth and don't forget to follow-through on your execution stroke. Next month's shot will be a D.O.D. of 6 from the Follow Discipline.

Here we are again this month with a great Artistic Pool Shot/Challenge. This shot has been named, "Up, Over, Around and Through". This shot is from the Prop/Novelty/Special Arts Discipline and has a Degree of Difficulty (D.O.D.) of 7. Object ball letters coincide with corresponding pocket letters. To set this shot up position B ball as shown, not quite centered over pocket B. The B ball should be one half balls width out from the long rail. The C ball is frozen to B ball with allowance for throw effect on C ball to pocket C. The D ball is centered between pocket points. The cue ball is in hand, or as the diagram suggests. Put the bridge on rial tops as in diagram with a chalk cube under the handle on rail. Make sure C ball will go under the bridge, if not put something under bridge head to raise bridge higher. The C ball edge closest to bridge is flush to back edge of bridge. The objective of this shot is to shoot the cue ball with a jump stroke into B ball. The cue ball then jumps up and over the bridge, goes around three cushions, and goes under the bridge to D ball. Make all three object balls ans pocket letter designated. The cue ball may hit the bridge on the way over and may contact an extra cushion by D ball. A scratch is also allowed.

Here are some helpful hints on executing this great shot. On new cloth place the cue ball closer to ball B. With the cue ball jumping into B ball understand that the carom angle of the cue ball off the B ball would not be the same as if aiming without the jump. Why? Because you contacting B ball in the air and hitting the B ball thinner. If the cue ball goes under the bridge on its way to D ball don't use the cube of chalk, it is optional. Most people hit the shot too hard and jump the balls off of the table. This shot is executed with a moderate jump stroke. The last helpful hint, get the owner's permission to try this shot before you attempt it. Most places don't allow jump shots. If it is your own table, GO FOR IT! Next month's shot will be a D.O.D. of 7 from the Draw Discipline.

Starting this month I'll be using the Artistic Pool Shot/Challenge Program, Professional Skill Level, as my source for my article. These next forty shots are the selected shots performed by all entrants in the World Artistic Pool Championship. There are eight different disciplines in Artistic Pool. They are Trick and/or Fancy, Prop/Novelty/Special Arts, Draw, Follow, Bank/Kick, Stroke, Jump and Masse. There are five shots in each discipline making a total of forty shots. Only thirty-two shots are used at the Continental Qualifiers and those are the first four shots of each Discipline. Shot number five in each Discipline is the hardest shot for that Discipline. Each shot/challenge is assigned a Degree of Difficulty (D.O.D.) D.O.D.'s range from 5 to 11, with 5 as fairly easy and 11 as most difficult. Those of you that don't want to wait to see a new shot each month can order the full 40 shot booklet from me for $20. This price includes shipping and handling for all 50 states. Your booklet will be sent Priority Mail. Please call me at (206) 719-2695 to order. Please leave a message if I'm not available to take your call.

This shot is from the Trick and/or Fancy Discipline and has a D.O.D. of 6. Object ball letters coincide with corresponding pocket letters. To set this shot up place F ball on the foot spot. The C ball is now frozen on tangent line to pocket C with allowance for throw effect on F ball. The D ball is centered between pocket points. The cue ball is in hand, anywhere in box zone by pocket A. The objective of this shot is to shoot the cue ball to C ball, then travel three cushions to D ball. Make all three object balls as pocket letter designated. The cue ball may contact an extra cushion by D ball, and a scratch is allowed. Here are some helpful hints on executing this shot. Make sure that the foot spot is in the correct location, center of the table lengthwise and centered two diamonds up from the foot rail. Next, use top left English and allow for deflection of the cue ball. The speed of this shot is slightly above moderate. It will take a little power to get the cue ball three cushions around the table. Lastly be sure to allow for throw on ball F. The line of centers between C and F ball should be pointed to the long rail side of pocket F. Next month's shot will be a D.O.D. of 7 from the Prop/Novelty/Special Arts Discipline.

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