Billiards Digest — Pooldawg Stroke of Genius, Pool Videos

Player: Buddy Hall
Event: U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships
Date: Sept. 8, 1991

Buddy Hall wasn’t interested in moral victories when he matched up with Dennis Hatch in the final of the 1991 U.S. Open. Up to this point in his career, the 43-year-old had collected plenty of accolades, including countless pro titles and Player of the Year honors. But Hall had yet to conquer the Chesapeake Bay’s yearly major.

In the third rack of the race-to-8 final against the 20-year-old young gun from Buffalo, Hall didn’t take much solace in escaping this tricky safety from Hatch. As you can see in the diagram, the cue ball was nearly frozen to the inside of the corner pocket. Though the 9 ball was just a diamond away on the short rail, it wasn’t actually preventing Hall from taking a direct route to the 9. Instead, he was corner hooked, leaving two options: get really creative or give Hatch ball in hand.

With a slightly elevated cue, Hall sent the cue ball to the middle diamond on the far half of the long rail, missing the 3 ball a hair. It ricocheted around the table, again missing the 7 by sheer millimeters. Four rails later, the cue ball grazed the 1 ball, sending the object ball just past the foot spot, before it came to rest just past the side pocket.

The four-rail kick was enough to get a stirring round of applause from the crowd, though Hall could only offer an “oh well” wave to his supporters. Hatch had a line to the 1 ball, just barely avoiding the 3.

While the hit didn’t win the game, Hall caught his break later in the match. At hill-hill, Hatch broke dry in the case game, leaving the balls lined up in a perfect route for Hall to clear the table for the first of two U.S. Open titles.

(Video clip provided by Accu-Stats Video Productions.)

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