Over-and-Under-the-Bridge Shot
This is another skill shot, this time involving a prop — another sure bet to impress a crowd. This time you will need to enlist the help of the mechanical bridge. Although you haven't needed to use this piece of billiard equipment in your reading so far, you'll remember that it is the pool cue that has a piece of metal at one end that is shaped like a rake. In this shot you will get to use your jump-shot skills, so you should brush up before attempting this trick shot.
Setup
Place the mechanical bridge across the table (long rail to long rail) one diamond up from the short rail. Make sure the flat side of the bridge is resting on the rail of the table. Place two object balls on the table. One ball (let's say the 9 ball) should be very close to the pocket nearest to where you'll be shooting. The ball should be so close to the pocket that a little tap would drop it right in. The cue ball and the second object ball (we'll call it the 1 ball) should be placed in a straight line along the side rail. Place the cue ball in front of the 9 ball close enough to you so that you can make your bridge on the rail. Place the 1 ball slightly in front of the mechanical bridge (closer to you) in line with the cue ball. Both the cue ball and the 1 ball should be lined up with the far corner pocket on that same side of the table.
You'll have to practice the “over-and-under-the-bridge” trick shot quite a bit before you master it. It's a tough one.
Draw and Jump
Now that you're all set up, you're ready to strike. The goal is to lob the cue ball into the air, hitting the 1 ball straight on and sending it into the far corner pocket. Because you are hitting the 1 ball from above, the 1 ball will jump the mechanical bridge before it rolls down the table into the far corner pocket. (Remember your jump shot rules. You'll have to elevate your cue stick in order to make the cue ball jump.)
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You will need to apply draw to the cue ball, hitting it below center on the vertical axis. The draw will take effect when the cue ball makes contact with the 1 ball and will send the cue ball back to you, knocking the 9 ball into that corner pocket where it has been teetering all this time.
