Combinations/Plants

Until now we have learned how to determine the shot label for a single object ball, but we can apply the same techniques to find the shot labels for all object balls involved in a combination (plant) shot.

We begin with the last two object balls of the combination. The object ball we wish to pot—the last object ball—will be struck by the next-to-last object ball, so the next-to-last object ball assumes the temporary role of cue ball. Standing in any variation of Position 1 or Position 2, we determine the temporary shot label of our last two object balls as we would any ordinary cue ball to object ball shot.

If we used a Position 2 variation to determine our temporary shot label, we can stay where we are for the next step. If we used Position 1, we must first move to the Position 2 variation (behind the next-to-last object ball) that matches our temporary shot label. We are standing as if we were aiming the temporary cue ball to pot the last object ball.

We continue from here using only Position 1 techniques. The next-to-last object ball now changes roles. It is no longer treated as the temporary cue ball but as the target object ball. Because of this change in roles, our Position 2 standing position instantly becomes the Position 1 standing position for the next step. The second-to-last object ball is now our temporary cue ball, and using any of the Position 1 patterns, we determine our next temporary shot label.

We continue in this manner for every object ball in the combination.

The shot label for the entire combination is the shot label that is detected when finally using the actual cue ball rather than the previous temporary cue balls.

Hopefully the Angle Detective approach to combinations will help you, but combinations are difficult no matter how you approach them. As object balls are added between the object ball to be potted and the cue ball, room for error shrinks exponentially. So don’t expect to consistently pot combinations, and combinations of three or more object balls in game situations should be almost entirely avoided.