Billiards Digest — Pooldawg Stroke of Genius, Pool Videos

Player: Earl Strickland
Event: Sands Regency XXI
Date: June 10, 1995

THIS MONTH’S Stroke of Genius was preceded by a shot of considerably less skill and creativity. On the hill with an easy angle on the match-winner, Rodolfo Luat rattled the 9 in the jaws of the corner pocket. Gift in hand, Earl Strickland had first crack at the case game that probably never should have happened.

Making three balls on the break, Strickland was forced to play safe on the 2. Luat replied with a useful little safe. Kicking two rails, he sent the 2 toward the middle of the table while the cue ball died on the short rail, with the 6 and 9 balls as blockers.

Certainly no fan of jump cues — and maybe this is exactly why — Strickland jacked up with his full playing cue, taking aim at the cue ball that was an inch off the short rail. With the two blocking balls a diamond away, he sent the cue ball airborne with a thunderous stroke. The cue ball collided with the 2 ball in the middle of its second hop, sending the 5 ball on a beeline for the corner pocket.

The cue ball spun back toward the side pocket, while the cue ball ran up to the head rail and back down-table. As the 2 ball rolled in near-perfect line with the cue ball, Strickland let go a few adrenaline-filled barks, before clearing the final four balls for the win.

“Can you imagine how Rodolfo Luat feels in his chair, after missing that 9 and playing a great safe?” asked Accu-Stats commentator Billy Incardona.

Missing a gimme game-winner is a part of playing pool — just make sure it’s not against someone with the killer instinct of Earl Strickland.

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

See January's shot: Reyes' "Greatest Shot Ever"
See February's shot: Varner's "Astonishing" five-rail draw
See March's shot: Strickland’s two-rail kick-combo on the 9
See April's shot: Van Boening’s jump-kick safety at the U.S. Open
See May's shot: Souquet’s force-follow in Derby title match
See June's shot: Davenport Doubles the Points
See July's shot: Reyes’ Cross-Side Bank Break
See August's shot: Deuel’s Electric Draw at U.S. Open
See September's shot: Frank’s Killer Kick at Derby City
See October's shot: Deuel's Big Idea
See November's shot: Hogue’s Bank-a-thon
See December's shot: Cohen Gets Creative
See January's shot: Reyes Takes a Turn
See February's shot: Deuel, Part I
See March's shot: Deuel, Part II
See April's shot: Martinez Makes A Move
See May's shot: Harriman's Drawing
See June's shot: Efren's Jump-Draw
See July's shot: Rafael's Long Way Home
See August's shot: German Ingenuity

(Check out Accu-Stats’ full library of great shots and amazing matches at www.accu-stats.com)