RACK ‘EM UP

[Music] hello folks this is bill stern speaking to you from right behind the old eighth ball we'd like you to meet one of the most consistent champions in the field of sport introducing mr irwin rudolph five times world's pocket billiard champ and one of the greatest a pro for 21 years reason you can shake a cue stick at rudolph says anybody can learn but it takes 10 years to make a champ like a few tips okay first things to make a proper bridge for the stick never make a big loop that's all wrong no control so make your bridge like this keeps the cue from wobbling and gives you a smoother keener stroke now how you grip that stick is very important don't choke it makes your arms stiff here's the correct way use the tips of your fingers and you'll get a gentle easy stroke see if the distance between the bridge and the ball is too great you're liable to aim for one spot and hit another here's the proper span approximately seven inches from bridge to cue ball rudolph will now give us a lesson on position he's going to play the one ball for the corner pocket so that the cue ball will be in position for number two this is done by hitting the cue ball top and center this creates a top spin the boys call follow english okay professor illustrate very neat now he's ready for the two ball this time he'll hit the cue ball bottom center to create a backspin this is called a draw shot it all looks so simple when rudolph does it every setup is different and each must be executed with mathematical precision there he's ready now for the three ball and this time he connects squarely on dead center result a stop shot and the four ball is next rudolph holds the world's record for calling and making 254 shots in a row with never a miss rudolph works out little problems like this one shot and a ball in every pocket here's a neat trick if you can do it take the one ball out of the pack and put it in the corner pocket ready professor steady now watch closely bingo a variation of the same trick he's going to take that one ball out on a triple kiss and sink it in the upper left-hand corner from our bird's eye perch we can follow the whole procedure [Music] you hunters will appreciate this it's called the wing shot or catching the ball in flight few except the experts can do it twice in a row and it's a hundred to one you miss even then now well we're gonna slow it up for you like putting in golf the follow through is all important and that my little chickadees is clipping them on the wing what now brother rudolph a four ball shot with each ball in a different pocket okay let them roll [Music] a 15 ball round the world shot in which the one ball kisses all the others before dropping in the corner pocket a draw shot super deluxe watch how the three ball is brought back to the upper right hand pocket [Music] boy that's sinking them a massey shot one of the most difficult in pocket billiards the cue ball is hit high causing it to spin it goes forward reversing its course like a broken field football runner and around the rack for the upper right hand pocket that's what you call plenty english that shot see the ball in the upper left he's going to send the ivory right around the rack and how's this for calling it bullseye now keep your eye peeled the cue ball is blocked in golf we'd call that a stymie so what does he do he jumps the obstacle watch it hop very neat ever have trouble with a ball out of bounds rudolph picks one off the rail and completes the shot by sending the other ball in a corner pocket [Music] a jump bank shot by hitting the side of the rail he's going to corner the ball in the upper left hand pocket watch now he's going to jump that ball out of the rack into the lower right hand pocket just to make it tough rudolph uses rack and balls as a hurdle steeple chasing all the pocket billiards idea here is to make four balls on one shot with the help of the cue sticks think it'll work [Music] professor you win [Music] and so you'll appreciate the mathematical precision of the maestro's art he's going to send the cue ball up one stick down the others and into the side pocket all aboard going up second floor ladies coach shoes hardware tennis racquets and golf balls changeover going down and right on the beam too this trick boys and gals is guaranteed to make you the life of any party but it takes more than one easy lesson [Music] rudolph was known as the masked marvel perhaps that's why one of his favorites is the hidden ball trick the handkerchief please young lady thank you today we blindfold the balls instead of rudolph and the champ will pick them off from under the handkerchief you guess what's gonna happen [Music] a perfect shot give the jen a cigar so he takes a pop bottle instead and there folks is the way rudolph pops them in without batting an eye using draw english he plays the two ball into the upper pocket jumps the cue ball over the bridge and back under the obstacle to pocket the other ball appropriate today the machine gun shot a 15 ball kiss aimed for the ball in the upper right-hand corner [Music] of course the best way to play is to get yourself an educated screw ball like this [Music] let's try a billiard shot using the same ball oh look out well what do you know a perfect billiard rudolph wants to leave one simple lesson with you before signing off a 14 ball combination never before filmed they're spreading and taking for cover like folks in an air raid drill don't tell us he thinks he can sink them all well almost one left too bad rudolph better luck next time this is really too much to expect that cue ball spoils the record wait wait look uh-uh it's in boy you don't miss a cue a sure enough champ [Music] you