How do I miss dead combination shots? I thought they were dead and they could not be missed.

Billiard Coach Answer:
The short answer: Throw!

Just because two frozen balls are lined up directly at a pocket does not make it guaranteed to go in the pocket. Throw can be the reason. Throw is a phenomenon caused by friction between the frozen balls that can make the second object ball diverge from the frozen line through the balls centers.

In the diagram shown, the frozen balls are situated near the foot spot so that the line through their centers aims directly at the center spot on the head rail. If the cue ball strikes the first ball squarely, that is precisely where the second ball is driven. However, if the cue ball strikes the first ball from an angle, the mass of the cue ball and first object ball push or throw the second ball off line and it follows the dashed line. Take care next time you line up “A Dead One” and you’ll run out rather than be left scratching your head.