Segments

Place a cigarette, golf tee, nail or bolt upright on the circle sticker in the center of a pool table. Next, set up three balls surrounding it (two in front, one in back), *making sure that the bolt is touching one of the two balls in front.*

Then, get everyone's attention, and promise to blow them away. Slam the cueball into the triangle, knocking down the bolt. (hint: they will not be impressed). Offer to show them again. Do everything the same way, and knock over the bolt a second time.

Here's the twist: tell them it's harder than it looks. In fact, bet them a beer that they WON'T be able to knock over the bolt when they try. Once they accept, set up the balls and bolt ALMOST the same way you did the first time, only this time, make sure the bolt is touching the *single ball in back*. Thanks to Newtonian physics, when they slam the balls, the bolt will remain unmolested, and you'll win a free drink!

it's important that the object in the middle have a very thin shaft and wide base (golf tees are perfect). If you're using a cigarette, you just may want to demonstrate this as a straight-up trickshot: setup the cigarette (touching the back ball), and fire your cueball at one of the two front balls... the cigarette should still be standing, and you'll at least look like a badass :-)