A student realizes that a point particle that is able to rise at a given point P[subscript 0] at height H when launched vertically from the origin O of a Cartesian plane at a fixed initial speed V[subscript 0] cannot reach, by means of a direct shot from a small spring cannon, a point P positioned at the same height H and distance d from P[subscript 0], with 0 < d = R, where R is the maximum horizontal distance attainable with an optimum throw at an angle of 45°. However, the student realizes that, in the absence of air resistance, conservation of energy does not prevent this possibility. Therefore, in order to reach point P, the student uses a perfectly reflecting surface, opportunely inclined with respect to the horizontal. The full story of how this is done will be narrated in this article.