Hard shot that fails to create a problem for Tom? (8)
I believe the answer is:
hairball
'fails to create a problem for tom?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'hard shot' is the wordplay.
'hard' becomes 'hair' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'shot' becomes 'ball' (ball is a kind of shot).
'hair'+'ball'='HAIRBALL'
'that' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hairball that I've seen before include "Reason for cat cough?" , "Furry mass forming in cat's stomach" , "Uncomfortable thing in a cat's stomach?" , "Bundle of fur coughed up by cat" , "Something forming in a cat's stomach" .)