+TECH TALK+

BY Bob Jewett

GIVING & DECEIVING Take a second look at these four shots that appear Impossible.

HE LONGER you study this game, the hit half the object ball on the side away similar "impossible" bank by the corner more shots you will see made that from the pocket and hit it hard. The pockets, but the facings there seem to Tappear impossible at first glance. In trick is the exact position of the object be far less effective at redirection. my June 2007 column, I offered a bank ball, which is with about a half-inch of In Diagram 2, the cue ball and object and a cut — both of which were beyond the edge of the ball out into the pocket ball are frozen together and pointed 90 degrees for cut angle and therefore opening. From that position, a half-ball straight up the table, with the object impossible according to simple physics. hit will drive the ball into the rubber of ball on the spot. The goal is to make Of course, when the important effects the rail and also into the object ball straight into ei­ are included — such as friction, which the back of the hard ther of the far corner pockets. causes throw — physics says the shots facing of the side I suppose you could call this are possible, depending on the condi­ pocket. The facing the "pick your pocket" shot. To tions. Here are four more impossible, or redirects the object make this shot, just aim the cue at least improbable, shots. ball to come straight stick straight at the intended The first is a bank shot that I learned across the table. De- pocket, use a little inside Eng­ from Hall of Famer Eddie lish to help the throw, Taylor, who was the acknowl­ and use moderate speed. edged king of bank pool. It To help the throw fur­ was among many shots he ther, since you are going demonstrated for the eye- to need more than you ballers at a BCA trade show. ever would see on a nor­ As shown in Diagram 1, he mal shot, arrange for the banked the ball by the side contact point between pocket one rail to the other the cue ball and object side pocket. The difficulty is ball to be chalked. A avoiding the kiss. You need deceptive person who to hit the ball nearly full to is able to chalk balls un­ get the right bank angle, but detected and is not fond then the cue ball will still be of his thumbs might in the way when the object propose a wager on this ball comes off the cushion. shot. 1 like the shot to A first guess on how to demonstrate why you make the shot work would want to keep the balls be to hit it harder. The ob­ clean and what "skid" or ject ball will sink farther into "cling" looks like. the cushion, allowing the Diagram 3 is a fairly cue ball to move to the side standard proposition and out of the way. But with shot. The object ball is the cue ball placed as shown, frozen to the middle of no cushion has that much the foot rail and the cue sponginess. ball is on the headstring. Mike Massey has another Cut the object ball along way — a jump shot. If the the end cushion straight cue ball is airborne when it into the corner pocket. hits the object ball, it will fly No, not the easy corner up into the air, maybe getting out of the pending on the softness of the cushion pocket, the other corner pocket. The cut way of the banking ball. Let's just say rubber and the hardness of the facing, angle is about 100 degrees. This shot is the shot requires a level cue — that also it's possible to overdo the shot, and usually shown with the cue ball on the eliminates the possibility of a masse bank back across on the hard side of head spot so the cut angle is only a little shot to change the incoming angle of the other side pocket. On such a table, over 90 degrees. Use inside English, and the cue ball. you can move the cue ball to an even hit the cushion first just a millimeter In fact, the shot is easy. Just aim to tougher location. I have tried to make a from the object ball. The cue ball grabs

32 BILLIARDS DIGEST January 2009 the rail and spins I was wrong. Af­ cations of the balls, and try variations over into the object ter working with from one position before moving on ball, sending it neatly it for an hour to other positions. Use side spin on and with surprising or two, I came the cue ball on the side away from the speed into the pock­ up with the dia­ pocket — this seems to give the object et. The remarkable grammed posi­ ball extra speed toward the pocket. Use thing is that depend­ tion as a good follow or enough distance that the cue ing on the stickiness example. ball will be rolling forward when it gets of the cushion and The goal is to to the object ball. cue ball, the shot make the ob­ Pick a fullness for hitting the object can be made from ject ball in the ball, such as full ball. If you aim too full the position shown. near corner — toward the pocket-side of the ob­ On most tables, no pocket — for ject ball — the 4 ball won't go as far as special preparation example, when the pocket. For such too-full hits, the is required. As a playing one- 4 should be knocked back to touch the proposition, 10 tries pocket or when cushion a second time. If not, you need is about right. the other pocket more follow or a different speed. Once The shot in Dia­ is blocked. The you have the follow OK on a hit that's gram 4 is one that method is to too full, try a slightly thinner hit. A hit I just learned on the shoot nearly that's too thin will get the object ball to Internet. A poster by straight at the the end rail but won't get it back to the the handle of "hemicudas" posted a link ball as if double banking it, but the cue rail and pocket. Adjust as needed. I can to a video of this shot, but in an easier ball will be in the way of the bank and hardly wait for this shot to come up in form closer to the pocket. 1 had never will kiss the object ball. With just the a game. I wonder how many times I've seen the shot played before and thought right angle and speed, you can kiss the overlooked it in matches. it might require a heavy cue ball or fun­ object ball back to the pocket. Do you have a shot that seems impos­ ny cushions. I figured it was probably After experimenting with this setup, sible but isn't? Send it in, and I'll include impossible with regular equipment, but I have a few suggestions. Mark the lo­ it in a future column.

January 2009 BILLIARDS DIGEST 33 +TECH TALK+

BY Bob Jewett TAKE THE EASY PATH Understand a rolling cue ball and simplify position play.

REMEMBER the first time I saw some­ on the cloth? A few months ago, I gave 30 degrees from its original path. (There one do weird and wonderful things a system you can use to find the follow is actually plus or minus five degrees I with the cue ball. It was just a draw angle for any cut shot. It's a little compli­ variation from that 30-degree line, de­ shot, but the cloth was brand new and cated to apply in general, but there are pending on how close the actual cut an­ the shooter was enjoying the wide arcs two other rules that you can use more gle is to 30 degrees, but the single angle you can easily get on slippery equip­ easily. will work for a start.) ment. Ever since I saw the cue ball dance The first system, which I showed here Armed with those two systems, you like that, it seems to call out, "Yo! Juice back in 1995, is for nearly full shots. If should be able to predict follow angles me!" and I can barely suppress the urge you cut the object ball just a little to one for most practical cut shots. to loop the cue ball or make it A second factor to con­ take impossible angles off the sider is how far the cue cushion. ball will roll forward after I'm here to encourage you to impact. In the shot shown, take the safe, sane and simple does it seem like the rolling path when you can. The sim­ cue ball can be stopped in plest way to shoot is often to time, or will it bounce off just let the cue ball roll. This the cushion too far for posi­ takes the least effort and can tion if the 4 ball makes it to give the most consistent re­ the pocket? This is a com­ sults. An example shot is in plicated thing to learn, and Diagram 1. The cue ball is there is no simple system nearly on the cushion for the that covers all shots, but 4 ball and you have to get there are two systems that to the 5. The first simplify some thing to ask yourself shots. is, "Where will the For a half-ball cue ball go if I just cut shot, the cue shoot softly and let ball will roll just it roll?" about as far as the I've chosen posi­ object ball does. tions for the balls That means if the where the roller will object ball goes work nicely. You three diamonds might be more com­ to the pocket, fortable with the path the cue ball will of the stun shot, be­ go a similar dis­ cause you aren't sure tance along its whether the rolling 30-some-degree ball will end up very deflected path. Of close to the 5, such course, if the ob­ as half a diamond ject ball is struck away. But the stun shot will take the cue side, a rolling cue ball will be deflected more than just hard enough to the get ball out into the open where speed is not about three times the angle to the other to the pocket, the cue ball will travel a so critical, and you can be sure of having side. For example, a five degree cut to correspondingly larger distance, but this some reasonable shot on the 5. the left will result in the cue ball being rule of thumb gives you a minimum dis­ In the wider context of all possible deflected to the right about 15 degrees. tance that the cue ball will have to travel game positions, you will need to be able The second system is the half-ball car­ if you are going to make the shot. In the to play both shots well, so let's concen­ om, or what Dave Alciatore calls the 30- shot shown in Diagram 1, the cut angle trate on the simpler shot for now. degree rule. If the object-ball cut angle is is a little fuller than a half-ball hit, so the First, how well can you predict the path anywhere from 15 degrees to 45 degrees, object ball will have more speed and the of the cue ball if it is rolling smoothly a rolling cue ball is deflected by close to cue ball less speed due to the fullness of

30 BILLIARDS DIGEST February 2009 the contact. It looks like it's possible to low on the cue ball than smooth rolling (CB 1) is deflected to the other side at an barely make the 4 ball without the cue will provide. There are very few situa­ angle of about 35 degrees. ball touching the side cushion. tions where that's true or useful. Note that the distances measured for The second rule for follow distance It is possible to calculate the rolling the half-ball pair are roughly equal, just deals with nearly full shots. The ratio of angle and distance of the cue ball for as predicted. For a very thin hit (CB 2 distances traveled of the object ball to the each cut angle. Mac Rynkiewicz of Aus­ and OB 2, marked in green), the ramp cue ball is close to seven. That means if tralia, who goes by the handle of "cush¬ has been adjusted so the cue ball travels you drive the object ball seven diamonds ioncrawler" on the Billiards Digest Cue nearly the full length of the table. ahead, the cue ball will follow through Chalk Board, has gone one better. He has For a full hit (CB 3 and OB 3, marked close to one diamond after it hits the ob­ measured the final resting spots for both in blue), the object ball travels only ject ball. (For details, see my December the cue ball and object ball (with a fixed about half as far because, while it starts 2000 column.) speed on the cue ball) for a full range of out with the full speed of the cue ball, An important factor in all of these sys­ cut angles. He did this using a ramp to it slows down by skidding while it be­ tems is that the cue ball must be rolling get the cue ball up to a predetermined gins to roll naturally. That process eats smoothly on the cloth. That's its natural speed. His results are shown in Diagram up about half its energy. Also, note that state, so it's easy to achieve compared 2. (This is a simplified representation of for such a full shot, the cue ball follows to keeping lively draw on the cue ball. the original diagram from Mac, where he through about 1/7th as far as the object Remember that if you want the cue ball shows more than 40 cue ball/object ball ball is driven. to leave the tip with such smooth roll, pairs.) I'm not proposing that you commit you need to hit it almost half way from Being from Australia, he had a 6-by-12- Mac's full diagram to memory, but it is the center to the top. If the cue ball is a foot snooker table handy, so that's what he useful to understand the range of posi­ ways back from the object ball and you did his experiment on. Mac set the ramp tion you can play with just a rolling cue are shooting softly, you can hit lower for up to roll the cue ball straight down the ball. When in doubt about how to play a surer hit and the cloth will give the cue centerline of the table. The two balls at position, the first thing to ask yourself ball full follow before it gets to the object the intersection of the two purple lines are is, "What happens if I just roll the object ball. the cue ball and object ball for a half-ball ball into the pocket with a rolling cue Many people believe — incorrectly — collision. The object ball is driven off at a ball?" If the answer is favorable, go with that you can get significantly more fol­ 30-degrce angle (OB 1), while the cue ball the simple route.

February 2009 BILLIARDS DIGEST 31 +TECH TALK+

BY Bob Jewett SPINNING A WEB Spider might just help remove a few bugs from your game.

ERE'S A game that combines ideas in and I'll pass them on to Carl. * Spider * from rotation and snooker. It was While Carl suggests the standard by Carl Sandstrom Hinvented by Carl Sandstrom, who seven-ball rack for the opening break provided the full rules below. (Diagram 1), I propose a triangular This is a two-player pool game using I think that trying a variety of games six-ball rack with the extra ball in the 8 balls. The object is to score four kill can speed your learning of all of them. back (Diagram 2). In my experience, it points before your opponent. After the New situations force you to come up is too easy to make a ball from the sev­ cue ball contacts the lowest numbered with new strategies and to learn new en-ball rack. Another alternative might ball, any ball can be pocketed, which is shots. Or, you can continue to hang out be a standard 9-ball diamond with the similar to the game of rotation. Any le­ at McGinty's with the same old game two wing balls removed (Diagram 3). gally pocketed ball that is followed by and the same old gang. Pool ball manufacturers should take the spider ball earns a kill point. Briefly, Spider is played with the solids note of the marketing possibility: a (balls 1 though 7), which are the "bug" black ball with a red hour-glass shape GLOSSARY: balls, and the 8 ball, which is the "spi­ on each side. I know just the person to Web — The spider's web is all six der." You have to hit the balls in numer­ promote it. pockets. ical order with the goal of pocketing any bug ball. Once a bug ball is pock­ eted, the goal changes to pocketing the spider (in any pocket) to complete the kill. The spider returns to the table on the center spot, and you go for another bug. The first player to score four kills is the winner of the rack. Here are some strategy points:

• When on the spider, it is legal to build up the active bug inventory with car­ oms and combinations as long as you hit the spider first.

• If you pocket a bug ball and fail to complete the kill by pocketing the spi­ der, your opponent will be shooting at the spider. If you leave yourself a tough shot on the spider, consider a safety.

• If the spider blocks a pocket while on bug balls, it's OK to pocket it with a carom or combination. It spots up and you continue to hunt bugs.

• Also know that you can use stripes as spider substitutes if you're impatient or trapped on a coin-op table.

• On the opening break, try to play po­ sition on the spider since it will become your object ball if you pocket any bug.

• If you have any questions, send them

30 BILLIARDS DIGEST March 2009 Prey — Bug balls caught in the web. with no penalty, if the lowest number cue ball results in the opponent receiv­ Victim — A dead bug after the spider bug is contacted first. After the inci­ ing ball in hand. A spider pocketed pockets. dentally pocketed spider ball spots, with a scratch is ball in hand on the Kill — A point awarded for each dead with no foul committed, the same spotted spider. (Prey remains in the bug (seven total). player resumes. Illegally pocketed bug web.) If a bug ball is pocketed during a balls spot on the foot spot. All legally scratch, the bug ball spots and it is ball RACK: pocketed prey balls stay down. in hand on the lowest numbered bug. The 1 ball is placed on the foot spot, Ball in hand is also given for failure to and the balls numbered 2 through 7 are BALL-IN-HAND FOULS: either pocket a ball or make any ball racked randomly behind the 1. Racked Failure to hit the object ball with the contact a rail. balls are called bug balls. The spider (8 ball) is placed on the center spot.

BREAK: Break from behind the headstring. The cue ball must pass by either side of the spider ball and contact the 1 ball directly. A legal break requires 2 bug balls to make contact with a rail or a ball must be pocketed. Pocketed balls accrue to the starting player, unless he scratches.

GAME PLAY: The spider must kill any bug ball that gets caught in the web. If any bug ball is pocketed after the break, the spider becomes the object ball. If no ball falls on the break, the incoming player must contact the 1 ball. When the 1 ball is contacted, any ball that enters the web wakes the sleeping spider. After a bug ball is pocketed by either player, the spider ball becomes the object ball for both players. All pocketed balls are killed when the spider ball is pock­ eted. The player pocketing the spider receives one kill point for each victim. After a kill, the spider returns to the center of the table and goes back to sleep, and the next lowest numbered bug ball becomes the new object ball. Any bug ball pocketed, after a legal hit, remains in the pocket to become a vic­ tim of the spider.

SPIDER BALL: The spider can add extra bugs to the web with combination or carom shots. If the spider is pocketed on the same shot as any legally pocketed bug ball, a kill point is awarded. Pocketing any bug ball without the spider on the table is illegal and results in a loss of turn.

SPOTTING: The spider always returns to the table, as close to the center spot as possible. An incidentally pocketed spider spots

March 2009 BILLIARDS DIGEST 31 +TECH TALK+

BY Bob Jewett JUST SKIDDING It doesn't happen often, but it's disastrous when it does.

OR TOP players, one of the largest spin from the cue ball. The energy re­ ting balls, you know that the tip-on- causes of failure to run out is a quired to dramatically throw the ob­ ball process is a dirty business. Great Fphenomenon called "skid." It can ject ball has to come from somewhere, clouds of chalk fly off the tip during cause horrible misses or keep the cue which is the spin on the cue ball. contact, and some of the debris re­ ball from going where it should. Skid The third effect is rarer than the first mains on the cue ball. If you haven't can't always be prevented, but under­ two, maybe because the player has al­ observed blue or green spots on the standing what is known about it will ready turned from the table in anger cue ball during your own play, you reduce its frequency. and frustration from the miss. Skid can haven't been paying attention. Skid is also called "cling" by some. transfer a lot of spin to the object ball, The chalk has the same effect be­ Among snooker players it is called just as it is removed from the cue ball. tween the balls as it has between tip "kick," which can be confusing to pool In fact, if skid changes the angle of the and ball: It prevents slipping. For the players who think of a "kick shot" as cut, it must also put side spin on the tip, that's exactly what you want, and one in which the cue ball hits a cushion object ball. putting a smooth coat of chalk on the before a ball. I've heard tip's surface assures carom players from Eu­ that you always rope refer to the phe­ have plenty of fric­ nomenon as "bad con­ tion. Between the tact," which is perhaps balls, having spotty the clearest term for it. coverage of chalk Whatever the name, it leads to unexpect­ is usually a disaster for ed results. the shooter. In the December There is also some 1991 issue of Bil­ confusion because skid liards Digest, Dr. is also used to refer to George Onoda, an how a ball reacts on IBM researcher, an­ new, slippery cloth. alyzed the chances An example would be of skid and con­ when a stripe is rolling cluded that there directly into a newly- was roughly one recovered cushion. After contacting The main tell-tale of skid is the sound chance in 200 that the tip-to-ball con­ the rail, it will continue to spin toward it produces. This is most noticeable tact patch of the shot would land at the the cushion. The ball appears to slide on nearly-full soft follow shots. The ball-to-ball contact point. He went on or freeze momentarily as the spin goes high friction makes the front of the to analyze the trajectory of the blue to zero. That kind of skid is not what cue ball grab and climb up the object patch around the cue ball during the we're talking about here. ball. Sometimes it's possible to see the shot, and came to the conclusion that For us, skid is defined as an unex­ cue ball jump up, and you often hear a if you use outside follow (that's left pectedly large increase in the friction thud that's probably the cue ball land­ follow for a cut to the right), the tip between the cue ball and object ball at ing. This particular skid situation is contact patch will never end up at the the instant of contact. If the cue ball's one where the second effect — removal impact point. surface is moving relative to the surface of spin from the cue ball — is most ob­ (To read Dr. Onoda's article, go to of the object ball, this hyper-rubbing vious. You are trying to gently follow Google and put "coping with skid" as a can have three effects. First, if there's forward two diamonds to get just the complete phrase to search.) a sideways component to the motion of right angle to continue your run, but Another point that Onoda makes is the cue ball's surface across the object instead, the cue ball leaps into the air, that the 1/200 chance and outside fol­ ball, the cut angle will change drasti­ lands with a dull thud and trickles two low results don't hold if there is more cally. This is similar to throw, which balls forward, ending the run. than one chalk spot on the cue ball. De­ occurs on nearly all cut shots and com­ The main cause of skids seems to be pending on conditions, you might see a binations. chalk at the contact point. If you have dozen spots on some cue balls. A second effect of skid is to remove seen the high-speed videos of tips hit­ Some playing conditions seem to pro-

28 BILLIARDS DIGEST April 2 0 0 9 mote skids. At the 1980 World 14.1 This is unlikely with plain draw since forces due to static charge are probably Championships, skids seemed rampant. the chalk patch should be cleaned off as unable to account for the quite large I was a referee in that event and got it moves forward against the cloth, but forces seen during kicky collisions, to see some amazing misses. Between in this case, it was persistent. The re­ there might some validity to the idea. matches and after scratches, I did my sult was that middle ball picked up a lot Misplaced charges might cause chalk to best to clean the cue ball, but some of of top spin and followed the called ball cling more tightly to a clean cue ball, the marks were very tenacious. Two of into the pocket. If you think this shot making a resulting bad contact far more the most remarkable skids I saw are in is possible under normal conditions, try likely. Diagram 1. it a few times. I think it's very unlikely For most players, a bizarre, unwar­ Shot A is a simple cut to the side pock­ that you will ever see the middle ball get ranted miss once every 200 shots or so et. World champion Lou Butera missed half way to the pocket. is no big thing, hidden among the 100 it, and not by a little — the object ball Because skid is so infrequent and ap­ other standard misses. As you get bet­ hit no part of the pocket. He was using parently so random, it's not easy to dem­ ter, skids will be a far more frequent end soft inside follow, and evidently a chalk onstrate. Some people think skid doesn't to your runs, relative to clumsiness and spot jumped up, grabbed the object ball exist at all, and is just a made up excuse bad aim. Some top players may reach and drove it straight into the cushion. for misses. Some demonstration shots peaks of one miss in 100 balls or bet­ Shot B is the most remarkable skid I've for skid, or at least skid-like principles, ter. For them, skid may dominate the ever seen. The player was faced with include the chalked ball combo that I causes for errors. two balls close to each other and both presented three columns ago (Shot C How can you reduce the problem? nearly frozen on the end cushion. His in the diagram), and the impossible cut Try keeping both the object balls and plan was to get nearly straight-in on the shot and impossible bank shot that I de­ the cue ball clean. You often see top 9- combination, draw the cue ball back a scribed in my June 2007 column. The ball players cleaning whitey before each little, then play the middle ball and spin secret to making all of these shots work break. Players also may ask the referee the cue ball out for position up-table. is to increase the friction between the to clean the cue ball from time to time. He played position perfectly, leaving cue ball and object ball by judicious One other possible technique that goes the cue ball nearly perfectly in line with placement of gritty stuff. against standard teaching is to use chalk the two problem balls. He also made the Some British people have come up only when necessary, or at least to use combo. Amazingly, the cue ball got a with a theory that static electricity is it sparingly. If anyone ever develops a horrible contact on the first object ball. somehow involved with skid. While the workable chalkless tip, they'll be rich.

April 2 0 0 9 BILLIARDS DIGEST 29 +TECH TALK+

BY Bob Jewett JUST FOR KICKS Start with the basics when you're learning to go rail first.

EARS AGO when pool was still on ABC's Wide World of Sports, Hall Yof Famer Joe Balsis faced a shot like the one shown in Diagram 1. His opponent had him trapped against the side of the rack with no good shot and no good safety. Joe's solution was to play the cue ball off the head cushion to come back and hit the "dead" com­ bination. In an interview after the shot, he commented that the shot was fairly easy and all he had to do was hit the right ball. For most of us, hitting the right ball over that distance is challenging enough, but Joe did it in coat and tie and under TV lights. Below are some suggestions for practice, so you will be ready for any similar opportunity. If you have a chance to get online, review my April 1998 column titled "Side Spin with a Kick." I covered several drills there for kicks with Eng­ lish, mostly as a way to gain consistent amounts of English. Let's begin with the simplest one-rail kick — no angle and no spin. It has been recommended as an im­ change the angle off the cushion with has in relation to its speed. Cushions portant drill for longer than any of us intended or unintended side spin. For seem to give the same angle change for has been alive, and even good players each position, find a target on the cush­ the same quality of spin almost regard­ find it challenging. Shot A in Diagram ion — or a distant target if you want less of the speed of the cue hall. (Here 2 is the "over the spots" drill with the to sneak in a spot-on-the-wall system the effect of follow is ignored, which cue ball starting on the head spot, pass­ — that is correct for this simple kick. you can't always do in practice.) ing directly over the foot spot and re­ Once you feel you have the angles, try For the two shots, the spin causes the turning to the head spot, or the tip of cranking up the speed and see if you same angle change off the cushion. In your cue stick if you remain in posi­ can maintain accuracy. my April 1998 column, I referred to tion at the end of the stroke. If that's Now it's time to add some English. this shot as having two "units" of Eng­ too hard, turn 90 degrees and shoot the Often the direct path to a ball will be lish, but a more common term would ball into the side cushion. For more of blocked, and you have to angle the be "one tip of English." Dave Alciatore a challenge, shoot harder and/or with cue ball off the cushion. A large part of has discussed the pitfalls of trying to draw. For immediate feedback, use a learning such adjustments is to consis­ measure spin in "tips," but 1 think with striped ball as the cue ball and set up tently hit the cue ball with the amount a reference like this shot, it's well-de­ the stripe to roll like a tire. of spin you intend. fined and understandable even if it's The next challenge is to add some A good way to measure how much not precisely related to the tip offset angle. While there are several good sys­ spin you put on the cue ball is to note from the center of the cue ball as mea­ tems to plan such shots, let's try it by the angle it takes off the cushion. Dia­ sured relative to whatever your cue tip rote at the start. Place a hanger in the gram 3 shows two different shots with diameter is. corner pocket, and place the cue ball the same quality of side spin. When dis­ Practice the shots until you can make at the locations shown. Use a stripe for cussing spin, "quality" is a special term them with reasonable consistency for the cue ball to make sure you do not that refers to how much spin the ball your present level. You will probably

28 BILLIARDS DIGEST May 2009 have a little more trouble with these nique can be used ef­ shots than with those in Diagram 2 that fectively for position were done without English. Next try play when you need a shot that requires "two tips" of side more than a normal spin — from position A for the shorter amount of side spin, shot straight off the long rail to the side it mostly complicates pocket. kick shots. Avoid it When playing kick shots at normal unless the extra spin speeds, the cue ball will nearly always is required. be rolling smoothly on the cloth when A second factor is it gets to the cushion. This is good, be­ that for slow shots, cause it keeps one thing constant for the the quality of the shot. If most of your kick-shot practice spin can change even is with a rolling cue ball, you should if you start the cue ball off correctly. Once you have your side spin for kick make sure that the rolling condition On the typical worsted tournament shots calibrated, you can use a simple holds even for shots that aren't inher­ cloths in use today, like Simonis 860, system to combine angles and English. ently rolling, such as with the cue ball this effect is not noticeable — the cue Suppose you had to shoot from position starting near a cushion. For such shots, ball seems to lose its speed and its side B in Diagram 3 to the middle of the far you have to hit the cue well above cen­ spin in the same proportion, so that the end rail to come back to the 2 ball in ter for a smooth start. Try the short shot angle off the cushion does not depend the corner pocket. Start by calculating in Diagram 3 but with the cue ball start­ much on the arrival speed. On thicker where the ball would go without side ing a few inches from the rail. cloths, the side spin seems to dissipate spin. The simple geometry says that it If you do hit long shots with side spin faster than the rolling speed, so a cue will land on the end rail three diamonds with the tip on or below the equator of ball started with plenty of side spin may from the target. If "one tip" makes a dif­ the cue ball, the quality of the side spin arrive with nothing and produce nearly ference of two diamonds over the length is effectively increased on the way to the the mirror angle. Try some kick shots of the table, then you need a tip and a distant cushion, as the cue ball slows with "two tips" that come off the cush­ half of side spin to get the right angle down as it picks up follow while losing ion just a diamond or two, and see if off the far rail. Does it work? Practice you can notice this effect. little of its side spin. While this tech­ will be required.

May 2009 BILLIARDS DIGEST 29 +TECH TALK+

BY Bob Jewett KICK IT ONE TIME Here's a system to use when you need to go off one rail.

AST MONTH I had you work on one-cush­ diamond. When you play to land the cue ion kick shots in which the cue ball ball on the cushion as close as possible to Lhad to hit a cushion before striking the the calculated diamond, it's called playing object ball. This month I'll go over a ba­ "opposite" the diamond. sic dead-ball system that helps with such I find that aiming through the diamond shots. "Dead ball" means that the cue ball works better for me on the tables I play on. will have no sidespin, although it will usu­ I suspect that the small inaccuracy of the ally be rolling smoothly when it hits the target compensates for small deviations cushion. from the perfect "mirror reflection" from A major advantage of dead-ball kick shots the cushion. is that the cue ball very nearly follows the The shot on the 1 ball in Diagram 1 is ideal mirror path for a large range of shots. about as simple a layout as you will ever An example of this is shown in Diagram face with one-cushion kicks. To add a little 1, in which you need to shoot the cue ball complication, move the cue ball toward from the jaws of one corner pocket to hit the object ball, but still near the cushion, a ball in the jaws of the other. If you shoot say spot A, which is about three diamonds the shot without sidespin and just enough from the object ball. The target on the far speed to reach the target, the correct spot rail will change some, and the "double to hit on the far cushion is the middle. the distance" system says that the aim­ Where should you aim to hit the middle ing point will be half as far from pocket of the far cushion? That's not so obvious. B as A is from the object ball, which is 1.5 Lots of players would note the diamond in diamonds (half of 3). The diamonds have the middle of the short rail and shoot for been numbered for your convenience; that. The diamond is certainly the easiest with a little practice you should know target to find, but if you freeze an object the numbers immediately for any shot as ball on the far cushion exactly even with simple as this. the diamond and then sight from the cue With the object ball in the corner pock­ ball, the discrepancy will be clear. For the et, finding the target on the far cushion is shot shown, the difference between shoot­ pretty simple if the cue ball is near the end ing at the diamond and shooting at a ball cushion. If the cue ball is off the rail some, even with the diamond is half a ball's di­ such as at spot C, the job is harder. The ameter at the far cushion. That difference, problem is that the "origin" of the cue ball when multiplied by two — because any er­ (or where your cue would cross the bottom ror grows as the cue ball comes back down rail) is not obvious. The cue ball is shown the table — ends up being a whole ball in even with the third diamond, like position two table lengths. That has to be account­ A, but it is off the short rail. One good way ed for, one way or another. to find the target for the shot from C is take To begin with, try the easier method a rough guess and then see if the far target of aiming, which I think is to aim at the you've chosen causes the stick to cross the diamond. Then try the "geometrically cor­ end rail in the right place according to the rect" method, which is to aim to land the double-the-distance rule. The stick/rail cue ball even with the diamond. Which crossing point should be twice as far from works better on your table? Be sure to try the object ball as the target is from pocket the shot from both sides, and maybe in B. If you're off a little, adjust your aim and both directions lengthwise, to ensure that see if the new line gives the right propor­ stroke and table bias don't enter into the tion (2:1) on the end cushions. equation. Another method to find the right line When you aim at the diamond or a spot for a cue ball out in the open is to check a on the rail even in line with the row of dia­ couple of banking lines you know by heart monds, it's called "shooting through" the that surround the cue ball and take some-

28 BILLIARDS DIGEST June 2009 thing between them. For po­ you can make a good hit on sition C, the two lines would the object ball. If you scratch be the 4-2 line from the first or make the object ball, spot shot and the 3-1.5 line from the ball on the head spot or the second shot. Since the cue foot spot to get maximum ball is closer to the 4-2 line, separation of the balls. the target on the far rail will If both balls are some dis­ be closer to 2 than 1.5. Again, tance away from cushions, a little fiddling should get you it is harder to apply the a perfect 2:1 ratio. double-the-distance system, Kicking across the table since you have to adjust both (off a side cushion) uses the for the cue ball's origin and same arithmetic as length­ the object ball's location. An wise shots, but you have to example is in Diagram 3. If remember that there is a missing fourth ends that are in the ideal 2:1 ratio and on you can't easily apply the system, try to diamond at the side pocket. You will also opposite ends of a line through the cue work it out by feel. Two techniques that discover that the double-the-distance ball. One way to start is with a known may help are to work backward, using the rule starts to break down when the cue line, such as from 2 to 1. The cue ball is object ball as the cue ball and finding the ball approaches the cushion at a shal­ to the right of that line, so pick a some­ line to shoot it along. That will be the re­ lower angle, such as 45 degrees. what larger number. For the shot shown, verse of the cue ball's path, and will have Diagram 2 shows a more complicated 3-1.5 is again the correct line. the same contact point on the cushion. situation, in which you have to hit a ball This system is unlikely to work for you The second technique is to view the shot that's not in the corner pocket from a po­ unless you practice it, so here is a practice from the cushion you will hit, looking for sition that's not near the end rail. The first drill: Start with an object ball on the spot a point from which the two lines to the thing to note is that I've re-numbered the and the cue ball in hand behind the line. two balls make the same angle with the diamonds so that 0 starts where the object On each shot, you have to hit the object cushion. ball is. The two end rails are numbered ball after one cushion. That cushion must Next month I'll show a couple of sys­ the same. The problem now becomes be the end cushion that is farthest from tems that help with these problem shots finding the two diamonds on opposite the cue ball. See how many times in a row that are hard to solve.

June 2009 BILLIARDS DIGEST 29 +TECH TALK+

BY Bob Jewett MIRROR, MIRROR The geometry of an isosceles triangle can help with kicks.

last column, I covered some fairly the cue ball's "origin" — that is, where simple shots in which you had to hit the cue ball's path would cross the cush­ one cushion before the object ball. The ion you are shooting from — is not an double-the-distance (DD) system was ex­ issue. You could start just as well with the plained for shots in which the "locations" cue ball at spot A. You would find a dif­ of the balls could be found on the same ferent target, but you would never have to cushion and the cue ball was banked off calculate where the cue ball was "coming the far cushion. from" as with the DD system. Also, there Diagram 1 shows a shot that isn't cov­ are no number assignments for the dia­ ered very well by the "DD" system. The monds — you're set if you can pick the H cue ball is right by a diamond, but the point between the ball and your tip. return path of the cue ball would go to a This system, which we can call the "iso­ part of the cushion that isn't there. That sceles triangle" (IT) system, works as well is, if you extend the return line of the cue with one-rail kicks off the side cushions. ball back to the cushion that the cue ball Where it doesn't work quite as well, how­ started from, it would return to the bot­ ever, is from spots like B, for which the tom cushion about one diamond to the tip will be on your side of the cue ball and right of the corner pocket. That's the lo­ the cue stick will not be over the cue ball. cation that you would need to find to use It will still work, but it's a little harder to the DD system. work out the corrections. Now, let's look at a good way to handle Diagram 2 shows a system for those shots like this. Put your cue stick out who don't mind remembering a few num­ along an estimated line with the tip even bers. As with many diamond systems, you with the object ball. With your tip in that just have to memorize these values. For position, note the spot H, which is half­ those who know the "corner 5" system, way between the tip and the target. If you the numbers along the long rail are nearly go straight toward the far cushion from H the same, except for the diamond num­ put the center of the cue ball a half-ball — along the dashed line — that is where bered 1. The diamonds along the "origin" to the right of the diamond. your tip should be pointed. short rail are numbered with X, meaning Well, that's a pretty simple problem. If that's not where you originally point­ that you will be multiplying by them. The Suppose, instead, that the cue ball was ed your stick, you need to make an ad­ target cushion's numbers go by tens. at position B. Now you're not sure of the justment to satisfy the geometry. There This system is the first one described origin, but a preliminary guess might seems to be no easy way to calculate the in detail in Walt Harris's "Billiard Atlas" give you x2. Doing the math again gives required adjustment. If you can see one, series of books. Walt credits it to Sid Ban­ 6. You can then check your guess by see­ please let me know and I'll spread the ner, who is a very good three-cushion ing if the cue ball is on the line between word. Even without a precise method, a player who has recently published his x2 and 6 on the far rail. It isn't quite, so couple of tweaks should get you pretty own book, "3 Cushion Billiard Systems." you have to do some fiddling. close. Here's a hint: If you have chosen a First, find the spot on the long cushion This system is accurate enough to do spot for the tip, and the H is to the left of you want to hit. In this case, it's 3, rough­ more than just hit the object ball. For ex­ the target spot on the far rail, you need to ly. Next, estimate the "origin" of the cue ample, you could plan to shoot from B, hit aim more to the left. Practice will tell you ball. As with the DD system, that's where the cushion above the ball, say at 2.5, cut how to adjust for various ball locations. the cue stick will pass over the cushion 1 ball in the side, and roll down the table The system works because you are con­ you are shooting from. That will give you to about where the cue ball started (B). structing an isosceles triangle with the tip an X number. Multiply those two num­ The origin is about x2.3 in this case, so and the target ball on the base and the rail bers together (3 and x3), you get 9. Shoot the arithmetic would become 2.5 x 2.3 = contact point on the vertex. One of the to 9 on the far cushion. This will require 5.75, and you have to hit the cushion 2/3 features of an isosceles triangle is that the you to estimate a tenth of a diamond, but of a diamond from the corner pocket. angles of the two sides are equal, which is that's pretty close to half a ball diameter. As with any system, you need to prac­ what mirror reflection is all about. You could aim with the left edge of the tice. While you're at it, be sure to use a A beautiful feature of this system is that cue ball to the diamond, which would variety of speeds. Also, use markers so

28 BILLIARDS DIGEST August 2009 you can set up shots repeatably. Make geometrically inclined, see if you can find sure you don't use sidespin on the cue where they come from. ball — for this system and for all "dead These more accurate numbers are much ball" systems, that will only complicate harder to deal with for the multiplication, things and make the numbers all wrong. so you may want to simply note that a lit­ When practicing the IT system, place tle correction is required for parts of the markers at H and on the cushion even long cushion. In the case of our first shot, with H so you can see the geometry when the 3.0 long-cushion target should be re­ making corrections. placed by 3.33. This happens to be the If you are encouraged by your prelimi­ worst error in the simple numbers. The nary results with System Sid, and I think multiplication by 3 would give a target you will be, be warned that the numbers on the short cushion of 10, rather than on the long cushion are slightly wrong. If the 9 we found before. That would give you go through the detailed geometry, the roughly half a ball error in the target. "easy" numbers on each diamond should To take the system to its limit of pre­ be replaced by the "precise" numbers as cision, you also need to include the fact shown in the table below: that the diamonds are set back from the nose of the cushion (the "through" versus SIMPLE PRECISE "opposite" problem covered last month), 1.0 10/9 = 1.11 and the fact that the cue ball is not re­ 2.0 20/10 = 2 2.5 30/11 = 2.73 flected at the nose of the cushion but in­ 3.0 40/12 = 3.33 stead reverses course when its center is 3.5 50/13 = 3.85 at the rail groove. Walt Harris points out 4.0 60/14 = 4.29 that this system can also be applied when 4.5 70/15 = 4.67 shooting off the side cushion. I'll show 5.0 80/16 = 5 you next time where the numbers go, You can probably see the progression in but try to figure it out for yourself— that the fractions that determine the precise makes it more likely you will remember numbers for the long cushion. If you're the assignments.

August 2009 BILLIARDS DIGEST +TECH TALK+

BY Bob Jewett EYING THE ANGLE There are a few ways to find where you need to aim a kick.

N MY last column, I went over two Sid," which is a more formal I systems to use for one-cushion kick one-cushion diamond system in I shots that have the object ball posi­ which the diamonds are num­ tioned out in the table away from the bered. If you know the numbers cushion you are shooting from, such as that correlate to the locations of the shot in Diagram 1. In the first sys­ the cue ball and object ball, sim­ tem, with tip of your stick placed even ple arithmetic tells you where with the object ball, you point your stick to shoot. I showed the arrange­ at roughly the correct spot to hit on the ment of numbers for playing off cushion, and then notice whether your the short cushion. Diagram 2 tip, the object ball and the target on the shows the numbers for playing cushion form an isosceles triangle. (An the cue ball off the long cushion. isosceles triangle has two equal angles This system is most directly used and two equal sides, like the top of a when the object ball is near the capital letter A.) second cushion. On the Internet, Neil from Grand Rap­ The location of the object ball ids, Mich., pointed out a better way to is given by the numbers on the form the triangle for a lot of shots. He short rail. Notice that the num­ stands by the cushion to be struck and bering is uniform, except that points his stick back at the farther ball the 1 is half way between the 2 with the butt crossing the cushion at a and the corner pocket. The cue- first approximation of the contact point. ball location is given by the num­ With the tip advanced out as far as the bers along the long rail that your nearer ball, he then checks to see if the stick will be passing over. Note midway point is even with the target that they are uniform in steps of spot on the cushion. one per diamond. The numbers Neil's method is also shown in Diagram on the other long cushion are 1. (Both cue sticks have been moved off your target numbers, and they go the line a little to show the cue ball and in even steps of 10. That's a lot the line.) I think I prefer his method to of numbers to remember, but if mine for most shots. From that end of you work with the system for a the table, it is easier to see both angles little while, they'll seem natural going out, whether they are equal and — well, maybe except for that to 3 on the short rail, you can simply whether the spot on the cushion is half misplaced "1." adjust to a point a little farther along the way between the closer ball and the tip. In this example, the object ball is at long rail to make the cue ball hit toward His system is more natural for shots in 3.5 — that is, it's halfway between dia­ 4 from 3. Going from 3 to 3.3 would be which the cue ball is closer to the cush­ mond 3 and diamond 4. The cue ball is a 10% increase, and if you increase 9 ion than the object ball, although my near x3. The "x" means to multiply, so by 10% you get pretty close to 10. That system can also work for that. all you have to do is multiply the object- will definitely be close enough to get The main problem I see with Neil's ball number by the cue-ball number to the hit. way is that you need to remember the find the target number. Math whizzes Neil also pointed out a different way point to hit while you walk back to the will immediately see that the answer is to arrive at the same number that may other end of the table. While the dia­ 10.5, which is half an inch from the dia­ work better for you. If the object ball is monds can help some with this, it's not mond numbered 10. at 3.5, number the first diamond on the always easy to keep your spot focused If you have trouble doing multiplica­ short rail 3.5, and the next diamond will down to a half inch or less, and on some tion with decimals in your head, you be twice that (7) and the next diamond shots a half inch is important. can work with approximations. For ex­ three times that (10.5). This lets you get In any case, you have another arrow ample, suppose the object ball was at 3 to the number you need by just adding, for your quiver, thanks to Neil. instead of 3.5.1 hope you can multiply 3 and adding two digit numbers in your Last time 1 also explained 'System by 3 and get 9. With a known, easy path head is easy with just a little practice.

BILLIARDS DIGEST September 2009 Let's take a slightly more compli­ allow yourself to make minor ad­ cated example and see how to do it justments if the angle doesn't feel with Neil's renumbering method. right. Besides the rounding errors, Suppose the cue ball is at A in Dia­ there are lots of other factors — gram 2. That's roughly half way cushion slide, speed effects, slight between x2 and x3. Remember that side spin — that can change the those have been renumbered to 7 cue ball's path by more than half a and 10.5. You could take the aver­ ball by the time it arrives at the ob­ age of those two numbers by arith­ ject ball. You can't calculate all of metic (and get 8.75), but there is an those, so trust your experience and easier way. Note the two points 7 feel. These systems, like most sys­ and 10.5 on the target long rail that tems, are a framework to organize correspond to the two values sur­ your approach to the shot and the rounding the cue ball's position. resulting outcomes. If you allow In practice, you could put coins the framework to force the angle, at those locations. Pick a spot di­ and don't allow your experience to rectly between these coins, because help, I think it will be very difficult the cue ball location is between the for you to use this or any system. the true numbers for each diamond diamonds. In this example, you would don't happen to be the whole numbers While you are practicing, try to build take a spot half way between 7 and 10.5 shown. Also, there are minor correc­ out the framework. That is, try a variety on the long cushion, and you don't have tions to make because the center of the of situations. Change the speed. Take to do any math harder than addition. cue ball never gets to the ideal reflec­ the cue ball to extremes. Extend the You do have to be able to match propor­ tion point at the nose of the cushion. simple system to hits after the second tions, though. I urge you not to worry about these cushion. For example, move the 1 ball Just as with the :'long way" System details too much. Try the system and to B and estimate where on the short Sid, this cross-table version is not per­ see how well it works for you. After you cushion you have to hit to get to the 1. fectly geometrically accurate because have calculated the target for each shot, (It looks to be about 2.8 to me.)

September 2009 BILLIARDS DIGEST 27 +TECH TALK+

BY Bob Jewett PRECISION SAFETIES With practice, you could make use of these creative shots.

H HAD the great privilege of playing ion. Finally, if he makes the mistake of she played it, I initially thought that in the Predator World 14.1 Straight missing a shot that is powerful enough, she made a mistake. But when she ex­ I Pool Championships at Comet Bil­ the object ball has a good chance to go ecuted it, I thought, "Wow, it worked!" liards in Parsippany, NJ., this past two cushions into the rack, and break The play is to roll the cue ball with just August, and the experience gave my it up even if the cue ball doesn't. If your enough speed to bump the 1 ball to the safety game very good exercise. A opponent tries to slow-roll the object cushion, leaving the cue ball on top of part of straight pool that many haven't ball into a pocket so he can play safe on 1, just a quarter-inch away from it. If caught onto yet is the tremendous his next shot, the object ball has a good you do that, your opponent has little to value of precise defense. At the top chance of hanging in the jaws, leaving shoot at, since going off one side of the level of competition — and there were you a pretty good break shot. 1 goes into a pocket and off the other several 300-ball runners at the event In Diagram 2 is a shot that Karen side has no easy way to get behind a — leaving your opponent even an inch Corr played in a 9-ball match. When ball. It also leaves the 1 ball near the of slack may also leave him a 50-ball run. Here are some safety plays that are heavily dependent upon accuracy. The more precise the shot, the more ef­ fective the safety. Diagram 1 shows a shot from the start of a rack in straight pool. Either the player did not leave himself a very good shot on the break ball, or the play­ er's opponent played a mediocre safe. A champion might power the 1 into the corner and come off the cushion for a break, but for many of us, that would be a low-percentage play, especially on a tight table. Rather than fall into the trap of playing the break shot, set a trap for your opponent. There are four main safe principles that apply to the shot shown: 1) leave as long a shot as possible, 2) make the reward for this shot as small as pos­ sible, 3) force an awkward stance and/ or bridge, and 4) make the penalty for a failed response large. The goal is to leave both the object ball and the cue ball on the centerline of the table. You are also trying to freeze the cue ball to the middle of the cushion on the head rail. The object ball wants to end up close to the exact middle of the table, right between the side pockets. For the four principles, this is about as tough a shot you can leave due to its length. If your opponent does make the ball, he is unlikely to break up the rack. No one likes to bridge from the cush­

24 BILLIARDS DIGEST October 2009 pocket. I suspect Karen learned this to Diagram 1. In a game of 9-ball, you kind of safe at snooker, since on a 6- aren't confident that you can both by-12-foot table, you often have no make the 8 and get a reasonable shot good shot if the cue ball is close to the on the 9. If the 9 were half a diamond object ball. Accurate speed is required, off the cushion, you could try to put but if you never try for accuracy, you the cue ball behind it, but it's almost will rarely achieve it — so practice ac­ frozen. Make as much use of the 9 as cordingly! possible. Play a shot similar to Dia­ Diagram 3 shows a simple shot, gram 1, but now do your best to freeze but accuracy is essential. The game is the cue ball to the 9. This kind of safe 9-ball. The safe is to bank the 1 ball comes up frequently in one-pocket down by the 9 and leave the cue ball and snooker, where it's called a "Chi­ on the 8. As long as jump sticks are al­ nese Snooker," meaning that the cue lowed, you have to squeeze the inches stick has to pass directly over an ob­ and millimeters out of the distance ject ball to hit the cue ball. between any blocker ball and the cue There can be a lot of creativity in ball. Practice this one until you have safety play. I hope these examples both the cue ball's follow angle and give you some tools to startle and distance correct within an inch. If you stun your opponents. Since accuracy get that right, you don't have to worry — both in speed and angle — makes as much about where you leave the 1 each of these safes much more effec­ ball. tive, you better practice them before Finally, Diagram 4 adds a wrinkle you need them. +TECH TALK+

BY Bob Jewett BANKING TIPS Plan accordingly when you're going off a cushion.

RECENTLY had the pleasure of playing gin" of the cue ball is 3 and the line of ject ball full. I find this kind of shot to in the inaugural Galveston World the shot is to 1. By the standard mirror be very useful for judging the cushions Classic. Competing in the one- system, this is way off-line. The "cor­ on a new table — some go a little long pocket division reminded me how im­ rect" origin to land at diamond 1 and and some a little short. portant banking is in that game. One- go to the pocket is diamond 2. To bank Massey's addition to this single point pocket banks are a little different from a ball off the spot, the mirror system of reference is to note that shots like the banks in other disciplines — you want says to shoot it toward a spot 1 1/3 dia­ dotted line shown in Diagram 1 — from to leave the ball near your pocket if it monds from the pocket, not at diamond diamond 2 to diamond 0.5 — also are misses. In 8-ball, that's also good, at the limit of how "short" you can but in 9-ball a slow miss is usually get cross-side banks to go. The idea a disaster. is if you can get the shot to match In bank pool, leaving the ball in the mirror system by subtracting the jaws on a miss is also not a prob­ 1 from the cue ball's location, the lem, since your opponent will almost bank is "on" for the system. So, if certainly have no bank on that ball, you subtract 1 from cue ball's 3 in but bank players rarely play shots the first shot, you get 2-to-l, which at pocket speed. They usually use a is a standard mirror bank. Similarly, firmer speed that removes some of for the second shot, 2-to-0.5 minus the variability of the bounce off the 1 becomes l-to-0.5 and you have the cushion. 2-to-l ratio of a mirror bank. In straight pool, of course, banks Can you see where you should aim are quite rare. The legendary Luther from the side pocket? How far up the Lassiter might rails does the sys­ have had three tem hold for your banks in a run of table? (Remember 80, but players to use a firm speed like Irving Crane so the object ball or Jimmy Caras slides rather than would almost rolls into the cush­ never resort to ion.) the cushions. A Diagram 2 shows bank can often a simple system you start a run from can use for three- a safety battle or cushion banks that continue a run is especially useful from a missed if you play exclu­ position or un­ sively on one table. fortunate roll. It is an example of Here are three the "spot-on-the- aspects of bank­ wall" system that ing that will uses targets help you get started if you are new to 1 as shown. well off the the game (or may be helpful reminders But, if you hit the object ball full and table for multi- if you are an old hand). firmly, it will bank along the line in rail banks. Diagram 1 shows something I dis­ Diagram 1. Shown are two different three-cush­ covered on my own some 45 years ago, This bank shot is at the limit for a ion banks to the same corner pocket. with an extension Mike Massey ex­ ball on the spot and serves as a rule of For the 1-ball shot, the ball is a long plained to me recently. The object ball thumb for the "shortest" bank angle way from the cushion, so it will pick is on the spot and the cue ball is on the you can reasonably get. It also seems to up topspin before impact. That follow line between the diamonds. The "ori- be very consistent if you can hit the ob- will curve the ball's path back toward

26 BILLIARDS DIGEST November 2 0 0 9 the cushion, meaning the 1 ball will to develop to avoid kisses on banks. In rebound at a wider angle and the bank Shot A, the 1 ball and cue ball travel will tend to go "long." The 2 ball is on about the same distance at about the the cushion, so it will tend to come off same speed and end up meeting at X. the cushion more on the first bounce, Whenever the paths of the cue ball and and you have to start it along a different object ball cross on a bank shot, you direction to get it to the same destina­ need to be the traffic cop and make tion. sure that one of them passes first. If For both of these shots, a useful tech­ you can't decide which ball will be first nique is to pick out a distant point. before the shot, you're probably going Where I often play, there is a pocket to have a wreck. on a neighboring table that is directly One technique for avoiding disaster along the line for the shot on the 1. is shown in Shot B. Using right (in­ That means that I can simply aim for side) English, you bend the path of the that distant pocket — which is in my cue ball off the cushion so it passes field of view — to make the bank shot. "behind" the 2 ball. That is, the 2 will The really useful part of this technique cross through the danger area first. In is that if you pick a point at the correct this case, you accomplish this by mov­ distance, it works for a wide range of ing the point where the paths cross to a object ball positions. How far is that spot earlier on the 2's path. distance? Try a few shots along various The opposite spin sometimes works lines from different starting positions as well. For the 3 ball, right (outside) on your own table to see what works. English changes the cue ball's path in For each successful line, project it for­ the other direction, and the cue ball ward and see if all those good lines crosses the intersection first. meet at one point. Remember that you Depending on the exact shot, you are working on shots where the object will find one technique or the other (or ball will be rolling smoothly on the maybe both) will avert disaster. You cloth when it hits the first cushion. need to practice if you hope to get a feel For the 2 ball, which is frozen on the for this technique. An important part cushion, you will need a different dis­ of that practice is to try to predict on tant point as a target. It will be to the all your crossing bank shots which ball left of the distant target you found for will pass first and where the potential the 1 ball, because the 2 will not be kiss will take place. rolling at impact with the first cushion. To complicate matters, the cushions The target for the 2-ball shot can also can change which kisses are deadly. be used for balls that are nearly on the Some cushions kick the ball out faster cushion, but as the distance between than others, changing the timing. New the object ball and cushion increases, cloth may be so slippery that the side- you will need to gradually move to the spin doesn't "take" enough to bend target found for the 1 ball. That adjust­ the cue ball out of trouble. To take all ment has to be done by feel. of this in requires practice on various In Diagram 3 is a technique you need kinds of equipment.