Tip Of The Week

 

Number: 37 Jim Tellier February 2012

 

TOPIC: The Importance of the Half-Ball Hit

 

CATEGORY: All Skill Levels

 

INTRODUCTION:

• Important facts:

When a rolling ball hits another (stationary) ball, and the overlap is a ball diameter, the rolling ball will deflect off the stationary ball at an angle of about 34 degrees. [ Just to clarify: a ball hit occurs when you aim the center of the cue ball at either the left or right edge of the object ball. Its one of the easiest aiming goals available, since it doesnt require much guesswork or perfect eyesight! ]

But, even more importantly: even if the hit on the stationary ball (typically the Object Ball being hit by the Cue Ball) isnt exactly ball hit, the deflection angle wont vary much! For hits between and ball, the deflection angle will always be about 30 degrees! IF the cue ball is rolling when it hits the OB.

Think about this! Knowing this one simple fact can improve your game tremendously --- if you make it a point to take advantage of it every chance you get. Knowing that you can predict the path of the cue ball by hitting of the object ball will give you increased confidence and options for placing the cue ball where you want it after the shot, whether its for a position play or a safety.

Remember that English doesnt affect the travel path of the CB to the OB (except in extreme cases like masse or very soft shots with huge amounts of English). However once the CB hits the OB, the softer the shot, the more effect the English will have on the path taken by the OB. That is, throw becomes a factor at slower speeds.

I bring up the issue of Throw because the effect of CB English, imparting Throw to the OB, is at its greatest when you do a ball hit. This is important! Many shots are missed because people forget to take the throw into account when planning the cue ball path after a ball hit.

For more information, theres always a lot of information on Dr. Daves site:

www.billiards.colostate.edu

A specific article, which Ive posted links to in the past, is at http://www.billiards.colostate.edu/resources/30_degree_rule_summary.pdf

 

TECHNIQUE:

 

Drills / Exercises:

 

This is simple. Put a OB in the middle of the table. Place the CB 3 feet away, and aim for a ball hit on the OB. Make sure the CB is rolling when it hits by doing a medium speed hit; if youre going to try a harder hit, make sure to put a tip of follow on the CB, to make sure it rolls as soon as it is hit.

 

Watch the path of the CB after the hit. Dont worry about making the OB. Repeat this with varying distances and CB speed until you cant stand doing it any more! Then do it 10 more times! J Honestly, you can learn more from doing exercises like this than playing a hundred games of 8-ball.

Once youve done it for a while out in the middle of the table, try variations that put the CB close to a rail so you will interact with the rail after the OB hit. This will eventually cause you to realize that English (spin) is imparted to the CB when it hits the rail after the OB hit. More on that next time! !

 

Capn Carom

 

May your Next Shot be on the 8-ball!