Pieces Of Eight - Tip Of The Week

 

Number: 80 Jim Tellier May 2013 Summer 2013 Session

 

TOPIC: Simple 2-rail Kick Shots

CATEGORY: Beginner/Intermediate

 

INTRODUCTION:

Many times, especially when someone plays a safety on you (or you did it to yourself!), you have to kick at the ball. Sometimes, the only way to do this is to kick at a ball. Depending on factors such as the speed of the rails, condition of the cloth, phase of the moon, and your own experience and comfort level, it is sometimes easier to kick at the ball by using two rails, rather than one. It helps to know how the cue ball will behave when doing this.

TECHNIQUE:

With two rail banks or kicks, a parallel lines method is sometimes useful. In Figure 1, the cue ball's path into the first rail, and out of the second rail are parallel (ignoring the many complications, such as spin and ball speed). These paths can be estimated just by imagining parallel paths. But a more reliable way is to find the point midway between the two balls, and imagine a line from that point to the pocket toward which you are shooting (actually to the point where the two rails intersect. This line is also parallel to the two cue ball paths that I mentioned. So just aim parallel to this line. This is especially accurate for short shots. For longer shots, the various complications become increasingly important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1.

 

If youre in a different position, such as being close to the long rail, as in Figure 2, you can use whats called the Plus system, or 3-5 7. I prefer to think of it as 3-5-7 because thats how the diamonds are numbered on the short rail, as shown in the picture.

Figure 2

This is a pretty good system, especially if a) the ball you are trying to hit is on the same rail as the cue ball, and b) if the target diamond on the short rail is somewhere in the range of 2 thru 6. Outside of that range, you need to compensate with some extra English to make things work predictably. It takes practice, and depends on the rails, cloth, etc. But, it is WAY better than guessing where to kick at a ball!

The complete article on this one is on Dr. Daves website, at http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/oct10.pdf

Give it a read. It will help you get out of a jam, guaranteed! (Note the 14 ball blocking the direct path to the 8-ball, in the diagram, as an example).

 

A couple of very useful links to instructional materials are:

 

http://www.azbilliards.com/2000instruction.php

 

http://www.billiards.colostate.edu

 

Shoot well, and keep your opponent in his chair!

Capn Carom

ARRRR!!!! J