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Pokermonster
20 Apr 11 01:15
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Date Joined: 14 Sep 04
| Topic/replies: 12,992 | Blogger: Pokermonster's blog
When tasked with pocketing an object ball that is tight against a rail, most snooker coaches advise aiming to hit the ball and cushion at the same time.

This is usually very bad advice.  Does anyone disagree?

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Replies: 79
By:
mr winkle
When: 20 Apr 11 01:19
I don't, but then again I'm useless at snooker.
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 01:21
Very good answer, sir.
By:
thegiggilo
When: 20 Apr 11 02:19
If they are right tight against the cushion if you're anygood makes them very difficult to miss plus you can put as much side on as you like which actually makes you to be able to do anything with the cueball.Silly
By:
TiptheOdds
When: 20 Apr 11 03:11
I disagree. Its good advice. If its a few mm off the cushion - a rail is on a pool table in America! - then its another story.
By:
sparkmaster.
When: 20 Apr 11 03:12
You're a brave man...
By:
Veridis Quo
When: 20 Apr 11 09:38
Yesterday I disagreed, today I agree.

I haven't got the foggiest but I do know it's generally a good idea to side with PM.
By:
MrNibbs
When: 20 Apr 11 10:11
.
http://bbc.in/e2ScIr
.

Ask them.

Pokermonster World Snooker Championships - 0
BBC Team - 8(?)

Now answer my torque query on t'other thread, thankyou.
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 10:28
All angled shots (with the exception of those played with running sidespin instilled in the white) experience a reaction commonly known as throw on the object ball.

Therefore, when any coach advises the contact required for the pot is at a point on the object ball exactly opposite the intended pocket you are receiving bad advice.  All angled cut shots must be played slightly thinner to allow for the throw effect.  An exception arises if a cuist imparts running sidespin into the cueball, which negates the throw.  In these instances aiming for a contact point directly opposite the pocket is most certainly advisable.

So, for angled shots along the cushion, unless you impart running sidespin, you should aim to strike the cushion a fraction before the object ball.
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 10:33
Good morning Mr Nibbs.

I have answered that specific question several times on the other thread.  As it is quite a lengthy explanation and I am using a tiny mobile computer with a miniscule keyboard, please could I respectfully ask you to have a quick read through, sir.

Somebody posted up a link to a Youtube clip experiment with sandpaper.  It explained the concept very well if you would care to have a look.
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 13:43
It looks like the contact point issue might be addressed this afternoon; Steve Davis is trying out one of those laser sight gizmos.

Sadly, of course, most of these devices work on the 'opposite from the pocket' aiming point which, as I have explained above, is often a flawed strategy.
By:
Ken Masters
When: 20 Apr 11 13:46
Fk knows, good job I work with computers, if I was a snooker pro I'd be living in a cardboard box by now.
By:
Ken Masters
When: 20 Apr 11 13:47
*still be living
By:
Ken Masters
When: 20 Apr 11 13:47
*still be living
By:
RockMonkey
When: 20 Apr 11 13:49
If he was a good coach he wouldn't leave the advice simply at 'hit cushion & ball at same time' though.
Playing these shots with running side & screw/stun helps the pot considerably & this is how any decent play would usually play it.
By:
RockMonkey
When: 20 Apr 11 13:50
decent player
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 13:59
Playing the shot with running side only helps a shot along the rail if you hit the cushion first, RM.  If you struck the ball and cushion simultaneously with running side instilled in the cueball it would most certainly throw the object ball on and off the cushion, quite possibly causing a miss.

And as to how most decent players would usually tackle the situation?  I would say it largely depends where they wish the white to go afterwards.
By:
RockMonkey
When: 20 Apr 11 14:55
Worked well enuff for me down the years!
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 15:00
And that's all that really matters, RM.

Believe me though, sir, when I tell you that you must have been hitting the cushion a fraction before the ball if playing with running side.  Most good players do this subconsciously.
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 15:03
Strangely enough, if position is not a factor, I always find it easier to run balls down the rail with check (outside) sidespin.

Adopting this tactic one may safely hit cushion and colour simultaneously.
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 15:12
It looks like Higgins and Lee are both trying to lose the first frame.  Some terrible shots being played.
By:
tuckyboy
When: 20 Apr 11 15:17
I always tell the players I coach that potting a ball along the rail is easier when applying running side.
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 15:20
Do you coach professionally, Tucky?
By:
tuckyboy
When: 20 Apr 11 15:27
I don't hold any licenses, and I don't normally take payment. I just use the lads as practice partners, and give them a few tips along the way. I can't stand practicing on my own, so it's a passable version of symbiosis.
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 15:36
Very good, sir.

As a coach, I'd be interested to learn if you were aware of the throw effect present in angled cut shots I mentioned above.  Most I have spoken to are very surprised to learn such strokes should be aimed thinner than the 'opposite the pocket' approach usually advised.
By:
orioles
When: 20 Apr 11 15:39
I can't stand practicing on my own

You'll never make it as a Chit Chatter.

Some quite interesting moments (a joke for you mathematicians, there) on this thread.

'Throw', I did not know that. I smash the bugger.
By:
Knight Commander
When: 20 Apr 11 15:43
Agree with tuckyboy.
For an along the cushion shot I prefer a touch of running side and aim slightly behind the object ball.
Sometimes works Grin
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 15:52
Running side, aiming slightly behind the object ball, is a very good tactic KC.  You haven't fallen into the trap of striking cushion and colour simultaneously.
By:
Ivor
When: 20 Apr 11 15:55
mathematician got it Orioles!
By:
tuckyboy
When: 20 Apr 11 16:02
As you say pokermonster, nothing teaches like experience. For most players, it's what works for them that counts - I dare say the throw has been having its influence on my thinking for all these years, without me ever giving much thought to its effect.

I tend to play most shots with side, so the plain ball throw would not affect me as much as more plain ball merchants, I guess.
By:
RockMonkey
When: 20 Apr 11 16:10
I agree about check side also helping the pot
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 16:13
I've drawn a rough little sketch for you, Tucky.  If you would care to try it out on your students, it proves beyond doubt the existence to cut shot throw.

Set up the balls as shown in the diagram.  As indicated, the chain of reds are targeted directly at the far corner pocket. If you were to now play the cueball straight at yellow number 1, the furthermost red would throw somewhere to the region of position X on the side rail.

Most good players are aware of this reaction.

However, what surprises most, is if you now remove all the reds and play the stroke again.  I think we can agree that yellow number 2 would strike yellow number 3 at a point directly opposite the target pocket.  Would yellow number 3 therefore be potted?

No.  It throws to point X just as before. 

This is proof positive throw exists on cut shots and you should not aim for the point on the object ball directly opposite the pocket despite what most snooker coaches insist upon.

[img]http://community.cdnbf.net/community.betfair.com/user/pokermonster/pokermonsters_gallery/588e98f1d7f863b2fdde9e36f206b5a0.jpg?v=223427[/img]
By:
orioles
When: 20 Apr 11 16:16
Good man, Ivor [;)]

My pure and applied maths A level was not wasted Silly
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 16:19
If you were to remove all the balls in the above diagram except the number 3 yellow and the cueball, attempting to pot the colour using right hand sidespin would cause the yellow to throw even further wide of its intended pocket.

Left hand side, if the position allows it, would be your friend here.
By:
tuckyboy
When: 20 Apr 11 16:25
Is this a similar phenomenon that means that when two balls are lined up as a plant, when you would expect the second ball to follow a specific path, striking the object ball in different places will produce different results as regards the second ball?
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 16:33
It is exactly the same, Tucky.  Most are very surprised to learn the effect is also present in all angled shots, not just touching-ball plants.
By:
tuckyboy
When: 20 Apr 11 16:36
It stands to reason, thinking about it. A most informative thread, good work pokermonster.
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 16:39
Thank you, sir.  Glad you found it interesting.
By:
tuckyboy
When: 20 Apr 11 16:48
I could talk about snooker all day. I absolutely love the game. Fortunately I have lately been able to devote a little bit of time to restoring my game to its former potency, and am quite pleased with the results so far.
By:
Pokermonster
When: 20 Apr 11 16:52
Good luck, Tucky.

If you get a spare hour sometime you might find my thread concerning topspin (see further down the main page) quite an interesting read.

I'm off out for dinner now, sir, so I'll bid you good evening.
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