Physics, Geometry, Physiology, Knowledge and Kinesiology - What's Your Experience?

The old man told me

The Cue ball is heavy. It pushes balls in the direction it's weight is traveling. That is almost never where the pocket is by the way. But it makes the pockets bigger!
Use it.
Nick

CJ Wiley said:

1) What's your experience in learning physics and playing pocket billiards?

2) How has pool and geometry blended in your learning process?

3) When was your Knowledge gained from the Game applied in Your Real Life? (personal,business or other)

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1) I have been a science enthusiast all of my life. I built a computer for a high school science fair 3 years before the Bomar Brain (calculator) came out. I can write out the physics equations of pool physics and solve the partial differential equations. Education wise, I have 4 years of calculus, 3 years of differential equations, abstract algebra, 4 years of physics, and 4 years of electrical engineering (Carnegie Mellon)

In high school my Dad bought a pool table, so I spent 3 hours per day for 3 years playing pool. then in my college days I spent 3-4 hours per day for 6 years and was <probably> a APA 8 level player, but I did not play for 35 years (life gets in the way), and now I am about an APA 7. That is:: useful but not that good.

2) I understand the physics so when I see something that "does not compute" I think about the physics of the problem and determine what the unseen force had to have been. During these observations, I have come up with a couple of things not taught in the books (or video) that relate to the physics of pool balls rolling around on a pool table.

a) The instantaneous rotation of the CB at the moment of impact is critical. This is what controls cling, throw, skid, and how the OB retreats from the moment of contact.

b) The diamonds are set back from the rail to compensate for the forward momentum of a rolling ball as it impacts the rail. The instantaneous direction of the reflected ball takes place 1/2 balls width off the rail, but the forward momentum arcs the ball forward onto a path parallel with the original reflection but with the distance as if the OB reflected off the diamond itself. This makes seeing banks and kicks a lot easier, and allows one to bank and kick at a continuum of speeds, enhancing options.

3) being a good looser and a good winner

CJ Wiley said:

1) What's your experience in learning physics and playing pocket billiards?

2) How has pool and geometry blended in your learning process?

3) When was your Knowledge gained from the Game applied in Your Real Life? (personal,business or other)

I'd like to see/hear positive input, just pick the question of your choice or answer all three.

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1:
I was 15 years old when i tried it first time and i was hooked.
I´m from northern Finland and our little town had youngster places where we shoot 8ft tables.
Learning started when i finally get 18 years old and started playing at local billiard bar.
Owner promised bottle of vodka if i run 15 ball lineup at 3 tries. I failed and then i decide learn game better because i realized it was my cueball control what lacked.
We ordered books/videos and magazines from U.S because nobody did not know anything about pool then.
Byrne´s standard book was first where i got info from physics of pool.
Then articles from Billiard Digest and Pool&Billiard magazine too teached me a lot.
Also Learning trickshots from Byrne´s trickshot book taught me a lot of friction and other stuff.
A lot later Koehlers "Science of Pocket Billiards" also teached a bit.

I know if i did not research back then i would be just banger today also. We did not have any good players back then there.

Even now i still like to read everything i get my hands on what related any billiard game.

1 more thing to add.

Bert Kinister 60 minute workout and next videos were THE best lesson i ever had.
He teach right way to think things and those shots what you need to practice to get higher level of play. After 3 months practice i finally started get results and they were awesome :grin:
Only geometry probably what he teach "You cannot scratch if you hit rail and drive cueball through middle of table" and that is GOLDEN"

I remember when I first learned about how cut angle affects speed transfer. There would be shots where I would over hit or under hit the cue ball, and I would have to remind myself. Eventually, with quite a bit of practice, it became automatic where I don't need to think about it much anymore.