side pocket cuts

K

k1llua

Registered
Hi,
I asked a question earlier about my bridge hand comfort, and reading the posts here and trying some stuff helped me find a good bridge that i use all the time now, and has made it much easier to pocket balls.

I have been playing a little more often now, and i am getting frustrated with trying to pocket balls in either side pocket. when the angle going into the pocket is anywhere greater than like sya 45 degrees off straight in, i miss about 95% of the time.

is there any method to make this easier? i know how to aim, but i am having tons of trouble here.

thanks.

This is kinda what im talking about

http://CueTable.com/P/?@4AXLI4PXNe4kXNe4kXLU4kblJ4kcCF@

i hope i did that right
 
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good drill Neil..

Keep in mind, that even though the side pockets are the biggest pockets on the table, there is a point where you simply cannot make a ball in the side pocket. You should be able to make it at 45 degrees, however. As a general rule, I won't try to cut a ball in a size pocket if its inside the line between the center of the pocket opening and the about a diamond and a quarter out on the end rail cushion (measuring from the same side.

I'd do Neil's drill, then I'd add to it. start with shots in the side you can make easily, then make 10, move the ball on a straight line downtable a quarter diamond, make 10, etc. Keep in mind, that as you're object ball's angle to the pocket increases, the size of the available opening decreases... If you have a 4 3/4" opening at straight in, that may decrease to say (just guessing here on size) a 2 3/4" opening at 45 degrees. That only leaves you 1/4" on each side of the OB as it enters the pocket. You have to shoot tight and accurate to make those. As you approach that line at 1 1/4 diamonds to the center, then you're shooting at ball's width only. (some tables are different and you can make a ball inside that line).

One most important thing to remember is that the Cue Ball can enter that pocket from ANY angle!!! :smile:

Bob
 
Learn to sneak this one in...and you will own the side pocket

you gotta play speed especially as the angle tightens and the pocket starts to close.

Pretend that your trying to let the ball get to the shelf ledge, and letting the ledge/pocket drop "suck" the ball in....on super tight side pocket shots It's as if the OB just loses its balance and just falls in.


My favorite drill for praticing these tight cuts in to the side go like this.

Put the CB on the center diamond on and up against the short rail. Now freeze and OB to the CB in line with the head of the table.

Remove the CB.

Now you have a one balls gap (actually + just a few thousandths of " ) between the OB and the foot side short rail.

Now take BIH and CUT the OB into the side pocket with just enough speed to get it there.

Its a fine clip shot and getting used to this pratice shot will make you a deadly side pocket shooter, which can also help to open up the table more.

The shot can also be done by moving the OB one diamond up higher towards the Long rail. Its much steeper at this angle and depending on the size of the side pockets your shooting at, it may not be able to go....but on a normal cut pocket it can, but is about 2-3x's harder than the first shot i described. That first shot is tighter than any cut your ever going to see on a table into the side by a long shot.

Master it and own the side picket with an iron fist.


(PS- is there a Wei table users guide or something, b/c i need to learn that so I can show you as opposed to always trying to describe a shot with friggin words lol)...help would be appreciated very much.

now go pratice lol,
Grey Ghost
 
I'm with Bob on this one. If the cut angle to the side pocket is greater than 45 degrees, I start looking at other options. If I don't find something better, accuracy and excellent speed control are the keys to making it.
That side pocket keeps getting smaller and smaller as the cut angle increases.

Steve
 
Thanks guys, ill try that drill, looks like is will get much harder the closer i get to the rail.

Also, seems that the general consensus is to avoid that shot all together? If i had the line there, would it be better to shoot the 1 ball into the corner pocket down table?

Thanks.
 
Good words greyghost.Good descriptions.Please learn how to diagram.I look forward to your posts.Visual enhancements would be great.Thanks,JMuck
 
I used to add a little outside english to help me on shots like this in the past. The Throw seemed to help sink the object ball. Especially when a downtable shot is blocked.
 
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Make sure you do not hit the near cushion as the cue ball approaches the pocket. If you do, the ball won't go in.
 
JMuck said:
Good words greyghost.Good descriptions.Please learn how to diagram.I look forward to your posts.Visual enhancements would be great.Thanks,JMuck
Click to expand...

Yea i never learned to use the darn thing. But Neil showed me the line on where to go to become a Wei Grand Master lol. Next week in tulsa I'll take the time to learn it during the day and come out swinging for you guys.
 
The only thing that I didn't see mentioned is the fact that you have to aim for the center of the pocket. That center doesn't change no matter where you are on the table unless the side pockets are set back deep into the rail.
 
Yes, the center of the pocket is the best target, but there are times that the far pocket facing with a little 'get in' English, can be used also.

In an article by Bob Jewett, he proposed an experiment for his readers to prove or disprove 'get in' English. I was a skeptic until my results confirmed that the effect is significant enough to make shots that otherwise wouldn't go.
 
Mark Avlon said:
Yes, the center of the pocket is the best target, but there are times that the far pocket facing with a little 'get in' English, can be used also.

In an article by Bob Jewett, he proposed an experiment for his readers to prove or disprove 'get in' English. I was a skeptic until my results confirmed that the effect is significant enough to make shots that otherwise wouldn't go.
Click to expand...

they call that inside kill...
 
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