3-Rail Kick Tracks

[dr_dave]

Thanks, Patrick. I think this will be extremely easy to remember. Notice that for each of the cases you cited, the number of diamonds of separation plus the 4th-rail convergence diamond (counting from the pocket as zero) totals 6. That is, 6+0=6. 5+1=6. 4+2=6. 3+3=6. So we could call it the "Sixes System" for three-rail kicks.

Nice observation and good idea. FYI, I added your quote to the FAQ page here:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/banks_and_kicks.html#Corner​

Good job,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Excellent improvement to your post. I now also have it quoted here:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/banks_and_kicks.html#Corner​

You, Bob Jewett, and Mike Page are the most frequently-quoted people in my FAQ pages. That's pretty good company ... you should be proud.

Good company indeed, and don't forget yourself. I've learned more from you three guys than I ever thought there was to know about pool. I'm just a good listener and translator. You guys know stuff (and share it freely).

Thanks.

We aim to squerve (I know you prefer "squirve," but I like "squerve" better),
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Patrick,

Thanks for this nice twist on the 3-rail system. AtLarge's observation should help us to remember it, although it re-introduces advanced math. As a variant on his "Sixes," I might try to recall it as "Sum to Six," or possibly "SixTI" (sounds like Sixty), as a reminder that 6=T+I, where T is the target and I is the interval from long rail to long rail. In moments of extreme clarity, I might even interpret the latter as 6-T=I (nah).

Jim......if I could just remember that darn 6 to begin with!

Why did you have to bring up "advanced" math again? That ruins the whole thing. :grin-square:

Just kidding,
Dave

 

[mdavis228]

Kudos on this shortcut method, Patrick! I've known & used the Corner 5 for a long time, and with a great deal of success - realizing, of course, that it requires a feel for the adjustments at every turn. I'm anxious to try these "math short cut" tracks for myself. My sense is that you might still have to adjust for spin as the 4th rail return target gets further from the pocket (at a given speed). When the angle of incidence into the first rail gets flatter, there seems to be a shortening effect as the cushion induced English is reduced and the rebound effect from cushion "snap back" becomes more pronounced.
Did you find this to be true in your work with it?

 

[RunoutJJ]

Thanks, I often have trouble visualizing these paths. I'm assuming you are using running english on all of them?

That's what i was thinking..

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Kudos on this shortcut method, Patrick! I've known & used the Corner 5 for a long time, and with a great deal of success - realizing, of course, that it requires a feel for the adjustments at every turn. I'm anxious to try these "math short cut" tracks for myself. My sense is that you might still have to adjust for spin as the 4th rail return target gets further from the pocket (at a given speed). When the angle of incidence into the first rail gets flatter, there seems to be a shortening effect as the cushion induced English is reduced and the rebound effect from cushion "snap back" becomes more pronounced.
Did you find this to be true in your work with it?

Adjustments are necessary, both as the angle into the first rail changes and as conditions change (like different tables). The 4th rail targets might even change - I played on a table today where "6 diamonds of separation" hit closer to the 1st diamond on the 4th rail than to the pocket.

These kinds of differences are to be expected with any system. To me the important thing isn't whether 6 diamonds of separation hits the pocket or the 1st diamond (or somewhere in between). The important thing is the underlying principle: once you know where one first leg track hits the 4th rail, you also know approximately where all the parallel first leg tracks hit the 4th rail. It's this "convergence of parallel tracks" principle that's really useful.

pj
chgo

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Masayoshi
I'm assuming you are using running english on all of them?

Yes (about 1/4 inch of tip offset), and at "pocket speed". I assume different spins/speeds will change things.

pj
chgo