theoretical pool shots vs practical pool shots

MitchAlsup said:
If you notice, the CB runs down the rail until it gets to the side pocket, then deflects of the nose of the pocket and diverts off the rail line. There is a trought (mentioned above) on all but new cloth at the side pocket.

The correct way to play this is to use a bit of low and a bit of right on CB and aim a couple of mm outside the side pocket and have the CB massé back onto the rail after the side pocket. This shot works even when the rails are not "dead straight".
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Good answer here. You want to use a bit of inside english to hold the cue ball to the rail. The points of the side pocket must be perfectly aligned or you will hit the far point going down the rail. It takes a good table mechanic to set up a table so this does not happen. One trick I learned from Danny D. was that just before hitting this shot he would pull in the far point of the side pocket with his hand (perfectly legal). It takes a few seconds for the point to return completely to its original position. Enough time to shoot the ball past it. Try it, you'll like it.
 
jay helfert said:
Good answer here. You want to use a bit of inside english to hold the cue ball to the rail. The points of the side pocket must be perfectly aligned or you will hit the far point going down the rail. It takes a good table mechanic to set up a table so this does not happen. One trick I learned from Danny D. was that just before hitting this shot he would pull in the far point of the side pocket with his hand (perfectly legal). It takes a few seconds for the point to return completely to its original position. Enough time to shoot the ball past it. Try it, you'll like it.
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I will try it, thanks!
 
jay helfert said:
One trick I learned from Danny D. was that just before hitting this shot he would pull in the far point of the side pocket with his hand (perfectly legal). It takes a few seconds for the point to return completely to its original position. Enough time to shoot the ball past it. Try it, you'll like it.
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I didn’t know that.

When someone inevitably complains that it’s illegal, is the response is to ask them to show you where in the rules it says so? Or is there something to refer to that indicates it is legal?
 
David in FL said:
I didn’t know that.

When someone inevitably complains that it’s illegal, is the response is to ask them to show you where in the rules it says so? Or is there something to refer to that indicates it is legal?
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You won't find anything about that in the rule book as far as I know, unless it's been added recently.
 
David in FL said:
I didn’t know that.

When someone inevitably complains that it’s illegal, is the response is to ask them to show you where in the rules it says so? Or is there something to refer to that indicates it is legal?
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I would think that would fall somewhere under altering the playing conditions of the pool table.
 
justnum said:
if the rail is straight and my stroke true
the. how would you rate this exercise?

training stroke straight ness
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You may already know that there already is a widely used simple exercise to develop a straight stroke/shot that doesn't involve the possible complications of shooting along the rail... just shoot the cue ball from the spot toward the middle diamond on the far end rail, freeze at the end of your follow through, and try to make the CB rebound straight back onto your tip. Any slight off center hit will put some side spin on the CB so it won't come straight back.

Another well known straight stroke test/drill is to spot an object ball in the center of the table, place the cue ball near a corner pocket, and shoot the OB into the far opposite corner pocket (having the CB and pocket at opposite ends of a shot and the OB halfway between gives the smallest margin of error). Try to (1) stop the CB perfectly, (2) follow the CB after the OB into the far corner pocket, or (3) draw the CB back into near pocket.

For both of these (and other) exercises you can make your stroke errors more immediately visible (who doesn't like that?) by using a striped ball as your cue ball with the stripe vertical and aligned with the shot - even a tiny off center hit will make the stripe wobble visibly. It's a little more trouble because you have to align the stripe carefully, but that f#*@^g wobble is an effective "tell" and deterrent.

pj
chgo
 
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Patrick Johnson said:
You may already know that there already is a widely used simple exercise to develop a straight stroke/shot that doesn't involve the possible complications of shooting along the rail... just shoot the cue ball from the spot toward the middle diamond on the far end rail, freeze at the end of your follow through, and try to make the CB rebound straight back onto your tip. Any slight off center hit will put some side spin on the CB so it won't come straight back.

Another well known straight stroke test/drill is to spot an object ball in the center of the table, place the cue ball near a corner pocket, and shoot the OB into the far opposite corner pocket (having the CB and pocket at opposite ends of a shot and the OB halfway between gives the smallest margin of error). Try to (1) stop the CB perfectly, (2) follow the CB after the OB into the far corner pocket, or (3) draw the CB back into near pocket.

For both of these (and other) exercises you can make your stroke errors more immediately visible (who doesn't like that?) by using a striped ball as your cue ball with the stripe vertical and aligned with the shot - even a tiny off center hit will make the stripe wobble visibly. It's a little more trouble because you have to align the stripe carefully, but that damned wobbling stripe is an effective "tell" and deterrent.

pj
chgo
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This why when people talk about perfect systems like certain Doctors they shouldn't leave out the practical nature of pool.

Theoretically the section along the rail is straight. Several experts have confirmed it not to be. It is even proven in other videos.

So why aren't we talking more about the practical nature of how the pool table works? Instead of antiquated models of selective shots.
 
justnum said:
its on the surface of the pool table during the break, that is altering the table
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Disagree. If it’s used for every break it’s part of the pool table itself and part of the game.

Let’s not make things more complicated than they need to be...
 
David in FL said:
Disagree. If it’s used for every break it’s part of the pool table itself and part of the game.

Let’s not make things more complicated than they need to be...
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if its removed from the table after the break then its not part of the pool table

racks should be removed before the break not after
 
justnum said:
if its removed from the table after the break then its not part of the pool table

racks should be removed before the break not after
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It’s part of the playing surface. Until it’s removed, then it isn’t.


Again, I really think you’re trying to make this more complicated than it needs to be.
 
David in FL said:
It’s part of the playing surface. Until it’s removed, then it isn’t.

Again, I really think you’re trying to make this more complicated than it needs to be…
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In a different context you are saying most racks should be predictable

While I am saying you cant predict where the randomness on a table should be, especially in regards to the rack.
 
justnum said:
In a different context you are saying most racks should be predictable

While I am saying you cant predict where the randomness on a table should be, especially in regards to the rack.
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I’m not saying anything of the sort.

I’m saying if two players decide do use a template rack, that becomes part of the playing conditions for that match.
 
David in FL said:
I’m not saying anything of the sort.

I’m saying if two players decide do use a template rack, that becomes part of the playing conditions for that match.
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I am arguing the rulebook for table conditions. Someone is sneaking one past the goalie.
 
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