What is pocket speed?
- Thread starter dabarbr
- Start date
It should be pocketing speed or drop speed.
Like this?
Shamos gives a definition for "pocket speed" and cites Koehler as his source.
You can get a copy including shipping for under $15,
WTF???? You're the one that dug it up out of its '07 coffin and then put it back on the first page. You do know that's how a forum works, right???? As for the question itself??? Anyone that's played pool for a week knows what pocket speed is. Well, maybe not.
Apparently people don't understand when you revive an almost 2 decade old thread that it goes back to the top of the page like its a new thread. SMH
Just hard enough to pocket the ball. Minimum speed.
Searching for "pocket speed" in Google Books gives several results from pool books, and all of the ones I saw used that definition.
Koehler defines it in a glossary on page 202 of his One Pocket book. The minimum speed definition is also in Nick Leider's book.
I might put the speed up very slightly from the absolute minimum to where the ball might bounce off a couple of jaws before dropping.
George Fels recommended a practice technique where you had to never let the object ball hit the back of the pocket. That feels about right.
Last edited:
I would describe it, the ball goes in but does not hit the back of the pocket.
As often as I preach otherwise I got sucked into this myth. There is no such thing as pocket speed. Even pocket speed range varies widely from shot to shot.
What matters is position speed, then we work backwards from there, will this speed pocket the object ball? If so, good enough, that is pocket speed for this shot.
As I have said countless times on azb, cue ball position is what is important. Trying to find an ideal pocket speed and shooting at that speed is letting the tail wag the dog. Decide where to put the cue ball. Decide how hard to hit the cue ball to accomplish that. Pocket speed was defined by the speed the cue ball needs to leave the collision with the object ball. Object ball speed is a minor factor in the shot, not nearly as critical as cue ball speed as a general statement.
Hu
What matters is position speed, then we work backwards from there, will this speed pocket the object ball? If so, good enough, that is pocket speed for this shot.
As I have said countless times on azb, cue ball position is what is important. Trying to find an ideal pocket speed and shooting at that speed is letting the tail wag the dog. Decide where to put the cue ball. Decide how hard to hit the cue ball to accomplish that. Pocket speed was defined by the speed the cue ball needs to leave the collision with the object ball. Object ball speed is a minor factor in the shot, not nearly as critical as cue ball speed as a general statement.
Hu
This is where the lessers start dogging it; not just under-hitting the roll off floor but under stroking their technical stability.
I am glad I read your post before I posted.
I was going to post the same thing.
Pocket speed is only a concern if pocketing the object ball is the ONLY thing you are trying to do.
If you are attempting to do something with the cue ball after you pocket the object ball, your cue ball speed is the main concern.
I like this explanation. Enough said. ShootingArts and HawaiianEye are two of my favorite posters. I think we all went to the same school.
I was told long ago I had a firm pocketing speed. Perhaps that's something different than what you are asking about. Since I stroke most of my shots w/the same speed, firm is as good a word as any I guess.
I like this explanation. Enough said. ShootingArts and HawaiianEye are two of my favorite posters. I think we all went to the same school.
Terry Ardeno used to say he had a PhD, Pool hall Degree. Most that spend enough years learning get there. Some are like a guy on a job with me. Some that have been doing something twenty years have twenty years of experience, some have one year of experience repeated twenty times, not the same thing at all!
Hu
I went back and read the first 10 comments from 18 years ago. Interesting.
Unless a shot specifically needs to be babied or slow-rolled, I shoot pretty "firmly", too, once I have figured out what speed the pockets will take and from what angles.
I like to keep a consistent stroke and feel for the cue ball on each shot.
I have had too many balls roll off on what were supposedly level tables when babying balls, especially over long distances.
Slow rolling is fine if the equipment is in good shape, just not for me. That's why I've never enjoyed one pocket as much as I could have. There's something to be said about being well versed in both disciplines, but I don't get the kind of enjoyment out of slow stroking balls that I do out of my normal pocketing speed. I feel hobbled. Or hindred if I can't fire my guns and let the ponies run.
For the newer players, this has nothing to do with shooting hard or ball banging. Just want to clarify. Developing a consistent pocketing speed comes along with fine tuning your stroke for maximum benefit with your playing ability. If you're shooting every shot at a different speed, try to find a nice middle of the road. Whether that means altering your ball selection or using less spin and more center ball, the choice is up to you. Developing consistency is the most important thing.
I use center ball, or slightly off center, for most of my shots.
I try to use the angles and speed control to get position vs a lot of English adjustments.
I can, and do, use English when needed but I try to keep a "dead" cue ball and "float" around the ttable as much as possible.
That keeps from overrunning position a lot because the cue ball is coming off the rails without spin. I only have to concentrate on angle and speed.
Playing a "dead" cue ball and using "stuns" can get you anywhere you need to go most times if you can stay in line on the correct side of the ball, especially on fast tables.
On really slow tables, you may have to actually use a "stroke" instead of the "bunting" that you can get away with on fast tables.