The 50% System
The next two systems are very simple fixed cue ball and return systems. This means the player is going to hit the corner always, whether it is the short cushion first or long as the cue ball will return to a fixed position on the original cushion from which the cue ball departed. The English needed for these systems is constant 12 O’ clock English. The stroke should be smooth and fluid so as not to give pace to the cue ball. The formula is simple; whatever the distance the cue ball lays from the 1st cushion after contacting the corner the cue ball contact the same departure cushion 50% of its original starting point. The player measures the position of the cue ball through the diamond to the corner.
In Diagram 1 the cue ball position is diamond 2 from the 1st rail by aiming the cue ball to strike the corner short rail first, the cue ball returns to the 3rd cushion to diamond 3, (50 % of 2 = 1) a gain of 1 diamond further from the cue ball position.
The Two-Thirds System
The two-thirds system is similar to the 50 % system. The cue ball and its returns to the 3rd cushion are consistent in the making contact the corner via a long, short and long cushion path respectively. The basis for this system is simple. The player measures the cue ball position on the long cushion opposite the diamonds to the corner and by contacting the long cushion first the cue ball will return two thirds the distance the cue ball lays from the end rail. As in the 50% system, the player needs to always apply 12 O’clock English.
The example in Diagram 1 shows the cue ball position on the number 3 diamond on the long cushion and by contacting the corner, long cushion first, the cue ball will return to the 3rd rail at the number 2 diamond on that same long cushion. The calculation is two thirds of 3 equal 2.
