The "center line" of the cue ball or an object ball never touches the rail unless you are shooting straight up and down or across the table.
When you are shooting at an angle into a rail, (with either the cue ball or an object ball) the opposite side of the "contact point" on the ball is the point that touches the rail, not the center line of the shot.
So, why do people use the "center lines" of the balls when doing calculations?
Also, if you are shooting into a rail at an angle, the ball comes off the rail a bit "elongated" from the rebound off the rail. English and speed can compensate for this a bit, but I'm talking hitting the rail with "no spin" on the ball to begin with.
Think about it the next time you are practicing banks or kicking.
Not everything is a "mirror".
Adjustments need to be made.
When you are shooting at an angle into a rail, (with either the cue ball or an object ball) the opposite side of the "contact point" on the ball is the point that touches the rail, not the center line of the shot.
So, why do people use the "center lines" of the balls when doing calculations?
Also, if you are shooting into a rail at an angle, the ball comes off the rail a bit "elongated" from the rebound off the rail. English and speed can compensate for this a bit, but I'm talking hitting the rail with "no spin" on the ball to begin with.
Think about it the next time you are practicing banks or kicking.
Not everything is a "mirror".
Adjustments need to be made.