A few ways to find the contact points

[Vorpal Cue]

If you're having trouble finding the contact points for some types of shots, try one of these methods.

Sight down the center CB to center OB ball line. To find the contact point for the CUE BALL :

Draw a line from the pocket through center OB. The point where the line crosses the circumference, the overlap point, (OvP) marks the cosine of the angle needed.
- OR -
Find the point on the circumference of the OB that's closest to the pocket. This is the OvP.

pic1

Drop straight down from the OvP and find the contact point on the horizontal radius. The little red dot is the contact point for the CUE BALL.

pic2

Find a way to fix the line from the OvP position to the radius in your mind by using the quarters and eights as reference guides. The line is almost touching the first quarter.

pic3

To find the contact point for the OB :

Method A: Length from center ball

Move the red dot the same distance in the opposite direction from center OB. Align the points and shoot.

NOTE: Because the CP is less than a half ball away from the center it's possible to double the length and use it as a guide. The blue dot marks the doubled distance. This allows aiming the center of the CB at the blue dot. It's your choice.

pic4


More on next post. No more image space.

 

[Vorpal Cue]

More method to the madness

Method B: Horizontal cut

A larger angle makes this method easier to see so an angle of 45 is used.

pic45

Draw a horizontal line from the OvP until it touches the circumference on the other side of the ball. Drop straight down as before and the point where it touches the horizontal radius is the OB contact point.

How This Works : Warning, trig below.

The sine angle value gives the length from center ball to the CP. The length of the two vertical (cosine) lines are equal. Since the cosine lengths are equal the sine lengths will be equal. This in effect 'flips' the CP to the other side of the ball.


Method C : Bottoms Up

An even thinner cut makes this method more obvious.

pic5

Follow the line from the pocket through center ball until it touches the circumference on the other side on the bottom of the ball. Draw a line straight up until it touches the horizontal radius.

Cheers!

 

[8pack]

I like different Ideals and approaches to aiming and I wonder do people actually use them.

Lou mentioned something in the banking thread about
A great banker who just knows how to make them..know aiming system.

I think in aiming it also come down to a perception, you know what it should look like over many hours of practice.

I myself have a few different ways of connecting the balls in order to come up with that perception but none are an exact alignment to produce the final shot line.

I must use feel and my experience to produce what I feel is right for the shot line, if I don't and I use something like
What your showing here I would have a lot of inconsistencies on pocketing the ball.

I also feel doing to much during aiming might hinder your ability to learn at a faster rate. Not saying it catn't be done but I myself would be tired as heck if I used a contact to contact method on all shots. Certain shots it could be helpful though.

It boils down to it just looks right ..practice gets you there.

 

[straightline]

Pretty intense for my eyes; especially from a shooting position. I use a combination of center point roll, equal angle opposites, reciprocal sectioning, and carom tangent. Those four arrive at the same conclusion but are better suited for differing distances and object ball vectors because they facilitate integrating the cue ball and stick line.

 

[BilliardsAbout]

Very interesting OP.

I note you started on the line of centers between OB and CB, yet another reason to advocate standing erect behind this line (for most players) to begin the aim process.

 

[Vorpal Cue]

Thanks for the comments. It's just another way to tackle the shots that give you problems. It may help if you approach the shot with another tool. Sometimes a different method just clicks and you 'get it'.

I was curious about some comments that mentioned "seeing the shot at the front of. the ball'. That started me looking at the point closest to the pocket. When I dropped a line straight down from there I realized the line was the cosine. DUH, it's been staring me in the face for over 50 years. Time to spread the news!

 

[straightline]

Thanks for the comments. It's just another way to tackle the shots that give you problems. It may help if you approach the shot with another tool. Sometimes a different method just clicks and you 'get it'.

I was curious about some comments that mentioned "seeing the shot at the front of. the ball'. That started me looking at the point closest to the pocket. When I dropped a line straight down from there I realized the line was the cosine. DUH, it's been staring me in the face for over 50 years. Time to spread the news!

I've been using contact and reciprocal aiming for years. There is no credible alternative. If your trigangulation helps you zero in, then you should develop it. :thumbup2:

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I think I've heard this called the "bottom of ball" aiming method.

pj
chgo

 

[Pidge]

Hmm, what ever floats your boat.

 

[Vorpal Cue]

I think I've heard this called the "bottom of ball" aiming method.

pj
chgo

View attachment 546428

Don't think so, the visual info is on the back of the OB in the pix. The ways I showed relied on the OB point on the arc closest to the pocket. All the info you need is on the pocket side.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I'm having a hard time understanding your description.

Find the point on the circumference of the OB that's closest to the pocket. This is the OvP.

Assuming this means on the "equator" of the OB...?

Drop straight down from the OvP and find the contact point on the horizontal radius.

If the OvP is on the "equator", how can a horizontal radius be "straight down" from it?

pj
chgo

 

[AtLarge]

Hmm, what ever floats your boat.

Hey, first post in over a year. What have you been up to? Still playing at the high level you were a few years ago?

 

[Pidge]

Hey, first post in over a year. What have you been up to? Still playing at the high level you were a few years ago?

I've played maybe 5 or 6 times in the last 2-3 years. So my standard is ropey to say the least. I've started a family so I haven't had chance to post much....just been lurking in the background, secretly reading away!

 

[Vorpal Cue]

I'm having a hard time understanding your description.


Assuming this means on the "equator" of the OB...?


If the OvP is on the "equator", how can a horizontal radius be "straight down" from it?

pj
chgo

Imagine playing on a table in Flatland. The line through the centers is pointing north. North is up. Down is back at you. Or the top of the diagram is up.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Imagine playing on a table in Flatland. The line through the centers is pointing north. North is up. Down is back at you. Or the top of the diagram is up.

OK, thanks. Then FYI it's the same geometry as the "Bottom of Ball" method I illustrated above, just visualized in a different way.

pj
chgo