An alternative/replacement for pool.bz diagrams

mattkenefick

mattkenefick

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey guys.. Long time lurker, first time poster. I saw this issue come up on reddit.com/r/billiards (original thread) so I thought I'd share it here too. Pool.bz went down and I have a pretty good alternative for it; if you're interested.

Try: pad.chalkysticks.com
(Tested on OSX versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Opera.)

Features:
  • Dashed lines and Solid lines
  • Arrows vs no Arrows
  • Curve tool (for massé or jump)
  • Drag and drop balls
  • Adding text on table
  • Title / Descrption
  • Ball strike diagram
  • Cue power diagram
  • Ghost balls, generics, and numbered.
  • Multiple size tables (7' / 8' / 9')
  • Unique color lines to match ball color (Added on 12/18)
  • Preset racks of 8-ball / 9-ball / 10-ball (Added on 12/18)
  • iPad touch support
  • Exportable SVG images (high quality/zoomable)

When you save the diagram it gives you two links as options:
1.) The website version with title, description, speed, and spin, which is also re-editable. example
2.) An embeddable image. example

Examples:


Disclaimer: I wrote this. I'm not really trying to self-promote; I've had it sitting around for a while. I saw the pool.bz problem on other forums and thought it'd be useful here as well.

Requested Features:
  • Grid lines on the table
  • Multi-page diagrams
  • White / Yellow cue ball for Carombola (added yellow ball on 12/21)
  • Prevent overlapping balls (added on 12/21)
  • Verify table sizes + pockets
  • Random ball layouts (added on 12/21)

Image Examples:

03499


24d40


ffc8e


5aff2


238cb



Anyway, I hope this helps someone. I know there are some other diagrammers out there still, but I thought this would be a bit more full-featured. I've also been actively working on it in the past few days since the Pool.bz problem popped up; so send feedback if you'd like.

iOS support is mostly in there. It works a little different; but it worked on my iPad.
 
Last edited:
Saturated Fats said:
Very nice!

Did you consider having optional grid lines at the diamonds?
Click to expand...


Thanks. I haven't considered that, but I could add that as a toggleable feature if that's something people want. I'm working on making a list of what people want; so I'll add that.

Also, I just added a red ball and a billiards table. You might need to refresh / clear cache to get it. Example:

7b801
 
mattkenefick said:
Thanks. I haven't considered that, but I could add that as a toggleable feature if that's something people want. I'm working on making a list of what people want; so I'll add that
Click to expand...

Nice!!
Yeah that would be cool! Thanks a TON for this:thumbup:
 
Great job! It looks awesome! Toggleable grid lines every half diamond would be very helpful. Another useful feature is multiple page diagram to describe the entire run out and not only a single shot. Thank you for making this tool!

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk
 
mattkenefick said:
Thanks. I haven't considered that, but I could add that as a toggleable feature if that's something people want. I'm working on making a list of what people want; so I'll add that.

Also, I just added a red ball and a billiards table. You might need to refresh / clear cache to get it. Example:

7b801
Click to expand...

It's a 5, 6, or 7 railer, hit the red on the left side with 9 o'clock english.

I like your idea....kudos to you, sir.

May I suggest a white and a yellow cue ball for the Carombola?
 
Haven't played around with it too much yet, but it's looking good! Thanks much!
 
Wow. Great work! A few suggestions:
- Make the balls respect the cushions and pocket facings and other balls, so they can't overlap each other.
- Verify each table size from cushion nose to cushion nose is exactly proportional to the 2.25" cue ball for drawing accuracy.
- adjust the pocket opening (width, angle, and depth) to be true to an actual table. I'd suggest a Diamond pro cut table. There are threads here with the exact dimensions. The table difficulty factor thread which is a sticky in the main forum.
-I tried it on my iPhone only thus far. Moving the balls worked well, but drawing the lines was flakey.
 
Thanks for all the feedback and positive comments guys. I'm going to work on a couple of them today.

iusedtoberich said:
Wow. Great work! A few suggestions:
- Make the balls respect the cushions and pocket facings and other balls, so they can't overlap each other.
- Verify each table size from cushion nose to cushion nose is exactly proportional to the 2.25" cue ball for drawing accuracy.
- adjust the pocket opening (width, angle, and depth) to be true to an actual table. I'd suggest a Diamond pro cut table. There are threads here with the exact dimensions. The table difficulty factor thread which is a sticky in the main forum.
-I tried it on my iPhone only thus far. Moving the balls worked well, but drawing the lines was flakey.
Click to expand...

I agree about the cushion proportions; getting them exact. I drew these diagrams a while ago when OK was good enough.. but I should tighten them up.

As per the iPhone, I haven't tested it on the phone itself. I tested on an iPad (which should be similar). The trick with lines is that you sorta have to double click. You tap once to start it, then tap and drag to move it, then release to complete it. Otherwise you'd be accidentally drawing lines all over the table and you wouldn't be able to tap and drag to move balls. :/
 
mattkenefick said:
Thanks for all the feedback and positive comments guys. I'm going to work on a couple of them today.



I agree about the cushion proportions; getting them exact. I drew these diagrams a while ago when OK was good enough.. but I should tighten them up.

As per the iPhone, I haven't tested it on the phone itself. I tested on an iPad (which should be similar). The trick with lines is that you sorta have to double click. You tap once to start it, then tap and drag to move it, then release to complete it. Otherwise you'd be accidentally drawing lines all over the table and you wouldn't be able to tap and drag to move balls. :/
Click to expand...

I tested it on my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using S-Pen - works pretty good, including line drawing.
 
Another feature I'd like to request:
- throw some balls on the table
- click a button to randomize their location

I like spending my train commute time "solving" layouts and thinking about patterns :smile:
 
Update

Updated Features:

Randomize Ball Positions

There's a new button up top next to Clear and Save. This will randomize the balls currently on the table. If there are no balls on the table then it will add 15 and randomize their positions.

Example: Click 9-Ball Rack from options. Click Randomize. Now you have a broken up 9-ball rack.


Added Yellow Ball for Carombola

Added an additional generic yellow ball.


Ball Collision Detection

Balls can no longer overlap with each other. When dragging them or randomizing them, it will push them off to the closest side but will remain frozen. This is especially useful when using your keyboard to move balls.

(Keyboard arrow keys move the last selected ball)
 
iusedtoberich said:
Wow. Great work! A few suggestions:
- Make the balls respect the cushions and pocket facings and other balls, so they can't overlap each other.
- Verify each table size from cushion nose to cushion nose is exactly proportional to the 2.25" cue ball for drawing accuracy.
- adjust the pocket opening (width, angle, and depth) to be true to an actual table. I'd suggest a Diamond pro cut table. There are threads here with the exact dimensions. The table difficulty factor thread which is a sticky in the main forum.
-I tried it on my iPhone only thus far. Moving the balls worked well, but drawing the lines was flakey.
Click to expand...


I added the prevention of ball overlapping. I didn't want to add cushions because sometimes there are shots that land on top of the cushions or in the groove.
 
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