Any side pocket insight?

krupa

krupa

The Dream Operator
Silver Member
I've been having a lot of trouble with side pockets lately and though I practice them regularly, I still don't feel like I'm improving my consistency. I'm not even consistent in how I miss; I will under- or over-cut the shots seemingly at random.

Does anyone have any insight into aiming and making side pocket shots?

Two shots that I miss often:

sidepocket2.png



sidepocket.png


Thanks
-matthew
 
Try using a half ball hit for the first example.

The second one normally causes a problem because you are aiming at the rear or center of the pocket, both will cause the ball to hit the rail by the tit. Try aiming for the far rail facing with pocket speed.

One good rule is lay your stick from the center diamond on the end rail to the side pocket. If the OB falls outside that line (towards the bottom of the table in your diagram) the ball is makable on a 9 ft table. For a BB move the stick down one more diamond towards the bottom. Your second example would be borderline on a BB.

There was also some advice from a pool guru that claims it is best to never play position for center pocket on a BB unless it is basically a hanger or easy to make. He claims you should always try to play the balls for a corner pocket. The second example can be made in the far corner pocket much easier. Try shooting it there. It is not as hard as it looks and the pocket is also made larger from the help of the side rail. The corner pocket shot also is less than 15 degrees, any shot less than 15 degrees can be made by aiming the center of the CB directly at the contact point on the OB. You may have to fudge a little on that but give it a try and experiment with it.
 
Last edited:
i was once told that if the OB is within 1 1/2 diamonds from the rail, making the side pocket much more difficicult shot, go for the corner if possible.
 
TheBook said:
One good rule is lay your stick from the center diamond on the end rail to the side pocket. If the OB falls outside that line (towards the bottom of the table in your diagram) the ball is makable on a 9 ft table. For a BB move the stick down one more diamond towards the bottom. Your second example would be borderline on a BB.
Click to expand...

For a barbox, you're saying this line?

sidepocket-line.png


Seems kind of extreme but then again, maybe my side pocket problems are due to poor life choices. :)
 
krupa said:
For a barbox, you're saying this line?

Seems kind of extreme but then again, maybe my side pocket problems are due to poor life choices. :)
Click to expand...
I got that it was the 1/2 diamond on the other end of the table...as in mor room on BBox vs. 9'.

krupa said:
maybe my side pocket problems are due to poor life choices. :)
Click to expand...
I usually say I am side-pocket-retarded...but I like your assessmant!
 
Black-Balled said:
I got that it was the 1/2 diamond on the other end of the table...as in mor room on BBox vs. 9'.
Click to expand...

I don't have his book with me right now, but I thought Cappelle promoted this as well. I don't think he indicated the size of the table it would work on. I wouldn't go with it on some of the barboxes I play on but a Gold Crown's side pockets seem so huge that I would try it.

sidepocket-line2.png
 
krupa said:
I don't have his book with me right now, but I thought Cappelle promoted this as well. I don't think he indicated the size of the table it would work on. I wouldn't go with it on some of the barboxes I play on but a Gold Crown's side pockets seem so huge that I would try it.

sidepocket-line2.png
Click to expand...

Yes, this is the correct line, although it can be pretty difficult on certain equipment (like Diamonds) where the side pockets are cut sharply and not angled out. Anything outside the line from the middle diamond or just a little inside (toward the line above) is pretty makeable on any table.

Both shots as diagrammed are fairly easy. The second one might be a bit harder to judge since you are cutting the ball backward or "blind" and have to worry more about where the cue ball is going. My only advice would be to practice them until the angles look right and you gain confidence shooting them. Use a ghost ball if that's your thing to help show you where the contact point should be. CTE makes them all day long without even thinking about it, but that's another thread... :)

If you are hitting them near the points, then it's probably an issue with visualizing the true pocket center in relation to the angle. Line up your cue down the inside edge of the object ball to the closest point on the pocket, you will see the "channel" that the ball must follow to clear the closest point and go in. While the side pockets offer a lot of leeway when the ball is shot at a shallow angle, as the angle increases the precision required increases and the speed that can be used decreases.

Scott
 
Last edited:
You need to find two things: the center of the side pocket and the worst-case position on the table that you can make side-pocket shots from.

The center of the pocket is not obvious. It is that same for all shots. It should be your target for all shots as that gives your the widest margin for error. I wrote a column about it, and that column is on the sfbillairds web site, but I don't have time to track it down right now. The column also shows you how to find the center of the corner pockets.

I recommend that you mark the center of the pocket with a donut (round, white paper reinforcement) and then practice your shots, visualizing making the object ball go exactly over the target.

Many players miss shots because they pick the wrong target. Learn where the real target is.

The extreme angle for making side pocket shots varies a lot from table to table. It is speed dependent. Some tables that are badly designed or have been worked on by table hacks have a very, very strong speed dependence. Try shots at different speeds from the limit angle.
 
Bob Jewett said:
You need to find two things: the center of the side pocket and the worst-case position on the table that you can make side-pocket shots from.

The center of the pocket is not obvious. It is that same for all shots. It should be your target for all shots as that gives your the widest margin for error. I wrote a column about it, and that column is on the sfbillairds web site, but I don't have time to track it down right now. The column also shows you how to find the center of the corner pockets.

I recommend that you mark the center of the pocket with a donut (round, white paper reinforcement) and then practice your shots, visualizing making the object ball go exactly over the target.

Many players miss shots because they pick the wrong target. Learn where the real target is.

The extreme angle for making side pocket shots varies a lot from table to table. It is speed dependent. Some tables that are badly designed or have been worked on by table hacks have a very, very strong speed dependence. Try shots at different speeds from the limit angle.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I found the article. I'll try what you suggest tonight/tomorrow.

-matthew
 
scottjen26 said:
If you are hitting them near the points, then it's probably an issue with visualizing the true pocket center in relation to the angle. Line up your cue down the inside edge of the object ball to the closest point on the pocket, you will see the "channel" that the ball must follow to clear the closest point and go in. While the side pockets offer a lot of leeway when the ball is shot at a shallow angle, as the angle increases the precision required increases and the speed that can be used decreases.

Scott
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll give this a try.
 
krupa said:
For a barbox, you're saying this line?

sidepocket-line.png


Seems kind of extreme but then again, maybe my side pocket problems are due to poor life choices. :)
Click to expand...

That is the line.

It is best to evaluate the table. When you lay your cue down look along that line at what the pocket looks like, if it is smaller than a OB than you know it won't go. Every table is different and it all depends on pocket size, shelf and angle of rail facings.

I can usually count on another shot when a player plays position for the 8 ball in the side pocket when the 8 ball is still in the rack area on a BB. Most times they will hit the rail. It is can be made but is not a high percentage shot especially for most league players.

.
 
Here's another possibility that may be happening with you. I've seen this a lot with side pocket issues: Don't second guess yourself when you're down on the shot. Trust the aim point you chose when you were standing and stick with it. If you miss, make your aim adjustments and then get down and trust it again.
 
This is correct. In the OP's diagrams he is shooting at 1/2 pocket to begin with, from the angle of the OB to the pocket. The corner pocket shot would be at least 3/4 of the pocket or more. These shots are routinely missed by amateur players because they don't make this recognition.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

oldplayer said:
i was once told that if the OB is within 1 1/2 diamonds from the rail, making the side pocket much more difficicult shot, go for the corner if possible.
Click to expand...
 
krupa...From your diagram you're still shooting at only 1/2 pocket...easy to miss.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

krupa said:
I don't have his book with me right now, but I thought Cappelle promoted this as well. I don't think he indicated the size of the table it would work on. I wouldn't go with it on some of the barboxes I play on but a Gold Crown's side pockets seem so huge that I would try it.

sidepocket-line2.png
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top