Can anyone explain...

[jsp]

It hits the point with topspin, clears the other side point, then top spin makes it hug the rail on the way to the pocket. As mentioned above, it is a rolling ball at speed. How many of these have you seen at slow speed? My guess is probably never.

This is the best description of the phenomenon so far.

This is exactly what happened in the 2004 Challenge of Champions semi-final match between Thorsten and Mika. Thorsten had a tight angle to pocket the 3 in the side. He hit the near point, and the ball swerved a bit and rolled down the rail to the far corner pocket. Everything was going right for Thorsten in that match, and nothing was going right for Mika.

CueTable Help

I don't think it's possible to hit the far point of the side pocket and have the OB run down the opposite rail to the left corner pocket. For this case, the point would cause a much greater change in OB direction, and I would figure that all of the top spin will probably be absorbed by the point at impact. I could be wrong, but I've never seen that particular case.

 

[Jal]

In case you didn't know, forgot, or never really cared, you can use the same idea to pocket a double kiss.



I always forget about this option but think it's worth practicing. Jsp has brought it up several times.

Jim

 

[Rod]

my guess is this....what's confusing is why the cb doesn't hit the opposite point of the rail, yes?

doesn't the rail contact the cb above the cb's center?? therefore, there's a small central portion of the cb that can actually pass beyond and under the rail.

The first rail does contact the c/b above center. It barely misses the other side pocket point and since it has overspin it bends the c/b back towards the rail.

It has to be close, a small portion of a balls width is slightly under the rail (now i'm talking an object ball). In that case it's dead nuts to go (provided it has some top spin).

If in doubt try it with a c/b. I think it's obvious, a ball, any ball, compresses a rail. Now were beyond the sight line of the corner pocket. We all have been corner hooked right? The only way (other than one or more rails) is to bend that ball back to the target line. Shooting a c/b is is the easy way -- persay, but it just so happens it's an object ball (with some overspin) that hits the point just right.

Rod

 

[matthew]

I did it in a tournament once. I was running out and hooked myself on the 8ball. I ended up making a very nice cross-side bank, the cueball came off the point and slide down into the corner pocket. I ended up losing the match