Combination Shots Help

[highrun55]

The cure for sure!

This is good sound advice. I increased my ability to pocket combos tremendously using this method more or less.

I am not sure where I got this from I have read sooo many books but it is about brain clutter. You are thinking about too many things with combos. This is what I was told or read. When you are are stroking on the ball the human brain can only intensely focus on three things (no wonder sharking is so easy to do). The combo ads one more thing to through you off.

Keep it simple and aim that first ball into the second like it was a cue ball. REAL IMPORTANT, Pick a spot on the rail that is going to be the target for the first ball. Aim and shoot this first ball to the target. If the first ball takes the path you want it to the second will go in the pocket. You have to trust this and stop focusing on the second ball you have to aim the first ball that is where your intense focus needs to be. The pockets are bigger at lower speeds.

Try it right now and let me know how it works for you. I think you will be quite surprised!:thumbup:

Thank you, I knew I had heard that many years ago and it does work.

I just have to practice and remember this tip.

Just what I was asking for.


Thanks so much.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

... as with all combos, the firmer you hit it the less it cuts and the softer you shoot it the more it cuts, assuming we are hitting the same point of contact

I'm not sure what you mean by "cut less", but you have to cut a little thinner when hitting soft and a little fatter when hitting hard (like any shot) because balls throw more with soft shots and less with hard shots. It also matters how full or thin each OB is being hit and what spin is on the cue ball.

this is based of course on the length of time the balls remain on the tangent line.

I don't know what this means.

pj
chgo

 

[Bigkahuna]

Thank you, I knew I had heard that many years ago and it does work.

I just have to practice and remember this tip.

Just what I was asking for.


Thanks so much.

You are welcome and glad you liked that!... It has worked for me very well. I forgot where I got that from?

 

[DaveK]

The concept of zigzag versus zigzig from this column helped me :

http://www.azbilliards.com/tomsimpson/tom7.php

Of course it also convinced be that straight short combos are about all I should take on

Dave

 

[TX Poolnut]

The first link that dr. dave posted is the way I've found the most success. Aiming for ghost balls seems simplistic, but I haven't found anything that is more consistent.

 

[3andstop]

I'



I don't know what this means.

pj
chgo

You're right I stated it wrong. It depends on which side of the shot the CB is on. The softer you hit the first ball the more it rolls forward from the tangent line before it hits the OB, and the harder you hit the first ball the more it slides along that line before rolling forward.

Trying to explain the difference speed makes in the combo and I was only thinking in terms of one angle in my mind . Sorry about that

 

[Patrick Johnson]

You're right I stated it wrong. It depends on which side of the shot the CB is on. The softer you hit the first ball the more it rolls forward from the tangent line before it hits the OB, and the harder you hit the first ball the more it slides along that line before rolling forward.

Trying to explain the difference speed makes in the combo and I was only thinking in terms of one angle in my mind . Sorry about that

OK, I get you now, and we agree that hitting softer means more throw and hitting harder means less throw. But tangent lines aren't the paths that struck balls go along - tangent lines are the paths that striking balls go along (before probably curving off them).

When the CB hits the first OB the CB is the striking ball, and it goes initially along a tangent line (and then probably curves off of it). When the first OB hits the second OB then the first OB is the striking ball, and it goes initially along a tangent line (and then probably curves off of it). In both cases the struck ball doesn't go along any tangent line and doesn't curve at all (unless it subsequently strikes another ball).

When the striking ball throws the struck ball the struck ball goes straight along the "thrown" path and doesn't curve at all (unless it subsequently strikes another ball).

pj
chgo

 

[dr_dave]

When the striking ball throws the struck ball the struck ball goes straight along the "thrown" path and doesn't curve at all (unless it subsequently strikes another ball).

If people want to see demos of this, see:

NV B.7 - Ball "turn" caused by sidespin
NV B.8 - Straight throw of a second object ball
​

Regards,
Dave