Doc D got me thinking...

[Nick B]

For those interested, a thorough and accurate analysis showing how cut shot difficult depends on everything (CB-OB distance, OB-pocket distance, cut angle, angle to the pocket, and pocket geometry) can be found via the links here:

cut shot margin for error analysis​

Dr. D. This is some GREAT stuff. You confirmed what I always thought. The toughest shots in pool in equal distance CB-OB-Pocket. Add distance and it gets tougher. Thus the toughest shot in pool is Corner to Corner with the CB by the pocket and the OB in the middle. Add some interference of bridging/cueing from pocket and it's triple tough.

From the bottom of Doc. D's link.

 

[ShootingArts]

Dr. D. This is some GREAT stuff. You confirmed what I always thought. The toughest shots in pool in equal distance CB-OB-Pocket. Add distance and it gets tougher. Thus the toughest shot in pool is Corner to Corner with the CB by the pocket and the OB in the middle. Add some interference of bridging/cueing from pocket and it's triple tough.

From the bottom of Doc. D's link.

View attachment 728301

A trick to make long shots easier is to make them longer! First thing, if the shot is tough, settle for whatever shape you can get by working up and down the centerline of the cue ball and speed. Don't make a tough shot tougher by adding unnecessary factors. With planning it is almost always possible to either have a tough shot or tough shape but not both on the same shot.

If you are dealing with a tough shot with tough shape the percentages have probably dropped below that of making a safety. A personal rule of thumb, I fudge the rule of if the safety is easier than the shot play the safety. I go with if I estimate that the shot is fifteen percent tougher than the safety, play the safety. If I think the safety is almost as tough as the shot, play the shot and keep control of the table.

Back to my opening statement: Particularly long straight shots but it works with cut shots too. Find a spot on the rail or even wall behind the object ball that will cause the cue ball to hit the object ball at the proper angle. Focus on that more distant spot, ignoring the object ball. The object ball you are barely aware of goes in. By aiming at the more distant location you are bringing into play the old rifle shooters' adage, "aim small, miss small."

Hu

 

[Nick B]

A trick to make long shots easier is to make them longer! First thing, if the shot is tough, settle for whatever shape you can get by working up and down the centerline of the cue ball and speed. Don't make a tough shot tougher by adding unnecessary factors. With planning it is almost always possible to either have a tough shot or tough shape but not both on the same shot.

If you are dealing with a tough shot with tough shape the percentages have probably dropped below that of making a safety. A personal rule of thumb, I fudge the rule of if the safety is easier than the shot play the safety. I go with if I estimate that the shot is fifteen percent tougher than the safety, play the safety. If I think the safety is almost as tough as the shot, play the shot and keep control of the table.

Back to my opening statement: Particularly long straight shots but it works with cut shots too. Find a spot on the rail or even wall behind the object ball that will cause the cue ball to hit the object ball at the proper angle. Focus on that more distant spot, ignoring the object ball. The object ball you are barely aware of goes in. By aiming at the more distant location you are bringing into play the old rifle shooters' adage, "aim small, miss small."

Hu

Darren Appleton does that. On straight ins he aims for the pocket and ignores the object ball.

 

[ShootingArts]

Darren Appleton does that. On straight ins he aims for the pocket and ignores the object ball.

Taught him everything he knows!(grin) Well, maybe not, never met the man.

That shot close to and parallel to the side cushions I think was given a difficulty rating of six. In reality you have enough references you should never miss that particular shot if all you have to do is pocket the ball. There are enough shots like that which only appear hard that somebody should write a book about them sorta like the one titled something like Shots That Shouldn't Go But Do.

Another easy shot on old tables with cushions a little dead and slick cloth on the cushions is when a ball is frozen on the cushion. I have seen tables where you could be shooting from fifteen degrees out more or less and you just aim well behind the object ball and let the cue ball slide down the cushion into the object ball. There were some old ten footers where you could shoot the cue ball into the rail over an inch behind the object ball, looked like magic!

All the little gaffs are why sometimes a shortstop playing on his own turf can beat a road player he wouldn't stand a chance against if they were both playing on a strange table.

Hu

 

[Poolmanis]

Darren Appleton does that. On straight ins he aims for the pocket and ignores the object ball.

I do similar stuff all long shots if i am doing everything i can to make a ball.
Before i go to shot, I crouch down and find some spot as far away i can. That spot is where i need point cue to make a ball. I look there while up and going down to shot. After that i look line through ball to that spot and feel if it is right. If it is, i shoot. If not i get up and think how mucj i need to change the spot. It is very easy to do very little adjust if your target is far away. On ball distance it chances just little bit then.

Can't use this if there is just plain walls around...