Does slower speed = pocket speed?
- Thread starter BRussell
- Start date
Yes and yes !!!!!
To answer it simply. Yes slower does equal pocket speed. Obviously if you fire a ball down the rail that's not pocket speed. And of course if you hit it too soft it can hang up. Pocket speed is a very delecate balance that can help you or hurt you. But it almost always comes up in every match.
That was short and sweet! And I will add that it all depends on the table. Nothing more....nothing less.
Pocket speed is the speed at which the object ball arrives at the pocket with less than an inch (or 2) or travel left.
Generally if the object ball touches both inner rails of the pocket is is traveling faster than my definition of pocket speed. If you touch only one inner rail the object ball cannot rattle out, it can only stay on the shelf.
I would imagine that pocket speed means something different to many of us
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Pocket speed to me is to hit the object ball with the speed so that the table conditions will have the less chance to work on the object ball on the way to the pocket. The ball must have enough speed so the chance of table drift will not effect the roll or in case it rolls over a bit of whatever might be on the table.
Hitting the ball to just get to the pocket can be dangerous especially if it has a distance to roll.
TheTalentASP
Registered
I like the first reply, find the middle ground, and you will be good. Not too hard, not too soft, but just right lol.
George Fels's book, Mastering Pool, writes about these concepts.
I paraphrase: The ball when hit with pocket speed
(that speed which prevents the object ball from hitting the back of the pocket)
picks up less spin off the rail and/or external pocket architecture [my terminology].
Personally, I don't see how an object ball can ever go into a pocket too slowly.
As long as it has enough energy to get to the pocket, the slower speed only aids in "working"
the pocket and falling in.
The more times a ball bounces off the jaws (back and forth) of a pocket, the more likely it will be denied entry.
A slower traverse by the pocket precipice seems to allow the ball to fall more easily.
Think of it this way: If you hit a putt in golf and the ball zips by the hole's edge,
good luck in the ball falling in the hole.
BUT if that same ball follows the same line at "cup speed," guess what?
That ball has a considerably better chance of finding the "drink."
Damn I'm good.
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Harder to play pocket speed in E8B tables and snooker tables as usually have napped cloth, which means that finger marks and the like can alter the path of the OB.
Players coming from such equipment therefore tend not to and prefer a stun shot of some description (given the situation allows of course) rather than a dead weighted shot.
Players coming from such equipment therefore tend not to and prefer a stun shot of some description (given the situation allows of course) rather than a dead weighted shot.
Except that is not what pocket speed means. Pocket speed quite simply means slow
enough that a shot that does not drop will stay hanging in the pocket. A favorite
tactic of 8 Ballers and One Pocket players alike.
Your description is a smart shot, you just need to call it something else.
Dale(who likes go-in-speed, as an alternative)
Definition
My definition of pocket speed is similar to Mr. Fels' in that the ball falls into the pocket without striking the back of it. It's may favorite speed to pocket balls because it just feels right to me. When I'm playing well, I'm playing smoooooooth and nothing looks smooth like a ball that goes quietly into the pocket.
As a former 2 handicap golfer known as a really good putter, I always felt that the ball has a much better chance of going in if it's slowing enough to drop in the bottom; same feeling in pool. For me, at least.
Brian in VA
My definition of pocket speed is similar to Mr. Fels' in that the ball falls into the pocket without striking the back of it. It's may favorite speed to pocket balls because it just feels right to me. When I'm playing well, I'm playing smoooooooth and nothing looks smooth like a ball that goes quietly into the pocket.
As a former 2 handicap golfer known as a really good putter, I always felt that the ball has a much better chance of going in if it's slowing enough to drop in the bottom; same feeling in pool. For me, at least.
Brian in VA
I've only heard "pocket speed" used when talking about a slower hit ball that just falls in the pocket even if it brushes the rail on the way in or hits the point. If hit harder, that ball would be a miss. I've heard several pros talk about "pocket speed" as being fast enough to go a few inches past the hole and not more, it increases the pocket size due to being able to slide in despite a shot that looks like it should miss (like when you need to brush the rail to make it past a ball almost blocking the full pocket).
The best speed to pocket a ball does change, but I've never heard pocket speed as being anything other than a soft hit to increase the size the pocket plays.
Give the man a cookie.
BEST SPEED=hard enough to overcome "roll"/soft enough not to rattle.
Pocket Speed is often used in One Pocket where the ball doesn't have to fall in to still be a good shot. Can't imagine playing pocket speed in 9-ball, where if it doesn't fall in you lose the game.
Pocket speed to me means whatever speed it takes to pocket the OB and get position on the next ball.
If the ball hits the back of the pocket or not is irrelevant to the speed it takes to move the CB for shape.
If the ball hits the back of the pocket or not is irrelevant to the speed it takes to move the CB for shape.
I'm in the Goldilocks camp -- slow enough that the jaws don't tighten but fast enough that the ball can't roll off much. It is roughly hard enough to drive the object ball four diamonds beyond the pocket if you don't hit the jaws at all. This speed is slow enough to qualify for George Fels' requirement to not hit the back of the pocket.
George Fels's book, Mastering Pool, writes about these concepts.
I paraphrase: The ball when hit with pocket speed
(that speed which prevents the object ball from hitting the back of the pocket)
picks up less spin off the rail and/or external pocket architecture [my terminology].
Personally, I don't see how an object ball can ever go into a pocket too slowly.
As long as it has enough energy to get to the pocket, the slower speed only aids in "working"
the pocket and falling in.
The more times a ball bounces off the jaws (back and forth) of a pocket, the more likely it will be denied entry.
Damn I'm good.
^^^^ What he says is what pocket speed is.
Like I said, pocket speed means something different to many. Looks like there are many here that agree with me but in different words.
Dabarbr( who knows how to hang up a ball when needed)
P.S. The most important thing in shooting a ball is to make sure that the it will hold a line to the pocket.
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