I don't know if anyone else uses hole reinforcements to mark shots. I use them and some books recommend placing 2 holes 2 1/4" apart to represent the ghost ball.
I will do this but it takes time to set up and I thought there must be a easier way.
I took a clear plastic sleeve page protector (these are available any office supply or you could use the one that magazines are shipped in) and drew a straight line using a marker. I then drew 3 lines perpendicular to that line 1 1/8" apart. Then put a hole reinforcement at the intersection of the two out side lines. This will give 2 holes the space of a ball apart. If you want to take it one step further you could also draw a 2 1/4' circle around those 2 centerlines to represent the object ball and ghost ball.
You can then cut it down to a workable size. Mine is just a strip about 1' wide and 6' long. If you want to have the outlines of the balls it will be wider. Place this strip on the table and point the long line to a pocket. Now when you put the OB on the first hole you will see a few things. One is the tangent line that the CB will follow with a center ball hit (stop shot) and the other is the hole reinforcement that is the centerline (CL) of the ghost ball.
To use line up the shot with your cue pointing at the spot you need to contact on the OB ball. This will be above the long line but the reason to do this is to get the shot picture. Keep your eye on this spot and then from the ready position land your bridge hand. You should be pointing at the middle of the hole reinforcement. If not start over. Remember what this looks like to get that picture burned into you brain. The things to remember are what the ball overlap looks like for that cut angle and where the CL of the GB is. When you are aiming at the CL of the reinforcement pull the trigger and watch the OB go into the pocket.
The piece may slide a little after the shot but you just have to reset it again for the next shot and it is easy to do.
I found that this gives me a good shot picture and a feel for where the center of the GB is on thin cut shots. It is cheap and easy to make and does the same as a lot of expensive gadgets that are being sold. I just tried this out a few days ago and it seems to work. I am sure that there are ways to improve it.
Hope it helps you.
I will do this but it takes time to set up and I thought there must be a easier way.
I took a clear plastic sleeve page protector (these are available any office supply or you could use the one that magazines are shipped in) and drew a straight line using a marker. I then drew 3 lines perpendicular to that line 1 1/8" apart. Then put a hole reinforcement at the intersection of the two out side lines. This will give 2 holes the space of a ball apart. If you want to take it one step further you could also draw a 2 1/4' circle around those 2 centerlines to represent the object ball and ghost ball.
You can then cut it down to a workable size. Mine is just a strip about 1' wide and 6' long. If you want to have the outlines of the balls it will be wider. Place this strip on the table and point the long line to a pocket. Now when you put the OB on the first hole you will see a few things. One is the tangent line that the CB will follow with a center ball hit (stop shot) and the other is the hole reinforcement that is the centerline (CL) of the ghost ball.
To use line up the shot with your cue pointing at the spot you need to contact on the OB ball. This will be above the long line but the reason to do this is to get the shot picture. Keep your eye on this spot and then from the ready position land your bridge hand. You should be pointing at the middle of the hole reinforcement. If not start over. Remember what this looks like to get that picture burned into you brain. The things to remember are what the ball overlap looks like for that cut angle and where the CL of the GB is. When you are aiming at the CL of the reinforcement pull the trigger and watch the OB go into the pocket.
The piece may slide a little after the shot but you just have to reset it again for the next shot and it is easy to do.
I found that this gives me a good shot picture and a feel for where the center of the GB is on thin cut shots. It is cheap and easy to make and does the same as a lot of expensive gadgets that are being sold. I just tried this out a few days ago and it seems to work. I am sure that there are ways to improve it.
Hope it helps you.