(FAQ) How do you make accurate 1 cushion kicks?

[allanpsand]

Howdy Folks,

Here's a new article on the Billiard Gods blog.


There are two common techniques when you need to kick to a rail to make contact on the target object ball. One is the ghost table/mirror technique. Another is "Cross the X" Both are easy to implement with the instructions below.

To get the details, click the link:
http://www.billiardgods.com/gk-make-accurate-1-cushion-kick/

 

[AlexandruM]

Couple pictures will be very useful.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Howdy Folks,

Here's a new article on the Billiard Gods blog.


There are two common techniques when you need to kick to a rail to make contact on the target object ball. One is the ghost table/mirror technique. Another is "Cross the X" Both are easy to implement with the instructions below.

To get the details, click the link:
http://www.billiardgods.com/gk-make-accurate-1-cushion-kick/

There are more than two, of course. Probably the most common one is the two-to-one measurement using the diamonds (as pictured below).

Nice resources on your site - thanks for the link.

pj
chgo

View attachment 14574

 

[dr_dave]

Couple pictures will be very useful.

Many illustrations, instructional articles, and video demonstrations covering all well-known and commonly used kick-shot aiming systems, including the ones Allan mentions, can be found on the kick and bank shot aiming system resource page.

Here's a good demonstration of the mirror-based kicking system:

NV E.7 - Mirror Kick-Shot Aiming System, from HAPS III

And a good illustration and demonstration of the Cross-the-X system can be found at the 4:48 point in:

NV B.81 - Bank and kick shot terminology and basics, from VEPS IV

Enjoy,
Dave

 

[realkingcobra]

Many illustrations, instructional articles, and video demonstrations covering all well-known and commonly used kick-shot aiming systems, including the ones Allan mentions, can be found on the kick and bank shot aiming system resource page.

Here's a good demonstration of the mirror-based kicking system:

NV E.7 - Mirror Kick-Shot Aiming System, from HAPS III

And a good illustration and demonstration of the Cross-the-X system can be found at the 4:48 point in:

NV B.81 - Bank and kick shot terminology and basics, from VEPS IV

Enjoy,
Dave

And you can throw all them banking systems out the door if you're playing on a table with the wrong cushions, to hard of cushions, to soft, rail bolts broke off, or missing....in other words, those systems work provided the table plays right.

 

[ENGLISH!]

And you can throw all them banking systems out the door if you're playing on a table with the wrong cushions, to hard of cushions, to soft, rail bolts broke off, or missing....in other words, those systems work provided the table plays right.

And if the Weather suits the rail compositions optimal playing temperature & humidity.

There was a table at Buffalo's where the A/C duct blew on one rail & not the other & the two sides of the table banked totally differently.

We play in the real world & not in sterile laboratory conditions & one had better be able to adapt.

 

[LAMas]

And you can throw all them banking systems out the door if you're playing on a table with the wrong cushions, to hard of cushions, to soft, rail bolts broke off, or missing....in other words, those systems work provided the table plays right.

True that.
Play on different tables like Diamond vs Brunswick and...

 

[realkingcobra]

It's funny that everyone keeps beating the drums to the same beat, but no one can think of how to explain to everyone....how to play GOOD pool, in less than perfect conditions....like, how do you adjust when the table don't act the way the diagrams on how to bank balls...DON'T WORK!

 

[realkingcobra]

Mark Gregory and I joke about this all the time, how in the hell do you know how bad a table plays, unless you have played on a table that plays perfect to be compare it to.

 

[dr_dave]

And you can throw all them banking systems out the door if you're playing on a table with the wrong cushions, to hard of cushions, to soft, rail bolts broke off, or missing....in other words, those systems work provided the table plays right.

Even if a table is "perfect," the systems do not work perfectly for all angles, speeds, and spins. But the aiming systems still provide useful references from which to make adjustments for angle, speed, spin, and conditions, and from one table to the next (for the mere mortals out there who don't yet have perfect intuition built up from countless years of successful practice and experience).

Regards,
Dave

 

[kaznj]

Check out the FREE videos on Manning cues site. With his information and all the great information Dr. Dave puts out there you should have enough information to help anyone.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Here's another 1-rail kick measuring method that I haven't seen elsewhere; maybe it'll resonate with you.

The principle is that the CB travels a "vertical" distance (into and away from the rail) and a "horizontal" distance (along the rail), and it must travel the same fraction of the vertical distance and the horizontal distance by the time it hits the rail.

In the example below:

- total "vertical" distance to the OB is 4 diamonds into the rail plus 2 diamonds away from the rail = 6 diamonds - the CB travels 2/3 of that total distance before hitting the rail

- total horizontal distance to the OB is 3 diamonds - the CB also travels 2/3 of that total distance before hitting the rail

pj
chgo

P.S. As always, adjust aim for ball/cloth friction, spin, etc. (with no side spin, I would aim the CB at the diamond on the rail rather than the cushion nose).

View attachment 23161

 

[Skippy27]

And you can throw all them banking systems out the door if you're playing on a table with the wrong cushions, to hard of cushions, to soft, rail bolts broke off, or missing....in other words, those systems work provided the table plays right.

I guess you have 2 choices then:
1.) Pack up your cues and burn your table.
2.) Learn to adjust what you have learned to the table conditions.

 

[BRussell]

I guess you have 2 choices then:
1.) Pack up your cues and burn your table.
2.) Learn to adjust what you have learned to the table conditions.

Yeah exactly. I don't really see what it contributes to say "BUT THE SYSTEMS DON'T ALWAYS WORK PERFECTLY!"

 

[Bob Jewett]

Here's another 1-rail kick measuring method that I haven't seen elsewhere; maybe it'll resonate with you.
...

A system I've seen several top pros use recently is the construction of the mirror image. This is for situations similar to the one PJ illustrates. The player uses his cue to measure from the cushion to the object ball (tip at object ball) and then moves his cue back until the tip is at the cushion. The hand, which was at the cushion, is now in the mirror image of the object ball. Then, you just have to get the cushion to behave like a mirror.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

A system I've seen several top pros use recently is the construction of the mirror image. This is for situations similar to the one PJ illustrates. The player uses his cue to measure from the cushion to the object ball (tip at object ball) and then moves his cue back until the tip is at the cushion. The hand, which was at the cushion, is now in the mirror image of the object ball. Then, you just have to get the cushion to behave like a mirror.

When I was spending lots of time at Hawaiian Brian's in Honolulu, I saw teammates doing that for each other so they could see it while shooting. Of course, I also saw the same (short) guys climb up and sit cross-legged in the middle of the table for unreachable shots...

Then, you just have to get the cushion to behave like a mirror.

lol

Does getting it to behave like a funhouse mirror count?

pj
chgo

 

[Bob Jewett]

... Does getting it to behave like a funhouse mirror count?...

Some trickier kicks require that.

 

[Neil]

Here's the method I use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhCfLrIOgKU

 

[Poolmanis]

Hi.
I thought id´d add something because kicking is my area of excellence at pool. I post to Youtube mostly races against ghost and 14.1 runs so there is only little kicking there.

I made video earlier about 1 rail kicks(also 2 rail and about 3 rail opposite system too).
I also have video where i "drill" kicks so one can see how accurate that is.
That said, I´m not happy about video(and sound) quality. I gonna either make new audio and cut original little or make whole thing again and make audio afterwards so I can put better quality.
I´d also would do these videos better rails(I can do better accuracy and better cushions give also more margin of error to spin) because these tables are 25 years old and they have cushions replaced couple of times and they are not good ones.
They play quite short.

System I use is reference. Master particular kicks and expand from there. My 1 rail system basic uses fast speed and centerball because it is really close at any table. Of course there is more but i don´t wanna write all here.

If someone is interested here is links:

drilling kicks: first i do my base lines. then about 6:40 i try clear table full of balls randomly to one pocket... in the end i put some 2 railers too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTiFGkDoGK8

Reference kicking: Where is try teach this shit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW4Q5debhFk

The thing about reference kicking is that´s simple to use even under pressure and lack of time. So it will work at tournaments too(with shotclock even).

 

[Patrick Johnson]

...about 6:40 i try clear table full of balls randomly to one pocket...[/url]

That's a good one - I'm trying it tomorrow.

Thanks!

pj
chgo