How to Judge SPLIT HITS … Everything You Need to Know

dr_dave

dr_dave

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FYI, I just posted a new video that presents a master class on everything you need to know to understand how to judge if a split hit, where the cue ball hits two balls at nearly the same time, is a foul or not. Check it out:


Contents:
Supporting Resources:
As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!
 
Last edited:
dr_dave said:
FYI, I just posted a new video that presents a master class on everything you need to know to understand how to judge if a split hit, where the cue ball hits two balls at nearly the same time, is a foul or not. Check it out:


Contents:
Supporting Resources:
As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Great info as usual Doc!!!
 
Very nice video! I've watched all of your close hit videos over the years. I still get confused though, and have to pause them before the shot to predict what will happen in the foul vs non-foul situation. I think to get good at calling and predicting on the fly, we'd all have to practice these like we would practice a normal shooting drill. The video alone I don't think is good enough for the player (or ref) to retain the knowledge long term. (Nothing to do with the video which is excellent, but more to do with the learning process).

The only critique I have on the video is on the one case with the very thin hit on the first ball, and the first ball went backwards due to the cb hitting it twice.... I think the emphasis should have been that the ref would make the incorrect call based on the teaching technique of the video.
 
Island Drive said:
Split hits Always go to the shooter.
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If the CB hits both OBs at exactly the same time, yes, but this pretty much never happens. As clearly explained and demonstrated in the video, motion of the CB or the 1st OB almost always indicates which ball was hit first, even when slow-motion video evidence is inconclusive.
 
iusedtoberich said:
Very nice video! I've watched all of your close hit videos over the years. I still get confused though, and have to pause them before the shot to predict what will happen in the foul vs non-foul situation. I think to get good at calling and predicting on the fly, we'd all have to practice these like we would practice a normal shooting drill. The video alone I don't think is good enough for the player (or ref) to retain the knowledge long term. (Nothing to do with the video which is excellent, but more to do with the learning process).
Click to expand...

Good point. Refs need practice making these types of calls to become better at making correct calls live. Dedicated training with guidance concerning what to look for and where best to stand would also help.


iusedtoberich said:
The only critique I have on the video is on the one case with the very thin hit on the first ball, and the first ball went backwards due to the cb hitting it twice.... I think the emphasis should have been that the ref would make the incorrect call based on the teaching technique of the video.
Click to expand...

I do discuss this. I think I made it clear that unless super slow motion video is available to clearly show thin-hit contact on the first ball, it is possible that the thin-hit tangent-line judgement technique will result in the wrong answer or rare occasion. But the "wrong answer" is the "right answer" if no super slow motion video replay is available. I know this is a tough one to accept, but I think it is a necessary evil (unless people use their smartphones for slo-mo video, or unless tournament organizers install high-speed cameras above every table for video-replay review).
 
dr_dave said:
...snip...

I do discuss this. I think I made it clear that unless super slow motion video is available to clearly show thin-hit contact on the first ball, it is possible that the thin-hit tangent-line judgement technique will result in the wrong answer or rare occasion. But the "wrong answer" is the "right answer" if no super slow motion video replay is available. I know this is a tough one to accept, but I think it is a necessary evil (unless people use their smartphones for slo-mo video, or unless tournament organizers install high-speed cameras above every table for video-replay review).
Click to expand...
Yes, you discussed it. But imo, did not "emphasize" that the wrong call would be made. More a matter of just speaking it with the same tone as every other point made. It was not more or less important in your presentation than any other point.
 
iusedtoberich said:
... I think to get good at calling and predicting on the fly, we'd all have to practice these like we would practice a normal shooting drill. The video alone I don't think is good enough for the player (or ref) to retain the knowledge long term. (Nothing to do with the video which is excellent, but more to do with the learning process). ...
Click to expand...
Another factor is the pressure on the ref to make a call and that is hard to practice. The Yapp shot is a good example of this kind of situation. I think that may have ended up as, "I'm not sure it was a foul, so..." A video review with the head ref would have helped, if that had been available.
 
iusedtoberich said:
Yes, you discussed it. But imo, did not "emphasize" that the wrong call would be made. More a matter of just speaking it with the same tone as every other point made. It was not more or less important in your presentation than any other point.
Click to expand...

Good point. Understood. I guess I didn't want to emphasize it too much since it is such a rare occurrence.

PS: I'm surprised you didn't complain about the length of this one like you have about other long videos in the past. But I am glad you seemed to make it all the way through. Good job! 🤓
 
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