Is there a reliable way to determine the actual cut angle of a shot, say within five degrees? Years ago, I vaguely recall a system where one would draw a line from the pocket though the object ball and extend it into the rail. Then do the same for the cue ball...from the pocket to the rail; then there was a formula one could apply. However, I know there is an easier way to get within +/- five degrees. Any thoughts? Yes, I'm aware that a peace sign with your fingers is approximately 30 degrees, but frankly for me it's of limited use. Thanks in advance for your help.
Is there any way to determine cut angle in degrees?
- Thread starter booville
- Start date
Draw a line from the cueball to the ghostball. Draw a line from the ghostball to the pocket. Take a triangle and measure the angle between those lines.
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/sincos.html
Sine (c) = side opposite (o) divided by the hypotenuse (h).
Draw a line from the CB that is perpendicular to the line between the CB and OB - to the line from the pocket through the OB. measure that distance and divide it by the distance from the OB to the end of that same line.
Look up the result in the sine table below.
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/tablsin.html
Sine (c) = side opposite (o) divided by the hypotenuse (h).
Draw a line from the CB that is perpendicular to the line between the CB and OB - to the line from the pocket through the OB. measure that distance and divide it by the distance from the OB to the end of that same line.
Look up the result in the sine table below.
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/tablsin.html
You might try SAM which has the angles of roughly 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 85 degrees. As I said it might be helpful to you, but i'm not starting another AIMing thread
Feel free to PM me if you have questions.
Check out Joe Tucker's Aiming System.
Then what?
I'm a little confused why it matters if the angle is 50 or 55 degrees. Couldn't you play a lifetime without needing that knowledge?
I'm a little confused why it matters if the angle is 50 or 55 degrees. Couldn't you play a lifetime without needing that knowledge?
Yes you can and don't need that knowledge. Developing a sense of precision is all that is needed.
I just find that it helps to pocket more balls on double shimmed pockets that are 4.00" wide on a 9 foot table that I practice on.
Yes you could but........
Every ounce of info that you have when you are aiming the shot is helpful. It's like the sniper that is shooting a long shot but doesn't figure in the wind. Couldn't you just shoot without doing that? Of course. But the results would be much better with all the info you can get.
Some players just want to shoot the ball in the hole and not worry about anything else. They don't really care if they improve or not. Or it least they act like it.
But if you are really interested in improving your game there is alot of good info out there.
The difference is how much of the cue ball has to hit the object ball to make the shot.
Have a great day.......
Every ounce of info that you have when you are aiming the shot is helpful. It's like the sniper that is shooting a long shot but doesn't figure in the wind. Couldn't you just shoot without doing that? Of course. But the results would be much better with all the info you can get.
Some players just want to shoot the ball in the hole and not worry about anything else. They don't really care if they improve or not. Or it least they act like it.
But if you are really interested in improving your game there is alot of good info out there.
The difference is how much of the cue ball has to hit the object ball to make the shot.
Have a great day.......
I show players how to do this in Perfect Aim.........
I show players how to do this in the video. With a simple measurement with your cue you can be pretty accurate determining how much of the object ball you need to hit.
I show players how to identify 1/3 1/2 1/4 1/8. That's basically all I use.After that it is just a little more than this or a little less.
It's pretty easy to teach and simple to learn.
Have a great day.............
I show players how to do this in the video. With a simple measurement with your cue you can be pretty accurate determining how much of the object ball you need to hit.
I show players how to identify 1/3 1/2 1/4 1/8. That's basically all I use.After that it is just a little more than this or a little less.
It's pretty easy to teach and simple to learn.
Have a great day.............
The wind adds a different factor to the equation that has to be considered because it can deflect the bullet.
In pool, if you already know the thickness of the hit, measuring the angle in degree won't give you new information. It's just the thickness in a different format.
Last edited:
Isn't this fractional aiming which is similar to SAM except you are using say 1/3 1/2 1/4 1/8 instead of SAM 1, SAM 2, SAM 3 etc....?
Yes, I have a way of estimating cut angles to within a degree. It works for me. Estimating to within 5 degrees would be a cinch. Don't have time to write it up in detail now, but here is a crude start.
1. Place a small piece of tape (blue painter's tape is good) on your cue shaft 15" from the tip
2. Place tip of cue on the CB-OB line so that the 15" mark on the cue is over the top of the CB (obviously, not touching it).
3. Leaving the tip stationary, swing the butt of the cue so that the alignment of the cue long axis is parallel to the line of the OB-intended pocket.
4. Estimate the distance (in inches) from the tape mark on the cue to the CB-OB line (i.e. drop a perpendicular to the CB-OB line from the mark on the cue. Multiply this distance by 4. That is your cut angle, in degrees.
With a little practice, the difference between 3.5" and 4" is obvious, and clearly distinguishes a 14 degree from a 16 degree cut angle. For longer shots, you can use the cue joint rather than the 15" mark, and multiply by 2 instead of 4 to get the cut angle.
No time to discuss further now.
Come on 12310, lay one on us. I don't think there's been any funny stuff go out today.
On VEPS-I, we show how to use your hand to recognize 1/4-ball, 1/2-ball, and 3/4-ball hits. We also show how to calibrate your hand so you can judge these shots (and the corresponding cut angles) fairly accurately. Knowing these three angles well can help you estimate the angle required for any shots, certainly to within 5 degrees.
BTW, the cut angles for various ball-hit fractions can be found at the end of TP A.23.
Regards,
Dave
If you want to compare the angle of the cut on the OB from the CB to see how close it is to say 30 degrees (peace sign) so that you can see if it is a few more degrees than 30 or a few more degrees less - it's on the pool table.
From say the left corner pocket, the pocket diagonally across to the right far pocket is 30 degrees - at this pocket to it's long rail. and from the original corner pocket to it's short rail is 60 degrees.
From the same pocket to the side pocket that is diagonally across is 45 degrees to it's long rail.
From the same pocket diagonally across to the 1st diamond is 15 degrees, and the included angle from that diamond to it's side rail is 75 degrees.
You now know:
- 0 degrees is (center of CB to center of OB) shot.
- 15 degree (1/4 diameter of OB inside of the edge of OB aim) shot
- 30 degree (edge of the OB aim) shot
- 45 degree (~1/4 OB off of the edge) shot
- 60 degree (~3/8 OB off of the edge) shot
- 75 degree (~7/16 OB off of the edge) shot
- 90 degree (1/2 OB off of the edge) shot
Adjust and practice accordingly.
See post #7 for a diagram.
~ = approximately
I hope this helps.
From say the left corner pocket, the pocket diagonally across to the right far pocket is 30 degrees - at this pocket to it's long rail. and from the original corner pocket to it's short rail is 60 degrees.
From the same pocket to the side pocket that is diagonally across is 45 degrees to it's long rail.
From the same pocket diagonally across to the 1st diamond is 15 degrees, and the included angle from that diamond to it's side rail is 75 degrees.
You now know:
- 0 degrees is (center of CB to center of OB) shot.
- 15 degree (1/4 diameter of OB inside of the edge of OB aim) shot
- 30 degree (edge of the OB aim) shot
- 45 degree (~1/4 OB off of the edge) shot
- 60 degree (~3/8 OB off of the edge) shot
- 75 degree (~7/16 OB off of the edge) shot
- 90 degree (1/2 OB off of the edge) shot
Adjust and practice accordingly.
See post #7 for a diagram.
~ = approximately
I hope this helps.
Not that difficult. Trying to figure it out from the hit, 7/16 of the ball
. Spare me...Use Joe Tuckers method of numbering the OB, its easy, 0-9 each quarter of the ball viewed from the top. O is at foot and headstring always. 9 is always at the side rail.
Draw a line, mentally please, through the center of the CB through the center of the OB and another from the center of the pocket to the center of the OB. The difference between the two lines is the angle.
Joe could explain it better.
Last edited:
If your CB and OB are lined up square to the table, then 2dots up and 1 dot over to the pocket is also 30degrees to the pocket or 1/2 ball hit. A right triangle creates a 30/60 angle if the short side is half the length of it's long side counterpart. I guess you'd have to guesstimate the rest.
Why is it you want to be able to judge the cut angle value to within 5 degrees? How does this number help you with aiming? I can see how recognizing where you are relative to 30 degrees might be helpful for using the center-to-edge 1/2-ball-hit reference. Do you plan to use the cut angle value to estimate the required ball-hit-fraction or the Joe-Tucker-contact-point-to-contact-point number?
Regards,
Dave
Last edited: