Kick Shots

[ThePoliteSniper]

Do you think the lack of diamonds adds difficulty to kick shots (or whatever they are called in snooker)? In pool you can find many systems for one-rail, two-rail and three-rail kick shots using the diamonds. But how do you approach these shots in snooker? Completely by feel?

 

[Rethunk]

Funny, I was just thinking about this myself as I was reading posts about kick shots and rail systems in the main forum.

This past week I had a lot of chances to practice kicks. We were playing two-man teams, and generally I would get to the table after a crafty older guy on the other team would leave me snookered with only a one-rail or two-rail kick to hit a red. For instance, he'd stick the cue ball behind the green on the spot and I'd be going for one of the last reds nestled amongst the pink, blue, and black at the other end of the table. Yuck.

Anyway, I took some advice I'd read somewhere (Steve Davis's book, maybe?), used follow, avoided side whenever possible, and trusted my gut feel. It worked pretty well.

Last week I started practicing a standard 3-rail kick around the table into a corner pocket (e.g. from the pocket closest to the yellow around the table to the pocket closest to the green). For 3-rail kicks into the corner pocket I typically use the method from Little Joe Villalpando's DVD. On the snooker table the aim point for the 3-rail kick was much closer to the side pocket than it would be on a pool table.

I'm interested to know what systems may be out there for snooker. My plan is to start with the systems for pool tables and 3-cushion tables, tinker with them on a snooker table, then keep working on them to develop feel.

Here's a post about the subject in another forum:
http://www.billiardsforum.info/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=74

Here's a nice kick shot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_YzILpI9jw

 

[Cameron Smith]

Do you think the lack of diamonds adds difficulty to kick shots (or whatever they are called in snooker)? In pool you can find many systems for one-rail, two-rail and three-rail kick shots using the diamonds. But how do you approach these shots in snooker? Completely by feel?

In my time around snooker players I have never heard a word about any kind of system for anything really.

I never learned any system for kicking while playing pool, so moving the snooker table I didn't have too much trouble.

But I don't think many amateurs worry too much about this because

1. If your trying to hit a red, theres usually a bunch on the table. A lot of room for error.

and/or

2. The penalty for missing the kick is pretty small. 4 points (unless your playing the blue or higher), worst case scenario you shoot again. Not too many enforce the foul and a miss rule. Some times it's best to give a half hearted attempt so you don't leave anything on.

 

[Wity]

Some times it's best to give a half hearted attempt so you don't leave anything on.

Exactly the reason why everyone at any standard should play the foul and a miss rule.

It's not enforced in many a game for two reasons..

1 Many just dont understand it, having never read the rules.

2 It really needs a game to be refereed by someone who knows the standard of the players.

 

[Scaramouche]

I've never seen a video of this on the web (I watched it live on the internet):

In the Championship League last season, Neil Robertson was in a situation where he had to win frames to have any hope of continuing.

He banked the pink off the end rail.
He banked the respotted black off the end rail.
in the final frame he banked the black off the side rail to the centre pocket.

In the interview he said he played a lot of 8 and 9 ball

 

[Cameron Smith]

I've never seen a video of this on the web (I watched it live on the internet):

In the Championship League last season, Neil Robertson was in a situation where he had to win frames to have any hope of continuing.

He banked the pink off the end rail.
He banked the respotted black off the end rail.
in the final frame he banked the black off the side rail to the centre pocket.

In the interview he said he played a lot of 8 and 9 ball

Proof, Neil Robertson vs. Rico Diks 10 ball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt9x...5B3BE73DF&playnext_from=PL&index=0&playnext=1

It's only a couple of games,and too bad Neil doesn't play better.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Exactly the reason why everyone at any standard should play the foul and a miss rule.

It's not enforced in many a game for two reasons..

1 Many just dont understand it, having never read the rules.

2 It really needs a game to be refereed by someone who knows the standard of the players.

With some of the crap that's been pulled on me, I won't play with the rule unless it is reffed by a third party. I can see a lot of problems coming up.