pocket speed

[bluemarlin]

I hear this a lot when I watch billiards on TV. I still don't understand how it's used, or what it is exactly. When I see shots that bump off the rail like they do, but still go in, I wonder how they can do that and why I can't Obviously, they're pro's and I'm not, but I'd still like to learn more about the idea of pocket speed.

 

[satman]

Simply put, the object ball is hit just hard enough to make it to the pocket. Used in one pocket so if you don't make the ball it stays hanging in the hole. This also allows you to cheat the pocket more. Sam

 

[Snoozy]

I hear this a lot when I watch billiards on TV. I still don't understand how it's used, or what it is exactly. When I see shots that bump off the rail like they do, but still go in, I wonder how they can do that and why I can't Obviously, they're pro's and I'm not, but I'd still like to learn more about the idea of pocket speed.

One key part of pocket speed is that the ob is fully rolling, never sliding. Of course this means that the shorter the shot the softer you must hit.

A rolling ball has rotational energy. A sliding ball doesn't. When a sliding ball hits the running rail on the way to the pocket it tends to bounce back and forth within the pocket, and then hang.

When a rolling ball hits the same way, the ball tends to keep rolling just a little bit and the potential hanger seems to hang for about a half second, then drop in.

Snoozy

 

[gwvavases]

One key part of pocket speed is that the ob is fully rolling, never sliding. Of course this means that the shorter the shot the softer you must hit.

A rolling ball has rotational energy. A sliding ball doesn't. When a sliding ball hits the running rail on the way to the pocket it tends to bounce back and forth within the pocket, and then hang.

When a rolling ball hits the same way, the ball tends to keep rolling just a little bit and the potential hanger seems to hang for about a half second, then drop in.

Snoozy

Good answer, Snoozy. What part of NoCal are you in?

 

[bluemarlin]

Thanks for all of the help and info guys!

 

[Snoozy]

Good answer, Snoozy. What part of NoCal are you in?

Ukiah.

Shoulda added. Another thing about pocket speed is that it is not too slow, esp. on long shots. Most tables are not really level, and a very slow shot will tend to roll off, so pocket speed is fast enough to overcome small deviations in the table, yet slow enough to develop full roll.

Time for me to go play pool now.

Snoozy

 

[drivermaker]

And if you want to become a much better player, always work at hitting the balls EASIER rather than drilling them in at warp speed because it sounds pleasing to the ear. Learn to slow roll balls in from all over and work your CB back to center of the table and you'll be kicking butt for many years down the road.

 

[cheesemouse]

The best discription/explanation of 'pocket speed' that I've run across is: when the ball enters the pocket and leaves the slate and begins to arch downwards it does not have enough speed on it to reach the back of the pocket.

 

[sjm]

Simply put, the object ball is hit just hard enough to make it to the pocket. Used in one pocket so if you don't make the ball it stays hanging in the hole. This also allows you to cheat the pocket more. Sam

Mastering pocket speed is critical in any game where leaving an object ball near the pocket on a miss has merit. One pocket is the most obvious game that qualifies, but another game in which it is indispensable is (the pool table version of) golf.

 

[mjantti]

Good players play position and leave an angle at the next shot so it can be played at pocket speed and still get a good position on the next ball. Especially if the object ball is near the rail, you want to leave a good angle so you don't have to force the ball in to get position for the following ball.