Question about kicking

[TATE]

Alright...thanks for the input everyone. It seems pretty much the answer is....depends all on the shot. Are there other videos/books anybody would like to recommend on the subject of kicking? I have been practicing the last couple days. I think I am doing well with my speed control on kicking, but need to work more on accurate tip position. To answer an earlier post, I would rate myself as being either a c+ or b- player.

Thanks again,
Mattman

I like Buddy Hall's tape, How Do I Win from Here? It gives you dozens of practical kick shot and safety examples.

Here's a basic two rail kick to practice. Nobody is the favorite to win from here, but this maximizes the odds. This situation comes up a lot in 9 ball. The one rail kick to the side rail (cueball "A") is a sell out. The alternative one rail kick with either english or masse on the foot rail behind the 7 makes it hard to control the cue ball to get the angle you need to get safe.

If you can get a solid hit off the natural 2 rail shape (which takes practice) you can send the 7 on the route shown and maximize your chances of making the kick safe. In this particular case, I find the two rail kick is easier than the one rail side rail kick.

CueTable Help

 

[berry]

A very nice kicking exercise is placing a objectbal and the q-ball at the table (random). Now place a safe-ball close to the q-ball in direct line with the object ball (so now you get a safety). Try to kick the objectball (more then one rail) and if you kick it or not, leave the balls were the stop. Pick up the safe-ball and place it again very close to the q-ball in direct line with the object ball (about 0.5 cm close) and try to kick it again and again.

Do this 50 times and count the ones you hit. So in 50 atempts you hit it 34 times. (also means you gave ball in hand 16 times).

Good luck.

 

[blackeee]

Try Grady's video " Kicks only" and "The kicking academy" suggested by Blackjack, posted by deadaim. Both will improve your kicking far beyond your present skills.

 

[mattman]

Try "The kicking academy" suggested by Blackjack, posted by deadaim.

I did have this file so I pulled it out last night and got through a couple pages. Off and on, throughout yesterday I practiced about 3 or 4 hours on kicking using Little Joe's system and WOW!!! Once I found the stroke and speed that I needed I was hitting them fairly consistent. The two rails using reverse english were the toughest by far.

I expiermented around with his 3-rail system quite a bit. I discovered hitting a 3 rail at "pocket" speed with a cuetip position at 3:00 and hitting the same position on a 3 rail shot at "fast" speed with a cuetip position at 12:00 gave me the same results as a "medium" speed with a cue tip position at 1:00.

I am real curious how this system is going to work on some of the bar boxes that I play in league.

For those who want to learn how to kick, using a reliable system, please consider Little Joe's dvd....it truly is facinating!!!

Mattman