Here are some answers...
These are mostly taken from a "Rules of Thumb in Pool" thread that I started here in 2012. There's some valuable stuff here. Each is attributed to the person I first heard it from. Not necessarily the originator.
90 Degree Rule – Dr. Dave Alciatore
The first and most well-known reference line is the tangent line predicted by the 90 degree rule. For a stun shot (aka a “stop shot at an angle”), where the cue ball is sliding with no top or bottom spin at object-ball impact, the cue ball will head exactly in the tangent line direction, which is perpendicular to the object-ball direction.
Avoiding Double Kisses – Freddie The Beard
When the balls line up on a straight line to the middle of the FACING of the corner pocket (the facing on the long rail), the bank is a dead kiss. It is extremely difficult to beat the kiss when the balls are on a line to the middle of the FACING.
When the balls line up on a straight line to the MIDDLE of the back of the POCKET, there is no kiss.
When the cue ball and an imaginary ball at the contact point for the bank are on a line to the center of the pocket, there is a dead kiss if you use follow with no English.
These kisses are usually easy to evade by using English or draw to send the cue ball on a non-kiss path.
The aim on the object ball must be adjusted to allow for the ball action needed for a non–kiss bank.
Throw When Balls Are Close – Bob Jewett
When the object balls are a quarter-inch apart, there is no throw or cut, no matter how you hit them.
Throw When Balls Are Close – Mark Wilson
When the object balls are a quarter-inch apart, they are in a position where it is difficult to predict whether throw or cut, will occur. Judgment of the object ball behavior in this situation is VERY difficult even for expert players.
6:1 Rolling Cue Ball Ratio – Bob Jewett
The ratio of about 6:1 is a useful rule of thumb when playing soft position. Suppose the object ball is six diamonds from a pocket, and you want the cue ball to follow straightforward not more than about one diamond after the collision. If you just get the object ball to the pocket — six diamonds of travel — the (rolling) cue ball will roll forward about one diamond. Another way to state this is that on a full, soft follow shot, the cue ball will go forward one ball for each diamond the object ball travels. At a later time, Bob gives the ratio as 7:1.
Ball in Hand – Bob Jewett
With ball in hand, you should never place the cue ball for a draw shot.
Two Rail Banking – Bob Jewett
If a ball is sent at about a 45 degree angle into the short rail (first) and the long rail (second) it will go close to two rails into the corner.
45 Degree Rule – Dr. Dave Alciatore
If the CB rolls into the short rail at roughly a 45-degree angle, it will head fairly close to the center of the table after contacting the long rail.
Importance of Rolling Cue Ball Through the Center of the Table – Danny Basavich
A cue ball rolling through the center of the table for position cannot scratch unless coming directly from the direction of a pocket (or first hitting at least one more rail). Stated differently, unless the cue ball is rolling straight from a pocket, it cannot scratch directly in a pocket after passing through the center of the table.
Routes Through The Center Of The Table – Mark Finkelstein
Any time the object ball is near the short rail, and between the corner pocket and the center diamond, a rolling cue ball with running English will pass through the center of the table.
Any ball on the long rail from the corner to two diamonds away from the pocket, if hit with a rolling ball with running spin, will travel 3 rails through the center of the table.
The more general rule is that any time the cue ball approaches the short rail at about a 45 degree angle with running spin, the track line will pass through the center of the table.
Banking Frozen Object Balls – Bob Jewett
If the cue ball is straight out from the frozen object ball, the ball has to be at least one diamond up the rail from the target pocket for the bank to be possible using all techniques.
Half Ball Carom (30 Degree Rule) – Dr. Dave Alciatore
If the object ball cut angle is anywhere from 15 degrees to 45 degrees, a rolling cue ball is deflected by very near 30 degrees from its original path.
Equal Distance – Bob Jewett
After a half ball hit, the cue ball and object ball will travel a similar distance.
Shortening Banks By Hitting Firm and Full – Bob Jewett
Banks that are dead using a mirror system (for example from diamond 3 to diamond 1.5), can be shortened by hitting full and firmly (for example, diamond 3 to diamond 1). The idea is if you can get the shot to match the mirror system by subtracting 1 from the cue ball's location, the bank is "on" for the system. So, if you subtract 1 from cue ball's 3, you get 2-to-1, which is a standard mirror bank. Therefore it is “on” for a full, firm bank.
Cue Ball Deflection On Nearly Full Shots – Bob Jewett
If you cut the object ball just a little to one side (3/4 ball or fuller), a rolling cue ball will be deflected about three times the angle to the other side. For example, a five degree cut to the left will result in the cue ball being deflected to the right about 15 degrees.
Path of Rolling Cue Ball After Hit – Shawn Putnam
This is a system to predict the direction the cue ball will go on a rather full hit (about ¾ ball or fuller) after rolling into the object ball with follow. To send the cue ball in a particular direction, visualize the spot on the far side of the object ball that points to where you want the cue ball to go and then aim the cue ball to that point on the far side of the object ball.
Sidespin/Squirt Ratio – Bob Jewett
Two tips of English will produce twice the squirt angle of one tip.
Spin On 14.1 Break Shots – Pat Fleming
Side break:
CB nearer side rail = high
CB & OB equidistant = high outside
OB nearer side rail = bottom outside
Behind rack break:
CB nearer end rail = high outside
CB & OB equidistant = high inside
OB nearer end rail = either, but not as good
The following ROTs were submitted by Dr. Dave Alciatore:
• The trisect system predicts the angle the CB direction changes for a good-action draw shot is 3-times the cut angle.
• For a fairly full hit, with a ball-hit-fraction greater than 3/4, the CB will deflect about 3-times the cut angle (see where the CB goes for different cases).
• For a fairly thin hit, with a ball-hit-fraction less than 1/4, the CB will deflect about 70-75% (about 3/4) of the angle between the aiming line and the tangent line (see where the CB goes for different cases).- The optimal tip height for speed control is 20% of the radius above center (see optimal tip height for speed control).- With a full-hit rolling CB shot, the CB travels about 1/7 the distance of the OB after impact (see ball travel distances).
• With a rolling-CB half-ball hit, the CB and OB separate at close to same speed and same angle (see speed control article).
• With a 45-degree-angle stun shot, the CB and OB separate at the same angle and distance (see speed control article).
• The miscue limit is half of the cue ball's radius from the center, which is the width of the stripe on a striped ball (see "tips" of English articles).
• FHE and BHE can be used to compensate aim for squirt and swerve when using English.
• When playing a safety in 9-ball, try to leave the OB away from a cushion (see "big ball" effect).
• Faster speed can help bank shot accuracy and consistency (see advantages of fast speed).
• For rolling-ball kicks or banks, the through-diamond aiming system is very reliable.
• With shallow-angle kicks, the contact-point mirror system can be very effective.
• For cross-corner bank shots, it is very important to know how to detect and avoid double kisses.
• Bob Jewett's two-times-fuller and ten-times fuller systems are useful to aim frozen carom and kiss shots.
• Maximum CIT, with no English, occurs with slow speed at about a 1/2-ball hit (see maximum throw).
• Maximum SIT occurs with slow speed and about 50% English (see maximum throw).
• Maximum throw, under typical conditions, is about 1 inch per foot of CB travel, which is about 5 degrees.
• Gearing outside English can be used to eliminate throw, but this might not be the best approach for all people and situations (see using outside English to prevent throw and cling).
• The optimal tip height for a lag shot is 20% of the ball radius above center (see lag shot).
• Knowing where different balls tend to go in a 9-ball rack can be useful to know (see pattern racking strategy).
• In 8-ball, a 2nd-ball break from side can be used to make the 8-ball on the break.
• If you use a break cue with a natural pivot length well matched to your bridge length, stroking errors will not affect your accuracy (see pivot-length article).
• For best jump results, aim between the center of the CB and resting point on the cloth (see jump shot article).
• The Coriolis aiming system for masse shots can be very effective.
The following ROTs are from an article written by Jennifer Barretta:
• "If you don't feel confident, fake it."
Jeanette Lee said that not only will faking it eventually get your confidence back, but it won't show weakness to your opponent. Walking around with slumped shoulders makes you look defeated and many opponents feed on that.
• "Don't play for the side pockets."
Jim Rempe told me that many people play for the sides just because the ball is closer to that pocket, but early in the game or when position really matters it's better to play for the corners. If you're an inch out of line for the corners it's not such a big deal. An inch out of line for the side is death.
• "When you're a little off straight on a draw shot, but you want to draw straight back, add a little inside spin."
I learned this from straight pool guru Jose Garcia, and I use it all the time. That's all I have to say about that.
•"Don't play position if you already have position."
This one came from Buddy Hall via a friend of mine. If a stop shot leaves you right on the next ball, don't go 3 rails trying to get a little closer. Just make the ball.
• "When your cue ball is against the rail, shorten your backswing to an inch or less."
I learned this one from mechanics guru Jerry Breisath. Shooting table length shots from frozen to the back rail is my specialty. The short backswing is the key.
• "You still have control of the table."
George "Ginky" SanSouci used to say this all the time when we practiced. If I hooked myself while running out he would remind me that instead of getting mad or having a pity party I should come up with a solution. It's still my turn at the table, and I need to make the most of it.
• "Play your percentages."
From my mentor, Stu Mattana. This is one of the best things that I learned from him. In a nutshell, know your strengths and weaknesses so you can know what shots to go for and when to play safe. Going for hero shots is usually a losing cause.
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