S.A.M. Anyone use it? Does it really work?

PKM said:
For fractional ball aimers, how would you respond to Dr. Dave's illustration of a cut shot in between a 1/4 and 1/2 ball hit. His point is that you are just using them as reference aims, and you have to make an adjustment. This is allegedly Hal Houle's system, although as I recall Houle denies this is an accurate representation



Source: http://www.engr.colostate.edu/~dga/pool/technical_proofs/index.html (TP A.11)
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Ya gotta pick from one of my 5 degree intervals! lol


Actually when I put this together, I was amazed at how long the differences remained so close to being the same until the last 15 degrees or so. Okay, maybe I should explain what this is. This is a ghost ball over object ball image for every shot from straight on to 90 degrees at 5 degree intervals, not allowing for throw. Incidently, a 2 1/4" object ball from two diamonds away (25") on a nine foot table is nearly exactly 5 degrees from edge to edge.

Basically what I noticed is that straight on to half ball hits vary roughly 3/16" for every five degrees cut and then as you start aiming outside the object ball, it's a little closer to 1/8" for every five degrees cut, and then it drops off fast right at the last 75-90 degree.

If this makes no sense, I'll try to explain it again somehow. I just think this might be interesting to keep in the back of your mind.
 

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Da Poet said:
... Actually when I put this together, I was amazed at how long the differences remained so close to being the same until the last 15 degrees or so. ...
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If you plot the underlying trigonometric function (which is roughly arcsin(thinness of hit)), the near constancy is not surprising at all. For a plot of that function, see http://www.sfbilliards.com/fract.pdf
 
Bob Jewett said:
If you plot the underlying trigonometric function (which is roughly arcsin(thinness of hit)), the near constancy is not surprising at all. For a plot of that function, see http://www.sfbilliards.com/fract.pdf
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Exactly, and the other thing I noticed was that when you start to add throw from a naturally rolling cue ball, it stays even more even, until you get to maybe a 50 degree actual cut or so.
 
This thread renewed my curiosity in S.A.M. so I went over it with a BCA Instructor. I went into it with an open and curious mind. We set up many deliberate shots (repeatedly) as tests, and also tried it during games.

My thoughts...

-- Half the battle is first determining which type of shot # you should be attempting in the first place. Some shots are more obvious than others.

-- It was not difficult to find shots that were in-between. ie: Shots that would miss on either side of the pocket, regardless of the SAM shot you selected.

Some people have suggested that it serves as a baseline, from which you adjust. But as soon as you have to find points inbetween, it doesn't differ much from other aiming systems, does it? And certainly doesn't warrant the hyperbole given to it by some.

Anyway, that's my two cents on it.
 
shinobi said:
This thread renewed my curiosity in S.A.M. so I went over it with a BCA Instructor. I went into it with an open and curious mind. We set up many deliberate shots (repeatedly) as tests, and also tried it during games.

My thoughts...

-- Half the battle is first determining which type of shot # you should be attempting in the first place. Some shots are more obvious than others.

-- It was not difficult to find shots that were in-between. ie: Shots that would miss on either side of the pocket, regardless of the SAM shot you selected.

Some people have suggested that it serves as a baseline, from which you adjust. But as soon as you have to find points inbetween, it doesn't differ much from other aiming systems, does it? And certainly doesn't warrant the hyperbole given to it by some.

Anyway, that's my two cents on it.
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What BCA Instructor? Please....SPF=randyg
 
I am looking for one of Hals kicking systems. If anyone has on my email is tobyclem@yahoo.com or Hals number I heard he moved to PA near Allentown. With out Hals system I was B- player played for 24 years Now and A- with all the confidence. Thanks Hal Houle and Tom Simpson


Playing Cue Perry Weston
Now Breaking with a lightning G 10 epx Tip.
 
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Haha, I wish I had a similiar story about playing for years and then discovering his methods but I learned them very quickly through Tom Simpson relatvily early in my pool playing 'career', I think it speaks alot though that you played for so long at one level and his systems really do give you whole new weapons to your arsenal.

I've also been trying to reremember a kicking system I learned, is the one your thinking of a system for two rail kicks?
 
That 2 rail kicking system you are looking for...

That 2 rail kicking system you are looking for...

I remember you asked about it, in another thread, and I
posted the one I know, and you never replied back, after I
specifically asked if that was the system you were referring to.

I suspect it is, because it is the only "simple" 2 rail kicking
system that I have ever come across.
 
I'm sorry bro I never saw that post, I assume it was right before I left for FL for a week and I never got back to a couple quesiton I had asked which is my fault.

Does it involve finding the half way point between two rails and the pocket or something like that, as you can tell the details are fuzzy but I remember it was insanely effective. Sorry again if it seemed like I blew you off last time you answered me.
 
Yup... That's the one...

Yup... That's the one...

I'll try to find the post, and PM you... No one seems to be giving me rep points for
my informative posts, so I'm assuming people don't value them very much.

EDIT: PM sent, enjoy!
 
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Hello there,
Is there any way to conctact Hal by mail?.
I send him a PM but I don't know if he has read it.
I am from Spain, And there are very few books about pool here, so imagine find information about aiming systems.
I want to know where can I find information explaining aiming systems.
PS: Bob, your articles are very useful, thanks for that good job.
 
Rendhar said:
Hello there,
Is there any way to conctact Hal by mail?.
I send him a PM but I don't know if he has read it.
I am from Spain, And there are very few books about pool here, so imagine find information about aiming systems.
I want to know where can I find information explaining aiming systems.
PS: Bob, your articles are very useful, thanks for that good job.
Click to expand...

You could call him, I don't know what the cost would be. His number is listed in his profile, kildegirl, I think. He lives in Walnutport, Pennsylvania.
 
Pushout said:
You could call him, I don't know what the cost would be. His number is listed in his profile, kildegirl, I think. He lives in Walnutport, Pennsylvania.
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Thanks for the info. I will try when I felt brave enough to have a verbal conversation in English.
:)
 
cuekev said:
I learned S.A.M. from Randy and Scott and it seems to work well most of the time. I am wondering if any of the forum members use it exclusively. Is it really a complete aiming method? Have any of the forum members had success with it or have they eventually abandoned it? It seems to work well enough to use in certain situations.
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It is not a complete aiming method, but it works great for about 70% of the shots out there. I use it quite a bit!
 
whitey2 said:
Yup... That's the one...

I'll try to find the post, and PM you... No one seems to be giving me rep points for
my informative posts, so I'm assuming people don't value them very much.

EDIT: PM sent, enjoy!
Click to expand...

iF IT'S rep POINTS YOU WANT, YOU GOT 'EM.
JoeyA
 
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