Simplified kicking systems, where are they?!?!

Alex7462

Alex7462

Registered
Hello AZBers, anyone know of a simple but effective kicking system that I can use to improve my kick shots? I can't count how many videos I've watched on youtube about kicking, where the lesson is usually just a boring array of complex mathematical and physics explanations which only put me in a daze. I was never good at math, so I have trouble understanding half the stuff they talk about during the lesson. I'm a well-rounded player, but kicking is always either a hit or miss for me.

Whenever I'm in a game and I'm faced with a kick shot I try to keep it real simple, by just looking for the halfway point on the rail between the distance of the cue ball and object ball, if I'm only kicking one rail of course. If I have to kick 2 or 3 rails, that's where I have the most trouble, as I can't measure the shot precisely enough to execute a perfect kick and at times I'll miss the ball completely. However, sometimes I'm able to get a good hit on the object ball, so it's a great accomplishment for me whenever it happens.

As I already stated, my math is not the greatest so I can't use mathematical calculations or metric systems. Just plain visualization of the rails, and good judgement is what I try to use whenever I have to kick at a ball. With that being said, does anyone here know of a system I could use to help me improve my kick shots the easiest way possible? Hopefully someone can shed some light on this.
 
Corner 5 System for 3 rails

Alex7462 said:
Hello AZBers, anyone know of a simple but effective kicking system that I can use to improve my kick shots? I can't count how many videos I've watched on youtube about kicking, where the lesson is usually just a boring array of complex mathematical and physics explanations which only put me in a daze. I was never good at math, so I have trouble understanding half the stuff they talk about during the lesson. I'm a well-rounded player, but kicking is always either a hit or miss for me.

Whenever I'm in a game and I'm faced with a kick shot I try to keep it real simple, by just looking for the halfway point on the rail between the distance of the cue ball and object ball, if I'm only kicking one rail of course. If I have to kick 2 or 3 rails, that's where I have the most trouble, as I can't measure the shot precisely enough to execute a perfect kick and at times I'll miss the ball completely. However, sometimes I'm able to get a good hit on the object ball, so it's a great accomplishment for me whenever it happens.

As I already stated, my math is not the greatest so I can't use mathematical calculations or metric systems. Just plain visualization of the rails, and good judgement is what I try to use whenever I have to kick at a ball. With that being said, does anyone here know of a system I could use to help me improve my kick shots the easiest way possible? Hopefully someone can shed some light on this.
Click to expand...

Start with the corner 5 system for 3 rails and learn it before you try anything else. After you learn that and how to make adjustments to it you will have learned a lot. If you can comprehend 8-2=6 you can use the corner 5 system.8 is the corner pocket shooting through the 2nd diamond from the corner on the opposite rail...ending at the 6th diamond from you on the 3rd rail. You will learn to come close to 3rd rail hit points. Use Running English at 1 oclock. To open the angle more 2 or 3 oclock. Develop your 3rd Rail hit point using one selection of English then expand.

It can be found in books by Robert Byrne.
 
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336Robin said:
Start with the corner 5 system for 3 rails and learn it before you try anything else. After you learn that and how to make adjustments to it you will have learned a lot.
Click to expand...

UUUhhhhhh, it would be nice if you could explain in detail what the "corner 5" system is all about.
 
Spot on wall

336Robin said:
Start with the corner 5 system for 3 rails and learn it before you try anything else. After you learn that and how to make adjustments to it you will have learned a lot. If you can comprehend 8-2=6 you can use the corner 5 system.8 is the corner pocket shooting through the 2nd diamond from the corner on the opposite rail...ending at the 6th diamond from you on the 3rd rail. You will learn to come close to 3rd rail hit points. Use Running English at 1 oclock. To open the angle more 2 or 3 oclock. Develop your 3rd Rail hit point using one selection of English then expand.

It can be found in books by Robert Byrne.
Click to expand...

The spot on the wall thing works but is tough to put into words. Maybe somebody else can elaborate. Not much help I realize but it works well.
 
Kicking system

I know Dan Pons personally and this system works http://billiardbuddies.com/
I have had the chance to spend a couple of days shooting with Dan and .
This system works, Dan is also a AZer AKA Dan Pons He has a e book for 10 bucks
it explain how to kick and bank.

All of the systems equal the same results, and there are several systems.

But you need to be able to imagine a 7 th pocket, ghost pocket.
It also can also be measured.

The biggest problem with kicks and banks is how hard or soft the rails are, hitting the cue ball dead center, and hitting the cue ball at different speeds.

Most players know this but the harder you hit any ball into rail equals less angle,
the softer equals more angle.

I like using the mirror's , Dan has a mirror training tool that he sets on the table.
You just shoot the pocket in the mirror. Its abc simple you can actualy see the shot.
This will improve your game fast.....................................
MMike
 
Alex7462 said:
Hello AZBers, anyone know of a simple but effective kicking system that I can use to improve my kick shots? I can't count how many videos I've watched on youtube about kicking, where the lesson is usually just a boring array of complex mathematical and physics explanations which only put me in a daze. I was never good at math, so I have trouble understanding half the stuff they talk about during the lesson. I'm a well-rounded player, but kicking is always either a hit or miss for me.

Whenever I'm in a game and I'm faced with a kick shot I try to keep it real simple, by just looking for the halfway point on the rail between the distance of the cue ball and object ball, if I'm only kicking one rail of course. If I have to kick 2 or 3 rails, that's where I have the most trouble, as I can't measure the shot precisely enough to execute a perfect kick and at times I'll miss the ball completely. However, sometimes I'm able to get a good hit on the object ball, so it's a great accomplishment for me whenever it happens.

As I already stated, my math is not the greatest so I can't use mathematical calculations or metric systems. Just plain visualization of the rails, and good judgement is what I try to use whenever I have to kick at a ball. With that being said, does anyone here know of a system I could use to help me improve my kick shots the easiest way possible? Hopefully someone can shed some light on this.
Click to expand...

For all kicks, I like double-the-distance, using parallel lines bisected by the line running through the corner pocket...usually requires a smidge of running English. When the CB line is too steep or too shallow, you put your aim point on the first rail a proportional distance above or below the parallel line. For me, it's a lot easier than doing math on diamonds...you just see the angles and adjust off the parallel lines.
 
There is no simplified kick system that works.
Different tables, cloth, humidity, temperature, speed.....etc...
...makes the ball go different places.

Practice kicking....there's no way around it.

This aint ePool
 
You'll like my system, no math.

I looked at Byrnes Standard Book of Pool and Billiards, watched some of the diagrams.
Learned what happens when you put side-spin on the ball.
Now I just imagine a line going from the cueball to the rail and estimate the rebound angles off the other rails if needed, from that one line. Adjust for spin if needed to get around other balls or to create a different angle, and shoot.

No math, no system, works pretty well for me.

Just took about 10 years to get down to a good % hit. And another few years to learn at what speed to hit and what side of the ball to try to hit.

I also use the "mirror" system at times when I'm trying to get a full hit on a ball and it's a simple one-rail shot with no need to spin the cueball off a rail.
 
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I've had success with this system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjmiVlPIMAw

It's not perfect, but it's extremely simple and easy to understand. He also has some videos for 3+ rail kicks using a similar system and all of those work well.

For an object ball not near a rail, I find the midpoint between the cue ball and object ball, point at a corner pocket opposite from the direction I want to hit it and parallel shift over the cue ball. Add a tip or so of running english.
 
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Alex7462 said:
Hello AZBers, anyone know of a simple but effective kicking system that I can use to improve my kick shots?
Click to expand...
This is about as simple as it gets:
NV D.13 - Kick Shot Aiming Systems - from Vol-III of the Billiard University instructional DVD series
No numbers or math required ... just visualization.

This one is also very useful and doesn't involve any numbers or math:
NV B.83 - Shallow-angle contact-point-mirror-image kick-shot aiming system, from VEPS IV

This is probably the most useful and basic kicking system, and the "math" involved isn't so bad:
NV B.82 - Rolling-cue-ball through-diamond kick-shot aiming system, from VEPS IV

FYI, many other commonly used and effective kick and banking systems are described, illustrated, and demonstrated here:
kick and bank shot aiming system resource page

Enjoy,
Dave
 
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In Pool School we teach the "TRAC" system. Learn to kick at 1-2-3 rails.

randyg
 
Its nice to have these systems available as "guidelines." Adjustments should be made for table conditions. You'll definitely come across dead/lively rails that will skew the system. Additionally, keep in mind that these systems require consistent cue striking. Too much/little speed/spin will also affect the system.
 
obrien714 said:
The Professor Grady Matthews has some of the best systems out there. Check his dvds out. His systems use no math what so ever. They all have a starting point and once you learn it and the ball speed to hit correctly its pretty much easy kicking from there on out.

heres a link to his dvds

http://www.seyberts.com/catalog/Grady_Mathews_DVD-10177.html
Click to expand...

+1 for Grady's "only kicks" video. It took me a few watches to figure out his style, but after I started to see what he was saying learned a lot from it. The systems don't work magic though. The key seems to be practicing certain "reference shots" so that you know how to do a certain kick on your table, then the adjustments seem to work from there.

Also Reid's "6th diamond" kicking system on youtube seems to be pretty handy for me too. Doesn't get much simpler

http://youtu.be/WwXy7Hq5b2Q
 
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