Skid,Slid,Stuck WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!

[FATS]

I an a newbie to the forum. But I had this happen during an important match at a local scotch doubles tournament. I lined up on a relatively easy shot then everything went haywire. I stroked the cueball with a medium centerball stroke and when it hit the objectball it skidded or something. When the OB finally left the CB it looked like a lame duck. Rolling awkwardly a diamond from the intended target. Can anyone tell me what possibly happened and if you can predict when this might happen. I have been playing for twenty years and have had this happen several times.

FATS

 

[sjm]

I an a newbie to the forum. But I had this happen during an important match at a local scotch doubles tournament. I lined up on a relatively easy shot then everything went haywire. I stroked the cueball with a medium centerball stroke and when it hit the objectball it skidded or something. When the OB finally left the CB it looked like a lame duck. Rolling awkwardly a diamond from the intended target. Can anyone tell me what possibly happened and if you can predict when this might happen. I have been playing for twenty years and have had this happen several times.

FATS

A skid is usually caused by foreign substances on either the cue ball or object ball. To demonstrate a skid, and thereby learn this concept, rub a lot of chalk on part of an object ball and then set up a cut shot where the contact point to cut it in has chalk all over it. If you try to cut that ball in at a slowish speed, it will skid. Grease, oil, and even talcum powder can cause skids.

The best defenses against skids are:

a) maintaining clean equipment, especially clean balls
b) using slow speed no more than is necessary on cut shots
c) players keeping their hands clean

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

i emailed Allison Fisher about this, it happens to me all the time on my Gold Crown IV, usually (of course) at a time that really hurts.

i understand its chalk dust and/or table dust on the balls. when they collide they cause the balls to react funny, instead of just rolling like they should.

hard to predict, i've seen it happen in pro tournaments. i wipe the balls and table off every evening after i am through playing.

DCP

 

[Frank_Glenn]

I an a newbie to the forum. But I had this happen during an important match at a local scotch doubles tournament. I lined up on a relatively easy shot then everything went haywire. I stroked the cueball with a medium centerball stroke and when it hit the objectball it skidded or something. When the OB finally left the CB it looked like a lame duck. Rolling awkwardly a diamond from the intended target. Can anyone tell me what possibly happened and if you can predict when this might happen. I have been playing for twenty years and have had this happen several times.

FATS

Sometimes when a small chunk of chalk is on the cueball or object ball, it gets trapped exactly where the balls contact. This produces what some call "kick" or "skid" and strange rolls happen. It's random, but it does happen. Byrne talks about it in either his standard or advanced book.

 

[Kerry Impson]

Ah, the dreaded skid!! One way to minimize skidding on cut shots is to shoot them firmly with outside English. You may have noticed that top-notch players invariably shoot them this way (unless position for the next shot dictates otherwise). Outside English helps the ball spin into the pocket and minimizes the effect of dirt or chalk that may be present at the contact point. Hope this helps!

 

[FATS]

Thanks for the replies. Do you think humidity might cause this also. I was playing on a Valley bar table with the new Aramith Tru Roll cueball. I noticed at the BCA National tournament last year(2003) the first time I saw these cueballs they seemed to skid a lot. It was unusally dry Saturday could lack of humindity affect these cueballs??? Has anyone else had this happen with the new Aramith CB's

FATS

 

[sjm]

Ah, the dreaded skid!! One way to minimize skidding on cut shots is to shoot them firmly with outside English. You may have noticed that top-notch players invariably shoot them this way (unless position for the next shot dictates otherwise). Outside English helps the ball spin into the pocket and minimizes the effect of dirt or chalk that may be present at the contact point. Hope this helps!

You make excellent points, runmout. Top notch players do have this tendency. Still, I believe that the firm outside english shot is used more to counteract the effect of collision induced throw, and less to limit the number of skids.

 

[Kerry Impson]

sjm, you are right -- the outside English is used more to "counteract the effect of collision induced throw" (that's actually what I meant by "helps the ball spin into the pocket"); but in this thread I was just trying to help FATS minimize the skidding so I didn't elaborate. Thanks for the clarification!!

 

[8ballbanger]

You make excellent points, runmout. Top notch players do have this tendency. Still, I believe that the firm outside english shot is used more to counteract the effect of collision induced throw, and less to limit the number of skids.

I believe that outside english would minimise skid. I think the skid effect is really an exaggerated form of collision induced throw because the friction between the balls has been significantly increased by the chalk/debree. Outside minimised this because the cue ball rolls off the object ball with outside instead of sliding against it.

I would also think that draw may reduce the chance of chalk being in the contact point of the object ball and the cue ball because it would "wipe" the contact line on the cue ball on the cloth.

Cheers

 

[Bob Jewett]

... Outside minimised this because the cue ball rolls off the object ball with outside instead of sliding against it.

I think this is true only if you have just the right amount of outside english. Not enough and you will still be rubbing, too much and you will be rubbing the other way. If you play the shot with just a rolling cue ball and no side spin, at least the most recent chalk spot can't throw the object ball off line, although you can still get skid or cling or kick, as it's variously called.

 

[cardiac kid]

Skid??

Hi Fats,

In deference to other posters and spin, throw, etc, I've seen your situation way, way too many times. Primarily playing 14.1, I was taught to hit most shots center cue ball. Any spin or draw, no more than a cue tips width from center of the cue ball. I've had balls skid on new or old cloth. Clean or dirty balls. Dead center cue or infrequent extreme side spin. Several years ago, I asked Mike Sigel about it. He felt that chalk or a similar substance imbedded under under the cloth causes these problems. In some cases, I've watched great table mechanics recover a table without cleaning the slate first! Sooner or later, the chalk or powder left under the cloth will work its way to the surface. In a few circumstances, especially while playing one pocket, I've seen players pickup balls to be spotted or a scratched cue ball with intentionally sweaty, dirty hands. The extreme amount of powder used by some players may also be a culprit. Few players use talc. They prefer baby powder with all the added oils. Oh well! Incidently, all those players that tap (or slam) the chalk on the table to coax the cue ball, help continue the problem.

 

[Bob Jewett]

skid, cling or kick (in the UK)

He felt that chalk or a similar substance imbedded under under the cloth causes these problems.

I seriously doubt this explanation.

I refereed in one tournament that had a lot of skidding going on. The cue balls, even though they were brand new, were picking up a lot of ugly spots, and seemed to be holding chalk from the cue stick far more than usual.

On one particularly incredible skid, the shooter had to play a short combination -- two object balls about a ball apart and both on the middle of the foot cushion -- and got perfect straight-in position. He played the shot with draw so the cue ball would be back a little to shoot the other ball into the same pocket. The cue ball grabbed onto the first object ball so strongly, and put so much follow on it that the 'middle' ball followed the intended object ball into the pocket. The poor shooter was astounded and left without another shot.

I think that's the only time I've seen skid on a draw shot, but you often see it on a straight follow shot, when the cue ball grabs onto the object ball, jumps into the air a little, and lands with much less follow than expected.