SLAP aiming

[Ralph Kramden]

The aim point to pocket a ball, and CB aim point for the 90 degree tangent line, are exactly the same.

If the OB pockets, the (sliding or stunned) cue ball will take the right angle tangent line path.
If the Stun Line Aim Point was the target, and the CB was sent there, the OB should pocket.

Stand behind the OB and find the exact path to the pocket. Pick out a 90 degree point to aim the CB.

When the OB contact aim point, or the ghost ball is hard to vizualize, the SLAP could be used.

It's reverse aiming. Aim the CB to a stun line aim point and the OB pockets... like carom aiming.

This certainly would not work with all shots, but would get you very close to the pocket aim point.

The SLAP could be another ball, a chalk cube, or any point on a rail. Pick the aim point before shooting.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

The aim point to pocket a ball, and CB aim point for the 90 degree tangent line, are exactly the same.

If the OB pockets, the (sliding or stunned) cue ball will take the right angle tangent line path.
If the Stun Line Aim Point was the target, and the CB was sent there, the OB should pocket.

Stand behind the OB and find the exact path to the pocket. Pick out a 90 degree point to aim the CB.

When the OB contact aim point, or the ghost ball is hard to vizualize, the SLAP could be used.

It's reverse aiming. Aim the CB to a stun line aim point and the OB pockets... like carom aiming.

This certainly would not work with all shots, but would get you very close to the pocket aim point.

The SLAP could be another ball, or a point on any rail.

Visualizing the tangent line ("stun" line) helps me to see the OB as a 3-dimensional surface, the OB contact point as the point on that curved surface farthest from the pocket, and the CB contact point as the corresponding point on the CB's curved surface. This 3-dimensional picture is immensely helpful in aiming (and, of course, in controlling the CB using the tangent line).

I don't remember hearing the term "stun line" before, but I like it better than tangent line - intuitively easy to understand its meaning and how to accomplish it at the same time.

pj
chgo

 

[Gerry Williams]

Stun line is simply the tangent line shifted parallel 1/2 ball...

 

[Ralph Kramden]

Stun line is simply the tangent line shifted parallel 1/2 ball...

It is.. unless you're using the front edge of the cue ball for aiming. The stunned CB contact point is aimed to a point on the rail. The OB pockets because of the 90 degree carom.

The usual way.. The front edge of the CB contacts the back of the OB. The OB pockets where it was aimed. The stunned cue ball goes down the tangent line to some point on the rail.

Let's reverse things.. The front edge of the CB contacts the back of the OB. (as before) The cue ball goes down the stun line to a point on the rail where it was aimed. The OB pockets.

I'm suggesting a Stun Line Aim Point at a right angle to the OB pocket line. It's reverse aiming.. like carom aiming. The CB caroms off the OB. The OB, being hit at 90 degrees, pockets.

Stand behind the OB/pocket line. Find the right angle CB aim point. Carom the CB off the OB to the stun line aim point. Just something someone may want to try that may help in aiming.

 

[ENGLISH!]

It is.. unless you're using the front edge of the cue ball for aiming. The stunned CB contact point is aimed to a point on the rail. The OB pockets because of the 90 degree carom.

The usual way.. The front edge of the CB contacts the back of the OB. The OB pockets where it was aimed. The stunned cue ball goes down the tangent line to some point on the rail.

Let's reverse things.. The front edge of the CB contacts the back of the OB. (as before) The cue ball goes down the stun line to a point on the rail where it was aimed. The OB pockets.

I'm suggesting a Stun Line Aim Point at a right angle to the OB pocket line. It's reverse aiming.. like carom aiming. The CB caroms off the OB. The OB, being hit at 90 degrees, pockets.

Stand behind the OB/pocket line. Find the right angle CB aim point. Carom the CB off the OB to the stun line aim point. Just something someone may want to try that may help in aiming.

Ralph, (I hope I can call you Ralph as I've been in your kithchen/living area so often)

I fully understand your aiming premise & it will certainly work. I just have a point or two. Sometimes the shot perception seems to change once one is actually down on a shot & 'we' make slight adjustments. If the tanget carom line becomes the focus, the subconscious could keep focused on that & accomplish that line which could result in a missed shot.

My point is that the focus should stay on hitting that point on the object ball & the goal should not be getting that tangent roll of the cue ball. Naturally it will work if all was lined up correctly & the OB contact spot remains visually correct when one actually gets down on the shot.

I'm merely cautioning the resultant abilities of the subconscious mind.

Regards,

 

[Ralph Kramden]

Ralph, (I hope I can call you Ralph as I've been in your kithchen/living area so often)

I fully understand your aiming premise & it will certainly work. I just have a point or two. Sometimes the shot perception seems to change once one is actually down on a shot & 'we' make slight adjustments. If the tanget carom line becomes the focus, the subconscious could keep focused on that & accomplish that line which could result in a missed shot.

My point is that the focus should stay on hitting that point on the object ball & the goal should not be getting that tangent roll of the cue ball. Naturally it will work if all was lined up correctly & the OB contact spot remains visually correct when one actually gets down on the shot.

I'm merely cautioning the resultant abilities of the subconscious mind.

Regards,

I agree ENGLISH! but I think an exact carom point off the OB for the stunned CB helps in finding the contact point. If you hit the OB other than on the aim point, the CB will carom differently.

Once the OB contact point is found, hone in on it. The stun line aim point is then used to reference the carom point off the OB. How you actually aim to pocket the OB would be your choice.

Slight adjustments do have to be made. The CB carom spot off the OB must be tweaked sideways to help find the correct aiming adjustment. Carl (aka Ralph Kramden)

 

[Ralph Kramden]

I started using SLAP aiming years ago when playing bar league 8 ball. All the bars were using the oversize cue balls. I had always used ghost ball aiming before playing leagues.

Some of the cue balls were so large that the ghost ball aiming didn't work correctly and I would miss some easy shots. I bought my own oversize CB and used it to practice aiming.

I found that using the OB aim point, for a CB carom point, would pocket balls better. Not like the tangent line shifted parallel 1/2 ball, but actually using the front edge of the CB.

I would visualize the point where the CB would carom 90 degrees from the OB/pocket line. If it would carom from any point other than the pocket aim point it wouldn't go 90 degrees.

I would the pick out an aim point on the rail to send the CB when I hit a stop shot. I would tweak my aim sideways, back and forth until I felt my aim would send the CB exactly 90 degrees from the OB/pocketing line. Once I found this aiming point I'd fire away, not thinking about pocketing the OB, only the CB speed.

I would aim to hit the OB aim point, tweak in the carom line for the stunned CB and then shoot. I would only think about the CB speed to hit the SLAP on the rail. I'm still aiming this way today. I no longer have the oversize CB but I always aim the CB edge to contact the OB aim point using a standard size cue ball.