The Umbrella Diamond System

Roy Vadas

Roy Vadas

Baby Seal Clubber
Silver Member
Good morning Carom Players :)

I am a One-Pocket player and have been researching a shot that was demonstrated by Grady Mathews a few years ago that he called the Umbrella shot. He described it as the cue hitting 2 cushions, then OB, then the cue continues on for a desired result.

I figured it to be a modified "deadball" system and used one of mine with (OK) results, but not something I felt confident using when the pressure was on. 60% maximum IMO, and only when OB was within about 4 inches of the rail.

Over the weekend I was at a local used book store and came across an old billiard book that I cant remember the name of. It was essentially a billiard dictionary. No real education in it other than definitions of every possible term in pool I have ever seen. Flipping through the pages I see the heading of "Umbrella System!" It had an associated diagram and it was Gradys shot!

Reading the description, it titles the shot as the Umbrella Diamond System. It references 2 versions, The inside umbrella shot and the outside umbrella shot. Impressively, the diagrams showed hitting the OB both sitting off-rail as well as center of table. Now, of course, I HAVE to learn this shot :)

Anyway, if someone can describe this Diamond System to me or possibly direct me to a book or site with the information, I would appreciate it. I would definitely like to increase my percentage to something higher than 60% on this shot :)

Regards,
~Roy
 
Roy Vadas said:
... Over the weekend I was at a local used book store and came across an old billiard book that I cant remember the name of. It was essentially a billiard dictionary. No real education in it other than definitions of every possible term in pool I have ever seen. Flipping through the pages I see the heading of "Umbrella System!" It had an associated diagram and it was Gradys shot! ...
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That is not exactly "Grady's" shot since it was in use long, long before Grady was born. The book you found was Mike Shamos's Illustrated Encyclopedia. One illustration of the umbrella shot was taken from Robert Byrne's "Standard Book of Pool and Billiards". I think that any student of cue sports and especially carom should have books from both of those authors in their personal libraries. The other illustration in Shamos is from Eddie Robin's book on three cushion position play.

The "umbrella system" by Clarence Jackson referred to in the Encyclopedia probably refers to the ideas in part of a book published by Jackson in 1928. In that book Jackson illustrates shots that today would be described as belonging to the "corner 5" system. He notes all the contact points and lines between them. That allows you to estimate where to shoot to contact a ball after two cushions. I think any close study of the corner 5 system will help you as much. Jackson's diagrams are not particularly accurate for today's tables.

One detail: umbrella shots at carom billiards are nearly always played with running english.
 
"Distance Percentage System"

Bob Jewett said:
That is not exactly "Grady's" shot since it was in use long, long before Grady was born. The book you found was Mike Shamos's Illustrated Encyclopedia. One illustration of the umbrella shot was taken from Robert Byrne's "Standard Book of Pool and Billiards". I think that any student of cue sports and especially carom should have books from both of those authors in their personal libraries. The other illustration in Shamos is from Eddie Robin's book on three cushion position play.

The "umbrella system" by Clarence Jackson referred to in the Encyclopedia probably refers to the ideas in part of a book published by Jackson in 1928. In that book Jackson illustrates shots that today would be described as belonging to the "corner 5" system. He notes all the contact points and lines between them. That allows you to estimate where to shoot to contact a ball after two cushions. I think any close study of the corner 5 system will help you as much. Jackson's diagrams are not particularly accurate for today's tables.

One detail: umbrella shots at carom billiards are nearly always played with running english.
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Roy; I have an umbrella system called, "The Distance Percentage System" I invented 35 yrs. ago, I've only told 1 person in all these years. BTW, this sytem works perfectly on any size table or rubber!

I may come out in the near future with a small spiral booklet with systems I and Ernie Presto developed years ago.

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"
http://mr3cushion.com
 
Always glad to get your insight on a subject Bob. I will get into studying the Corner 5 system and give it a go. I have a base familiarity with it.

I look forward to your instructional when you get it published Bill. Thanks for the replies gents.

Roy
 
I've seen different several ways to calculate umbrella shots in three-cushion books. As Bob pointed out, most are played with level cue, maximum running english and consistent speed. My guess is that it would take some slight modifications to account for the smaller size of the cue ball, the rails used and the fact that pool tables are not generally heated.
 
*** Sample of "Didstance Percentage System" ***

This is an example of my "Distance Percentage System". I won't give any info so as to let the viewer use a little "grey matter" to work it out. The diagram should suffice.

Distance Percentage System 25% position - 7 Diamond table.jpg

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"
http://mr3cushion.com
 
farouk said:
my grey matter hasn't figured it out yet
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It's not your grey matter that is at fault. This is not a diagram of the umbrella shot the OP described, and the diagram is hopelessly inaccurate.
 
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Mark, maybe at the level of 3 cushions you play, you may need some elementary instruction of Mr. Smith’s diagram! I’m sure he would be more than happy to enlighten you, where as you might be able to appreciate the simplicity and accuracy of it!

Better you should spend your valuable time appreciating the time and effort for the over 50 years he’s devoted to the game and has given back trying to educate the novice to advanced players around the world. Instead of trying to demean his work and embarrass yourself at the same time.
 
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