Tony Robles Two-Rail Kicking System Article- Billiards Digest

Cardigan Kid

Cardigan Kid

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Recent article from February issue of Billiards Digest by Tony Robles explains a simple two-rail kicking system here:



Full article: http://www.billiardsdigest.com/showinstruction.php?id=105

I spent a little while working with this system on a 9 foot table and I found that it is quite effective within half table, but going long, some serious adjustments have to be made (regarding addition of diamonds to target spot).

Does anyone use this system? I would like to hear thoughts or opinions on your experience with it.

The other two rail kicking systems I've studied are Zero X and Corner 5. Zero X, in my opinion, had a more accurate hit when the object ball is over a half table away.
Anyone else?
 
I have used it quite effectively for 20 years.

Like all "systems" practice is paramount because it is a guide not a hard and fast rule.
Biggest variable is how much running english to use.

Can be used for hit on a 3rd rail to go 3 or 4 rails for a kick also.

Excellent for 2 rail kicks to dead balls in the stack!
 
Dr. Dave has an article on his web site about this system. And he shows that adjustments to the aim point are sometimes needed, depending on the table.
 
alphadog said:
I have used it quite effectively for 20 years.

Like all "systems" practice is paramount because it is a guide not a hard and fast rule.
Biggest variable is how much running english to use.

Can be used for hit on a 3rd rail to go 3 or 4 rails for a kick also.

Excellent for 2 rail kicks to dead balls in the stack!
Click to expand...

Would you work in reverse for that 3rd rail target spot then? Extend out from there towards center table, then take half way measurement from that point on table?
 
Cardigan Kid said:
Recent article from February issue of Billiards Digest by Tony Robles explains a simple two-rail kicking system here:...
Click to expand...
This is an ideal mirror kicking system. The geometry shown -- parallel to the midpoint line -- works perfectly if the rails act like mirrors. The rails don't act like mirrors very well.

It is possible for any particular OB location to set up the ideal mirror image ball (on a bar stool, for example). That allows you to practice the system from all cue ball locations with perfect (according to the system) alignment and no fiddling with estimating parallels for that particular OB location. You can quickly see what spin is required to make different angles work.

Here is the article: http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/2004.pdf -- see the July column.
 
Cardigan Kid said:
Would you work in reverse for that 3rd rail target spot then? Extend out from there towards center table, then take half way measurement from that point on table?
Click to expand...

Look at spot on 3rd rail you need to hit, split difference between the spot and cue ball extend to center of pocket. Shoot parallel to the line with running english.
 
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In my experience it works well if the angle going into the rail is pretty steep, i.e., the angle between the rail and the line of the incoming cue ball is greater than 45 degrees. If the angle is shallow, the ball will come off the second rail much wider than predicted by this system. Of course it makes sense that's the case - it's the same reason shooting wide one rail causes the rolling cue ball to go forward of the expected line.
 
jeffj2h said:
Dr. Dave has an article on his web site about this system. And he shows that adjustments to the aim point are sometimes needed, depending on the table.
Click to expand...
Here it is:

two-rail parallel-line kick shot aiming system

And here are some other useful systems for aiming two-rail kicks:

Corner 5 System for aiming two-, three-, and four-rail kicks off a long rail
Plus System for aiming two-rail kicks off a short rail
Sid System for aiming steep two-rail kicks off a short rail
spot-on-the-wall kick shot aiming system
two-times-across Z-kick aiming system

Enjoy,
Dave
 
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