Top 10 BANK and KICK Shot Aiming SYSTEMS

[dr_dave]

Could it also be that some people are "turned off" by the non-visual "diamond systems" I included that require working with numbers

Yes, though it might be just the term "system" that turns people off. To some players, "system" conjures up notions of memorizing esoteric numbering algorithms which drain the joy out of the game. (Who, me?) Maybe simply renaming it "methods" instead of "systems" would help in getting people to watch.

Thanks for the input.

Dave

 

[dr_dave]

The likely problem is that people, in general,are lazy thinkers. And we pool players may be lazier than most.

The title has “aiming system” in it. That creates some disinterest. System 1, System 6 and the system you describe in post #6 are all the same system with different descriptions. I think that is confusing to many.

Because running English, speed and shifts are all variables of kicking and banks, practice is necessary to make systems work. People are looking for quick results and “aha” moments.

Anyone who has played for very long and wanted to improve, has taken a look at one or more diamond systems. Most diamond systems are confusing and require a lot of practice. Your methods in the video are not the complicated ones and are full of knowledge that takes years to figure out, without help.

With all that being said, I think you’re right in thinking it is too much info in one tutorial. Maybe a video for the plus system, another video for the mirror system and another for the visual system.

I think this is a good video and will stand the test of time. It is one that I will go back to when I’m struggling with a kick or bank to remind me what systems are available.

Thanks for the input. You make some good points, especially the one about the systems requiring lots of practice to learn how to make them work. The next video I have planned will go into all of the effects beyond the systems one must be aware of to be effective with banks and kicks. That one will probably be even less popular. I think you are right that many people are just looking for a simple solution or easy fix. I prefer presenting reality instead.

Thanks again for the feedback and supportive comments

Catch you later,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

I think you’re right in thinking it is too much info in one tutorial. Maybe a video for the plus system, another video for the mirror system and another for the visual system.

For those interested, I already have detailed videos and articles covering each system individually. They are available via the links in the YouTube video description (the text you can expand under the video).

Enjoy,
Dave

 

[sjm]

Very solid effort, Dave. You've cut a formidably vast topic down to size and presented it skillfully. Well done!

 

[dr_dave]

Very solid effort, Dave. You've cut a formidably vast topic down to size and presented it skillfully. Well done!

Thanks. Any additional thoughts on why people aren't watching it?

Regards,
Dave

 

[sjm]

Thanks. Any additional thoughts on why people aren't watching it?

Regards,
Dave

For many of us, any thread containing the words "aiming systems" is one we won't open. I'm usually among them, but I made an exception here. I also don't care for the term "Top 10." There are hundreds of methods for kicks and banks, and most of them have merit. A better ttle would have been "Ten Useful Ways of Lining Up Your Kicks and Banks."

I would also suggest that the breadth of the subject you've introduced is a bit intimidating. To me, kicks and banks are two very different subjects.

In kicking, one has lots of options as one can deliver the cue ball with a seemingly endless multitude of spins and speeds, depending on the objective of the kick. One can also use follow and draw to significantly modify the cue ball's reaction to the first rail. One often needs to use billiards concepts to choose strokes/speeds that will make the ball being kicked at "bigger" and this part of the theory is largely inapplicable to bank shots. In multi-rail kicking, in which running English is the norm, one must be wary of accidentally curving (i.e., masseing) into the first rail, immediately invalidating the pool table geometry that went into planning the kick. Even at the game's top level, I wish I had a dollar for every time I have seen this mistake made. Object balls don't, as a rule, curve on the way to the first rail

With bank shots, as we've seen with Eddie Taylor, Bugs Rucker, and most of the bank pool legends since, the cue ball is usually hit with no sidespin and hit firm. Eddie Taylor was on record as saying "I don't use English on a bank unless I need it to beat a kiss or to play position." Object ball paths involve slightly different billiard theory than cue ball paths because object balls have differences in initial spin, cushion-induced spin picked up, and a multitude of other factors. Of course, in one pocket, the bank shots tend to be hit softer, as hanging a ball is often a good result, but the subject of how to hit bank shots when playing one pocket could easily fill an entire book.

Sorry I got a little carried away here, Dave, but I see kicking and bank shots as very different parts of the theory and I'd have separated them.

All that said, you introduced a lot of good material here, and presented that material well.

 

[dr_dave]

For many of us, any thread containing the words "aiming systems" is one we won't open. I'm usually among them, but I made an exception here. I also don't care for the term "Top 10." There are hundreds of methods for kicks and banks, and most of them have merit. A better ttle would have been "Ten Useful Ways of Lining Up Your Kicks and Banks."

I would also suggest that the breadth of the subject you've introduced is a bit intimidating. To me, kicks and banks are two very different subjects.

In kicking, one has lots of options as one can deliver the cue ball with a seemingly endless multitude of spins and speeds, depending on the objective of the kick. One can also use follow and draw to significantly modify the cue ball's reaction to the first rail. One often needs to use billiards concepts to choose strokes/speeds that will make the ball being kicked at "bigger" and this part of the theory is largely inapplicable to bank shots. In multi-rail kicking, in which running English is the norm, one must be wary of accidentally curving (i.e., masseing) into the first rail, immediately invalidating the pool table geometry that went into planning the kick. Even at the game's top level, I wish I had a dollar for every time I have seen this mistake made. Object balls don't, as a rule, curve on the way to the first rail

With bank shots, as we've seen with Eddie Taylor, Bugs Rucker, and most of the bank pool legends since, the cue ball is usually hit with no sidespin and hit firm. Eddie Taylor was on record as saying "I don't use English on a bank unless I need it to beat a kiss or to play position." Object ball paths involve slightly different billiard theory than cue ball paths because object balls have differences in initial spin, cushion-induced spin picked up, and a multitude of other factors. Of course, in one pocket, the bank shots tend to be hit softer, as hanging a ball is often a good result, but the subject of how to hit bank shots when playing one pocket could easily fill an entire book.

Sorry I got a little carried away here, Dave, but I see kicking and bank shots as very different parts of the theory and I'd have separated them.

All that said, you introduced a lot of good material here, and presented that material well.

Thanks a lot for your thoughtful and insightful feedback.

I appreciate it,
Dave

 

[bb9ball]

I think views are down because not many people can take the knowledge to a table to practice right now.

 

[dr_dave]

I think views are down because not many people can take the knowledge to a table to practice right now.

I'm sure that is part of it since view numbers have gone down on my entire channel the last two months, but this video is being viewed at an even lower rate.

Honestly, people should probably put their efforts elsewhere anyway. If somebody hasn't mastered fundamentals, kicks and banks are probably the last thing they should be thinking about.

Thanks for the input,
Dave

 

[bb9ball]

I bet the viewership has gone down in proportion to the length of the lockdown.

You are right about time being better spent on fundamentals. Besides better ball pocketing, it would also improve speed control and have more consistent amounts of spin. And, it affects every shot. How many people have we seen that know they have a bad stroke habit that they don't seem to care to fix, but want to skip ahead to more intermediate and/or advanced topics? I think this is why your pattern play and safety videos have more views(and maybe they are more thought provoking than seen as memorization like diamond systems). I think there would be a lot of interest in videos showing the principles applied in actual games, ie. why was one pattern play or safety option chosen over another?

Thank you for all you do.

 

[dr_dave]

I bet the viewership has gone down in proportion to the length of the lockdown.

You are right about time being better spent on fundamentals. Besides better ball pocketing, it would also improve speed control and have more consistent amounts of spin. And, it affects every shot. How many people have we seen that know they have a bad stroke habit that they don't seem to care to fix, but want to skip ahead to more intermediate and/or advanced topics? I think this is why your pattern play and safety videos have more views(and maybe they are more thought provoking than seen as memorization like diamond systems).

Well stated. I agree.

I think there would be a lot of interest in videos showing the principles applied in actual games, ie. why was one pattern play or safety option chosen over another?

Great minds think alike, because that's exactly what I have planned after my bank/kick effects video ... showing examples of everything being applied in various game situations. I still don't think these two follow-up videos will get higher viewership either, but I want to do them anyway.

Thank you for all you do.

You're welcome. I aim to swerve. :grin-square:

Regards,
Dave