You can not hit a 1/2 a ball nor can you hit a ball thick or thinner.

duckie · 2012-09-14T18:15:59+00:00

The use of these terms just show how visual shot making is in pool. It is a fact that there is only one spot on the table to make the OB go where you want regardless of the CB/OB angle. There is no way to hit 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 or full ball nor can you hit a OB thin or thicker, even though, in your minds eye, you think you can. To do so in your mind means you are visualizing more than using a system. To imagine two overlapping discs is not a system, but pure visualization. What the use of these types of terms really does is hide what is really happening when discussing adjustment to a shot. What you may not be realizing is you are using what I call Direction of Travel. This isn't nothing new. I just put this idea into terms that makes sense to me. I'm sure there is something like this out there. For any adjustments to be made, there has to be a standard for which to base the need for adjustment. That standard is the OB direction of travel. Referring to the drawing below, you can see that in reality the OB direction of travel starts at the GB contact patch and not at the OB contact patch. The OB contact patch is the pivot point for any changes in the OB direction of travel. Since the OB direction of travel line end point is never the same, this affects how much adjustment of the GB contact patch needs to be made based on the distance from the OB direction of travel line end point and the OB direction of travel pivot point. So when using the terms thick or thinner for adjustments, what really is being discussed is the direction of the movement of the GB contact patch along the aiming arc. You are not in reality hitting the OB thick or thinner, but rotating the GB contact patch around the OB in order to affect the end point of the OB direction of travel. The only time the GB contact patch movement on the aiming arc and the change in the OB direction of travel end point will be the same is when the end point of the OB direction of travel is the same distance from the OB direction of travel pivot as the GB contact patch. This is why distance the OB is from the pocket affects how much the change is needed of the GB contact patch on the aiming arc to move the OB directional of travel end point to where you want. Same with saying instead of a 1/4 ball hit, use a 1/2 ball hit or if you change the overlap of flat discs. This also show that the GB contact patch moves in the opposite direction of the direction of change of the OB direction of travel end point. To move the end point of the direction of travel to the right, means the the GB contact patch must move to the left. You are not hitting the OB thinner or thicker. You are changing where the CB will hit the OB not how much of the OB you hit. You are not hitting 1/2 of the OB. Disclaimer: Ramblings of a no name banger that had one cup too many of coffee this morning.