mr3cushion
Verified Member
I thought I'd try to instruct the viewers/members with some of the information I've learned and developed over the past 50 years, instead of ALL that other stuff going on in the "M.O." section! So here goes!
Here's an excerpt from a chapter in my book, "The Concise Book of Position Play," entitled, "Half Ball Position Shots." I devised this method of "Aiming" around 1983, I've found it invaluable. It describes, whether you're a billiard or pool player how to AIM at "Half Ball" shots, with NO English, (12, center and 6 O'clock English) and with English.
The Half-Ball Aiming System
THE KEY FACTOR in my game's acceleration over the years is what I've learned regarding the achievement of maximum effect and speed with the help of my late mentor and best friend Ernie Presto. People have always been kind enough to ask, "Why does your cue ball always seem to have so much life to it with so little effort?" Well, part of it is due to the hand/eye coordination nature gave me. I can't help you with that. But, it mostly has to do with how I strike the object ball. I can help you there.
Obviously one of the KEY factors is having the ability to recognize a "Half Ball" shots when they present themselves! Also, let me describe, (Inside of OB Shots and Outside of OB shots). An "Inside" of the object Ball shots means, the English you apply to the CB is the "OPPOSITE" side of the OB you're contacting! The "Outside" of the object ball shots means, the English you apply to the CB is the "SAME" as side of the OB you're contacting! See: Diagram 1
One of my secrets is this: Whenever I can, “I try to hit the first ball exactly half-full,” (as close to half-full as possible). The reasons are quite enlightening. 1) It's the purest form of carom you can make, because you're hitting equal parts of the ball with very predictable deflection results 2) All things being equal, the cue ball and the object ball both travel at the same speed after a half-ball hit, so calculating the speed of the shot for position is easier 3). Making a half-ball hit throws the object ball off the cushion with the most English. 4) And with the exception of aiming for thin-ball hits, half-ball hits are the easiest to visualize and execute with or without English on the cue ball.
View attachment 10463
Diagram 1
First, how to aim correctly for a half-ball hit. It doesn’t matter which side of the object ball you hit with or without English: Diagram 1, pg 91, shows the proper way to aim without English that is, 12 O’clock, center, or 6 O’clock on the cue ball. Simply aim the tip of your cue at the edge of the object ball. This produces a pure half-ball hit. To aim for such a hit with English, you find your desired point of contact on the cue ball and aim at the opposite point on the object ball. For example, to apply 2 tips of 11 O’clock English, you will aim at a point representing 2 tips of 1 O’clock English shown in Diagram 2. Try this you'll be amazed at its accuracy.
View attachment 10464
Diagram 2
This method of aiming is a "BASE" for making different contact points on the OB. It's NOT a stretch to figure out with a little practice how to apply this method for, 1/8,1/4,1/3,2/3 and 3/4 ball hits.
The one other hit that should be obvious to everyone is the, "Thin Ball" hit. All you do is the line up the, "Outside" edges of the CB and OB with NO English. When applying English trying to make a thin hit you have to allow for some type and amount of "squirt" depending on, (speed, distance and amount of English) used!
I hope this information will help viewers/members with aiming at theses types of shots.
Here's an excerpt from a chapter in my book, "The Concise Book of Position Play," entitled, "Half Ball Position Shots." I devised this method of "Aiming" around 1983, I've found it invaluable. It describes, whether you're a billiard or pool player how to AIM at "Half Ball" shots, with NO English, (12, center and 6 O'clock English) and with English.
The Half-Ball Aiming System
THE KEY FACTOR in my game's acceleration over the years is what I've learned regarding the achievement of maximum effect and speed with the help of my late mentor and best friend Ernie Presto. People have always been kind enough to ask, "Why does your cue ball always seem to have so much life to it with so little effort?" Well, part of it is due to the hand/eye coordination nature gave me. I can't help you with that. But, it mostly has to do with how I strike the object ball. I can help you there.
Obviously one of the KEY factors is having the ability to recognize a "Half Ball" shots when they present themselves! Also, let me describe, (Inside of OB Shots and Outside of OB shots). An "Inside" of the object Ball shots means, the English you apply to the CB is the "OPPOSITE" side of the OB you're contacting! The "Outside" of the object ball shots means, the English you apply to the CB is the "SAME" as side of the OB you're contacting! See: Diagram 1
One of my secrets is this: Whenever I can, “I try to hit the first ball exactly half-full,” (as close to half-full as possible). The reasons are quite enlightening. 1) It's the purest form of carom you can make, because you're hitting equal parts of the ball with very predictable deflection results 2) All things being equal, the cue ball and the object ball both travel at the same speed after a half-ball hit, so calculating the speed of the shot for position is easier 3). Making a half-ball hit throws the object ball off the cushion with the most English. 4) And with the exception of aiming for thin-ball hits, half-ball hits are the easiest to visualize and execute with or without English on the cue ball.
View attachment 10463
Diagram 1
First, how to aim correctly for a half-ball hit. It doesn’t matter which side of the object ball you hit with or without English: Diagram 1, pg 91, shows the proper way to aim without English that is, 12 O’clock, center, or 6 O’clock on the cue ball. Simply aim the tip of your cue at the edge of the object ball. This produces a pure half-ball hit. To aim for such a hit with English, you find your desired point of contact on the cue ball and aim at the opposite point on the object ball. For example, to apply 2 tips of 11 O’clock English, you will aim at a point representing 2 tips of 1 O’clock English shown in Diagram 2. Try this you'll be amazed at its accuracy.
View attachment 10464
Diagram 2
This method of aiming is a "BASE" for making different contact points on the OB. It's NOT a stretch to figure out with a little practice how to apply this method for, 1/8,1/4,1/3,2/3 and 3/4 ball hits.
The one other hit that should be obvious to everyone is the, "Thin Ball" hit. All you do is the line up the, "Outside" edges of the CB and OB with NO English. When applying English trying to make a thin hit you have to allow for some type and amount of "squirt" depending on, (speed, distance and amount of English) used!
I hope this information will help viewers/members with aiming at theses types of shots.
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