The billiards balls are almost perfect.The energy in their motion is almost completely preserved, and very little of it is dissipated into heat or other energy sinksThis makes pool and billiards a good sport to analyze.You can always predict what will happen if you have complete control over how you strike the cue ball and where to aim it.
Step 1: Understand how the law of reflection works.
Every time you carom the cue ball off the rail, it comes up with a simple mathematical lesson.The law tells you that the angle at which the ball strikes the rail is the same as the one it bounces off at.The ball will bounce off the rail at a 30o angle.Light's behavior is referred to as the law of reflection.It's usually written that the angle of incidence is the same as the reflection.
Step 2: The cue ball and object ball have to be equidistanced from the rail.
In this scenario, the goal is to hit the object ball with the cue ball off the rail.Imagine a line from the cue ball to the rail intersecting at right angles.Imagine the cue ball hitting the rail.The hypotenuse of a right triangle is formed by your first line and a section of the rail.Take a picture of the cue ball hitting the object ball.Draw a second right triangle.
Step 3: There are two triangles.
The "angle angle side" rule can be used in this case.The two triangles are congruent if they have two equal angles and one equal side.They are the same size and shape.The law of reflection tells us that the two angles between the hypotenuses and the rail are the same.Both of them have two 90o angles.The two sides of the rail and the ball are the same.
Step 4: The halfway point of the rail section is where you want to aim.
The two sides of the rail are equal to each other since the two triangles are congruent.The cue ball strikes the rail equidistant from the two starting positions of the ball.The two balls should be equal distance from the rail.
Step 5: If the balls are not close to the rail, use similar triangles.
The cue ball is twice as far from the rail as the object ball.You can still picture two right triangles formed by the cue ball's ideal path, and use intuitive geometry to guide your aim: The two triangles still share the same angles.The triangles are the same shape, different sizes.The cue ball is twice as far from the rail as the second triangle.The second triangle's "rail side" is twice as long as the first.If you aim for a point on the rail 23 of the way to the object ball, it will be twice as long as 13.
Step 6: You should learn the basics.
The cue ball does not strike the object ball dead on, meaning most shots in pocket billiards are angle shots.The "thinner" is the angle the object ball will travel at, relative to the trajectory of the cue ball.
Step 7: It's important to estimate the full impact of the hit.
Sighting along the planned trajectory of the ball is an excellent way to estimate this effect.How much will the cue ball "overlap" the object ball from your perspective?The answer tells you how full the collision is.It could be said that it has a "fullness" of 1.The hit is 34 full if the cue ball covers the object ball.
Step 8: The angle can be predicted based on the amount of food.
The graph of these two quantities is not linear, but it is close enough that you can estimate by adding 15o every time.A direct hit results in a cut angle of 0o.The object ball is the same as the cue ball.The object ball was sent out by a 34 shot.The object ball is thrown out at 30o by a 12 shot.The object ball was sent out by a 14 shot.
Step 9: Caution can be used for very thin shots.
It is difficult to estimate how much of the ball is covered.Small errors can have large effects if the cut angle rises more steeply.Once you've figured out where to aim, these glancing shots require a lot of practice and good technique.You can take another shot if you can.
Step 10: Aim with the ghost ball method.
The "ghost ball" approach involves a straight line from the pocket to the center of the object ball.The line should be extended slightly past the object ball.Imagine a ghost ball touching the object ball on this line.Aim at the center of the ghost ball to hit the object ball.
Step 11: The third rule is to follow kiss shots.
A kiss shot involves caroming the cue ball off ball A so it can hit ball B.If you're playing a game that allows kiss shots, remember this rule: if ball A touches a rail, the desired cut angle is 13 of the angle formed by the three balls.If the angle with ball A is 45o, the cut angle you want to achieve is 15o.The rule above tells us that a full collision should produce this angle.
Step 12: First, make sure you perfect your stroke.
When you start to take pool seriously, consistent stroke form and aim should be your first priorities.English is a very useful technique, but you need consistency to practice it.If you're not controlling the amount of overspin and slipping, you will have trouble narrowing down the effects of English.The effects are determined by the height of the cue ball.Slipping is completely eliminated between the center and the top of the ball, but in practical terms 1/3 of this distance is a better measure for optimal control and speed.
Step 13: When the cue ball is in danger of sinking, avoid English.
The cue ball will stop after a perfect head-on collision if there is no English.Hit the ball with your cue at the center of the horizontal axis.You have enough control to introduce English to your game once you get the cue ball to stop dead.
Step 14: Different amounts of English are being practiced.
The most basic form of English is the subject of this article.The cue ball will spin along the axis if you hit it left of center.The spin on this spinning ball will cause it to rebound further to the left than a ball with no English.Strike the right side and you will get "right English".The more dramatic effect is if you strike halfway between the center and the edge of the ball.This is the farthest from the center that you can avoid.50% English means you strike halfway between the maximum point and the center.A percentage of English can be used at different points between the center and the maximum point.
Step 15: Understand the mechanics.
The angle and amount of English determine the rotation of the object ball when it collides with another ball.The rotation occurs along the axis of movement if you achieve gearing.The object ball's motion is unaffected by spin.It will travel along the "line of centers" at the moment of impact.The analogy of two gears meshing smoothly together is what the term comes from.
Step 16: For any cut, adjust your English to get the proper gears.
If you aim your angle shot from the last section, you want to make sure that the object ball doesn't pick up any funny spin and ruin your shot.A chart can save you a lot of trial and error."outside English" means you move the cue to the side of the ball farther from the object ball.If the cut angle is 15o, use 20% English.The cut angle is the angle between the cue ball's original path and the object ball.40% English is used if the cut angle is 30o.About 45% English is used if the cut angle is 45o.If the angle is 60o, use 70% English.English should be increased to 80% as the cut angle approaches 90o.
Step 17: The effects of a collision without gears.
If you use less English than the "gearing" amount listed in the last step, the cue ball will slide forward during the collision, transferring side spin to the object ball.The object ball will move to the right of the cut angle.The object ball will move to the left of the expected cut angle if you use more English than the gearing amount.The cut angle transferred a spin which threw the ball off the path.You can use this to your advantage.Increase the amount of outside English you use to throw the ball into the pocket if your only clear shot is to the right.