Blasting shots in

[-Blade-]

When I watch the NI trophy or any other tournament, I notice that players manage to blast shots into the pockets with that loud bang, when they aren't facing the entire pocket. If I try this, the ball will get rejected. How do players manage this?

[CoachGavin]

Might be a number of reasons. Might even be that the microphones and sound set up means that noise sounds louder. Also if you think about how many pots a professional pots during a match then some are bound to make the nice thump sound. One point to mention though is that professionals dont hit the ball but use their cue action to create the maximum effect on the cue ball without having to give it a whack. Got to say though that nothing beats that thudd of the ball going into a pocket

[MrRottweiler]

Hey Gavin. I worked with Simon Baxter until recently who I understand you know. I'm in Npton also so would be cool to have a knock sometime!

[Semih_Sayginer]

@ blade...... it could just be that youre not quite as precise or accurate with your power shots, and also, it could be the condition and make of table that "helps" this.....just 'one' possibility

@ generally....have known the noise of a good shot, especially stuns, as the 3clicks, where the hit on the cueball, the click of the balls, and the pocketed ball hitting the pocket back, makes a "good rhythm" sound

[RaNeN]

If the pockets are rejecting the balls. Maybe its the pockets fault.

[ADR147]

maybe its that the pros actually tend to have a bit of helping side even on power shots ? would need to ask about that, but i suspect it means that the ball will drop to a bigger margin even under power.

[ADR147]

If the pockets are rejecting the balls. Maybe its the pockets fault.

hehe thats my motto if in doubt blame the table!

[C-J]

maybe its that the pros actually tend to have a bit of helping side even on power shots ? would need to ask about that, but i suspect it means that the ball will drop to a bigger margin even under power.

I think it's the opposite;if you are cueing really straight you're aim can be
1mm off and the ball will still go in the pocket with a nice sound,sometimes even when it has hit the jaw.If you hit across the cueball but still pot the ball your often not rewarded with the nice sound.

[trevs1]

maybe its that the pros actually tend to have a bit of helping side even on power shots ? would need to ask about that, but i suspect it means that the ball will drop to a bigger margin even under power.

Do you mean 'side' on the object ball???

[trevs1]

I think it's the opposite;if you are cueing really straight you're aim can be
1mm off and the ball will still go in the pocket with a nice sound,sometimes even when it has hit the jaw.If you hit across the cueball but still pot the ball your often not rewarded with the nice sound.

Personally, I can't see what difference it makes having the ball make any particular sound whatsoever, as long as it drops.

It's the result that's important, surely.

As for any kind of sound the ball makes when dropping into a pocket, I'd say it would be more likely to do with -

a) the speed and angle at which it strikes the pocket
b) the type and condition of the pocket itself.

I don't see why it matters anyway, as long as the ball drops.

[Semih_Sayginer]

Do you mean 'side' on the object ball???

what i took from ADRs post and the "helping side" is that by putting a trace of RHside onto the cue ball, it transfers (ever so slightly, depending on..) to LH side on the object ball, so, if your object ball was for instance going from the blue spot into the yellow pocket, and yor aim was for the far drop, the helping side is slightly spinning the ball off the far drop. (that is if you dont do exactly for centre, or if you hit centre)

[trevs1]

This is totally not feasible in reality though is it?

To be able to impart 'ANY' discernable spin on an object ball is going to be tricky enough, let alone to control it.

If it were possible, and useable even, the accuracy lost in applying off centre striking to the cueball over any reasonable distance would not make the 'questionable' gain in having a spinning object ball worth it.

It would be a totally new concept to me anyhow.

[ADR147]

quoting sem - yes that was the general idea you play most shots with some form of side so why not the power shots? - having trouble just now with forum speed hence the edit !

[Semih_Sayginer]

This is totally not feasible in reality though is it?

To be able to impart 'ANY' discernable spin on an object ball is going to be tricky enough, let alone to control it.

If it were possible, and useable even, the accuracy lost in applying off centre striking to the cueball over any reasonable distance would not make the 'questionable' gain in having a spinning object ball worth it.

It would be a totally new concept to me anyhow.

its certainly possible

[ADR147]

of course its how you bend balls a fraction etc - but is it possible when smacking them hard? - i have never really thought about it.