Effect of spin

[S Davis Fan]

Hi There

I'm fairly new to the game and the mysteries of spin, but have a few questions.

I know that on a straight shot, top spin will increase the distance traveled after hitting the object ball compared to a plain ball shot. But what when on a angled shot, will it take exactly the same path as a plain ball but just go further.

Also I 'm getting to predict where the white will go with a screw show on a 3/4 ball and 1/2 ball shot. But am a little confused between a screw and a stun shot in the path of the white after contact. also will the white take a different path from playing a straight stun, or a stun run through shot.

Many Thanks Paul

[poolqjunkie]

Please take this with a grain of salt because I am not a pro player, and although I believe in what I am talking about, I could be wrong.
From my own experience, when you apply top spin on a shot that is not straight, the cue ball will curve forward; it does not just follow the same path as a plain ball. An extreme example will be the banana shots you sometimes see. It looks like the cue ball is following the tangent line off the ball, before the top curves it forward. The cue ball leaves the object ball at some sort of a parabola, curving forward.
Bottom is kind of the opposite. It produces the opposite curve. The cue ball moves down the tangent line, then curves backward in a curve--so again, it is not following the same path as a plain ball.
It also seems that the smoother one hits this shot, the more profound the curve. I think if hit too hard, the spin does not have enough time to curve.
These curves is quite useful in helping you to negotiate snooker. For example, if you put lots of bottom inside, you can really make the cue ball follow a much narrower path curving in, to gain a fuller contact of your object ball.
I know there are quite a bit of debate as to what side can do to the path of the cue ball coming off the object ball, I personally believe that the side will also alter the path because it alters the direction of which the ball rotates. For example, I believe bottom outside will bring the ball back a bit more to the outside, and vice versa.

[bongo]

Good post there poolqjunkie.

I would like to add on this subject that the cue ball arcs when it is spinning faster than rolling.

A perfect stun shot is when the cue ball goes off 90 degrees off the object ball contact (on angled shots).

Top spin and screw are just effects to this perfect angle. Actually, on all shots the cue ball will come off a 90 degrees, but top or screw changes it, very quickly. Stun on angled shots is the path of least resistance.

Experience will show how much screw back or top spin you can get with different contact points on the cue ball.

Stun run through just brings the CB forward of 90 degree angle off the OB, but it isn't a roll, it is played like a stun, but the white staggers forward.

Cues, balls, tables and weather can effect how the balls react, but the help above is the theory of it.

[TimurA]

Hi ThereI know that on a straight shot, top spin will increase the distance traveled after hitting the object ball compared to a plain ball shot. But what when on a angled shot, will it take exactly the same path as a plain ball but just go further.

if you mean 'plain ball' as 'centerball hit' .THe answer is no.The angles of cue ball off the object ball on centerball hits and follow hits are different.

on the centerball hit:cue ball obeys to 90 degree rule after collision with an object ball.Open your thumb and index finger like a big V .This is the angle that cue ball obeys after the collision with object ball if cue ball is hit at center at whatever thickness you hit the object ball.(I disregard table friction in the argument to simplify) and whatever speed you use.See Dr Dave's pool videos in the net for 90 degree rule.

for follow shots: angles are smaller than center ball hits.At most 36 degrees .and this happens when object ball is hit at 1/2 thickness.at 1/2 -36 degrees-the cue ball obeys the angle of Peace sign(middle finger and index finger open).İf you hit more and less than 1/2 thickness the object ball,the angle decreases.This may sound bizarre but the angles get smaller in high thicknesses in follow hits on cue ball.The beautiful thing about follow shots:from 1/4 till 3/4 the angle of cue ball is not equal but very similar to the angle of 1/2.This is great comfort maybe not for pocketing but for cue ball control.but below 1/4 and above 3/4, follow shots are thickness sensitive for cue ball control.
Speed affects follow shots.When the speed of the cue ball increases ,angles increases so at high speeds even you hit a follow shot,the cue ball tries to obey to the 90 degree rule after the collision

draw hits:angle increases and cue ball angles off the object ball more than 90 degree rule.Speed also affects draw shots.Speed decreases the angle of the cue ball off the object ball and at the high speeds ,the cue ball ,hit with a draw spin ,tries to obey to the 90 degree rule.
Draw shots are thickness sensitive for cue ball control except maybe very high thicknesses.

in summary:the center ball hits:90 degree rule.(V sign) Thickness sensitive except very high thicknesses
follow shots:,peace sign ....thickness sensitive below 1/4 and above 3/4
draw shots: more than 90 degree rule.Thickness sensitive except very high thicknesses.

speed affects follow shots and draw shots and they obey more and more to 90 degree rule when speed of the cue ball increases.

if the subject is sidespin,Experts say that it does not affect the angle of cue ball off the object ball but the angle of cue ball off the cushions and the angle of the object ball off the cue ball.

3C Cushion players prefer to play as much as possible the follow shot.Since it is thickness insensitive for a large thickness range and with follow induced topspin you may supress the table friction induced top spin and obtain more control of the cue ball.

English is not my native language and snooker is not my game.I hope this long ad boring message contains what you are looking for.

Regards,

Timur
İstanbul,Turkey

[Watford]

Can I offer a simpler explanation?
Plain ball white off at 90 degree ish
Top white goes off narrower
Bottom wider
Easy

[poolqjunkie]

If it is a plain ball stun, then it will go off around 90 degree. If you roll the ball with plain ball, it will not follow 90 degree.
I think what the original poster wanted to know was not the angle but rather the path, whether it is just a wider and narrow straight line as compared to a plain ball hit. I believe that with tops and bottoms the path is a parabola.