Cut Shot Visualization

This video helps you visualize all the primary ball-hit fraction cut shot reference lines. See the contact point, ghost ball, and shot line for all the half-ball, quarter-ball, and eighth-ball fractional cut shots. Then, using the shot setup data below, set up the shots on a real pool table for practice. The goal is to improve your shot intuition for any possible shot picture.

Two other visualization techniques are also presented: "Double the Distance" and "Cue Stick Ghost Ball Aiming".

Below are the diamond positions to set up each reference shot. As explained in the video, measure the diamond position along the line of diamonds, then move the mark perpendicular to the rail nose. Measure from the center of the table as the origin. Depending on the shot, the bottom diamond position (where the butt of the cue stick is placed) may lie on the short rail or the long rail; in either case, measure the distance from the center of the table along that rail.

SHOT CUT-ANGLE(degrees) TOP-DIAMOND BOTTOM-DIAMOND
1/2 Ball: 30.0 -0.42 1.72 (on bottom/short rail)
3/4 Ball: 14.5 -1.11 -1.28 (on side/long rail)
1/4 Ball: 48.6 0.29 -0.2 (on bottom/short rail)
7/8 Ball: 7.2 -1.52 -0.53 (on side/long rail)
1/8 Ball: 61.0 0.78 -1.52 (on bottom/short rail)
3/8 Ball: 38.7 -0.08 0.8 (on bottom/short rail)
5/8 Ball: 22.0 -0.75 -2.51 (on side/long rail)

These are all cut shots to the left corner pocket, as shown in the video. But you should practice the same cut shots to the right corner pocket too. To do so, simply flip the diamond positions above (reverse the sign). Cutting into the opposite pocket can help reveal problems with your stroke or vision center.

Be aware that the spot is not always placed perfectly on every table. These values assume a perfect spot placement; a spot that is inaccurately placed, even by a little bit, can invalidate these values.

Throw is ignored in the visualizations. But, throw can definitely cause the shot to be missed. If your shots are set up correctly but you consistently miss the pocket toward the short rail side, throw is probably the culprit. Try aiming a little bit thinner (just a little to the right of the top rail chalk) to compensate for throw. An added advantage of these reference shots is that you'll begin to recognize just how much throw can change the direction of the object ball.

Resources:
Billiards Digest, Fundamentals - Aiming: https://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_ar...
Fractional-Ball Aiming: https://billiards.colostate.edu/faq/a...
How to Estimate a Cut Angle: https://billiards.colostate.edu/faq/c...
Ball-hit fraction vs. cut angle: https://billiards.colostate.edu/techn...
Aiming System Benefits: https://billiards.colostate.edu/faq/a...
Double-the-Distance aiming system: https://billiards.colostate.edu/faq/a...
What is cut-induced throw: https://billiards.colostate.edu/faq/t...

#Cut_Shot #Half_Ball #Quarter_Ball #Ball_Hit_Fraction #Ghost_Ball #Contact_Point #Aim_Line #Double_the_Distance

@IOnianStreams

00:00 Intro
00:54 1/2 Ball with complete explanation
02:51 3/4 Ball
03:49 1/4 Ball
04:39 7/8 Ball
05:47 1/8 Ball
06:47 3/8 Ball
07:01 5/8 Ball
07:14 Double-the-Distance method
08:27 Cue stick aiming through ghost ball
09:08 A quick word about "throw"
09:46 Practice visualizing to develop shot intuition
10:58 Reference Shot Setup
13:10 Outro