How to Play Pool - Angles

[@richarddombakly413]

Scott, in all the videos &books I've seen &read, NO ONE ever explained the 45 degree rule!!!!,your the man,thank you very much,seriously

[@adelalami7203]

I can't thank you enough for sharing this. I learned the 45 degree rule and it's invaluable. Also knowing about the effect of the new cloths was also practical. Thanks

[@carzellwalton7141]

This is one of the best video on billiards I have seen.

[@MegaFirstclass]

I absolutely LOVE and need this!!! Wow!!! Someone who knows how to explain things so well to us beginners, too!!! Also, I hit like after accidentally hitting dislike! So if you got a notification of a dislike it was an accident! I clicked it off and corrected it!! :)

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Awesome, glad you like it, thank you!

[@gregbailer8701]

Great info on the arrival angle. NOTE: the draw angle is 3x the cut angle with benchmark draw. That is how 30 degree cut yields a 90 degree draw line. You were measuring only 2x. Learned some new stuff on this video. Thanks!

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Yes, I can't remember in the demo if I moved once already and then specifically moved 2 more times (equaling 3), which is what I meant to do, or measured angle and only moved twice. If I only moved twice without first matching the original angle, then yes it was wrong... live videos are a problem... 😁 Good catch, and thanks for watching!

[@gregbailer8701]

Appreciate the content. Hard to teach, listen, and aim at the same time. I liked the 15-30-45 angle reference to the connecting diamonds. Good road map on every table if observant. The Geometry and Math appeal to me as well. Starting the game after 30 year vacation. You tube is excellent, vs back in the 70s with paperback info even hard to find. Great work!

[@corkforbrains]

Every once in awhile, I run across someone I wish I had met sooo much earlier.. What an amazing teacher! How many of you "older cues" catch yourself grinning here as he so eloquently explains, in the simplest of terms, something that you struggled with for YEARS!!! 🤣

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Thank you so much! Hope to be adding more content soon!

[@zapzapzappa8887]

@@ScottsPoolSchool Great video! A polarizing filter could help eliminate the glare on the table and make the balls stand out better but I don't know how you do that with these digital cameras

[@madhatter2012]

Very nice! It makes a huge difference when you can demonstrate what you're trying to do on a shot equally as well as you can explain it first. This video was a great help to my game. Thanks for sharing!

[@Gruuvin1]

I've watched a few videos that discuss this, made by some of the most prevalent teachers on KZbin, but at only seven minutes in, this video is already making these fundamentals more clear. Adding to favorites and subscribing! Thanks!

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Thx, appreciate it!

[@CHADKANDARIS]

i have been playing pool for 30 years. I am learing that I am a noob. Thanks. But for real, thanks. Great information and I will be trying all this out.

[@SamuL147]

Chad Kandaris Never too late to improve! Scott is a great teacher. And also Dr. Dave here in KZbin. And Sharivari. Have a good day!

[@CHADKANDARIS]

@@SamuL147 I also like Tor Lowry. I watch all of Sharivari as well

[@zanebeasley6246]

Very good class.like the Manor you speak and explain .Thank you.

[@jamesdavis8731]

Excellent video. I am a very solid player but I learned a couple of things here that I wish I had learned much earlier. Certainly one of your best videos. Really good.

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Thanks!

[@Super1Luckydog]

Hey Scott, great video! I came about this fractional aiming system all on my own about 35 years ago. I had a lightbulb moment and realized that a two dimensional target had to be easier to figure out vs the spherical nature of a 3D object ball. I literally started trial and error to figure out these angles. I did have a bit of understanding from having reading Willie Hoppe's 3 cushion book. After many years I have figured out some key exceptions and considerations. #1) you have to adjust the aim when inside of 18" from CB. It is about a 5 degree adjustment every time you move closer by 1/2. So at nine inches from CB a 30 degree cut is a 35 degree cut. At 4/12 inches away a 30 degree cut is an additional 5 degrees so therefore it's a 40 degree cut. #2) Many people are prone to have slight angle differences, either thick or thin, when cutting to the left vs the right due to visual perceptions and or stroke issues. So in order to maximize accuracy a player should hit 1/2 ball shots repeatedly to the right and left to be aware of any perceptual differences and make fine tuned aiming adjustments as necessary. I would be very interested to read about your angle estimation tricks or tips and thanks again for sharing the video.

[@aimprobilliards1009]

We at AimPro Billiards agree that people have differences between shots to the right and to the left. Usually these are most pronounced with thin cuts. In any case, that's why the AimRight practice tool not only comes as a pair, but we strongly encourage practice in both cut directions. Regarding your experience with close shots needing more cut, I would suggest several factors at play. First, you haven't specified what CB spin you are using. If center ball, then as you get closer, the cue ball will approach stun and at 30 degrees cut, a cue ball with stun gives maximum cut-induced throw, especially at lower speeds and with dirty/worn balls. With reasonable balls, throw should not be more than 5 degrees. And you can reduce it by using topspin or even draw. If you are having more than that, either you have very dirty/worn balls or you are having some type of setup or sighting/aiming problem and are mis-judging your shot. As I point out in my 'AimRight - shooting all 16 cut angles' video, the AimRight is nicely suited to accurately setting up cuts with the balls close together. And it gives you lines & targets that can assist with some aiming systems or as a double check versus whatever aiming system you are using. And if you are interested in judging pool cut angles, you should check out my multipart video series on 'AimRight -- What's that cut angle?'

[@Super1Luckydog]

@@aimprobilliards1009 Try a half ball hit at 18" (CB to OB distance) then just move the cue ball closer to 9". Keep everything the same. Then try at 4 and 1/2 inches. You will find my observations correct. To reduce this to the ridiculous just move the CB to 2" from the OB and aim at the edge of the ball like a normal 1/2 ball hit at 18" or further apart (CB to OB). You must compensate the closer you get. Try the adjustment angles I sent you in the original post. It is about 5 degrees more cut for every time you cut the distance in half from 18". It's not bro science. It is just basic physics.

[@aimprobilliards1009]

I used reasonable care to setup and test your theory. My results are in line with Dr. Dave's theory, described at billiards.colostate.edu/technical_proofs/new/TP_A-14.pdf. I was getting approximately 4 degrees of throw whether the distance was 18 inches or 0.5 inches. If I used follow or draw, the throw was much less: half or less. There was some variation with distance, but not more than 1 or 2 degrees. I setup the object ball about 76 inches from a pocket. I used a laser line to align donuts on the 30 degree cut angle line and spaced them so I could align 3 balls and then have the cue ball strike the first, knocking the third into the object ball. As many know, this is a way to pretty reliably hit along a line with no sidespin nor throw (of those balls). I could vary the distance to the object ball by just changing which set of 3 adjacent donuts to use. I specifically tested distances of about 18", 9", 3" and 0.5". I shot at speeds that just got the ball to the rail near the pocket. I then tried just shooting a cue ball directly at the object ball and with stun, got about 4 degrees. When I cued high or low, the throw was much less, maybe half -- I frequently pocketed the ball. Most of these direct shooting tests were done at a distance of 3", but on one stun test, I shot from 0.5 inches using a Mike Massey technique (kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoDYmWiAaNBsqrM) -- and got the same 4 degree result. Again, these results confirm, to the accuracy of my setup, Dr Dave's theory and I see no indication of yours. Review my suggestions about why you might be getting such unusual results..

[@jt10ball]

Nice job Scott. I like your knowledge & explanations of angle recognition, not only on the way in but also the cueballs path on the way out.

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Thanks Joe!! Hope you are doing well!

[@Deep_Divers]

Nice job. Your explanations are well done and you had many tips I had not heard before, like lining up a half ball shot from the corner of the pocket to the table center. Thanks for posting!

[@JoeJDiaz-sh8dl]

I find this video very helpful and I comprehend your demonstrations, Thank you for making this video. I have watched this video at different times and I can't remember if I commented before. LOL!

[@iggybabs3981]

Gonna be watching more. Thanks for the information. Super helpful to know..

[@robertforrest1763]

Excellent explanation of this part of pool. You are very good at explaining all that I have seen so far. Looking forward to more videos!

[@WorldofPoolandBilliards]

Wow, I never realized you could just make a spot shot a half ball hit. That is pretty game changing when playing 5-9.

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

yea, don't have to shoot them often but just used this shot in a ring game last week. Takes the pressure off when you can just aim at the edge of the ball and make a good stroke... :) Like your channel by the way! Just saw some of your videos, need to watch a few more I tagged. Nice!

[@rhaazy]

God damn gold. Thanks a lot for sharing this. First time seeing someone explain the 45 and 60 degree rules. Super job!

[@mike_williams]

Thank you, I like most of the explanations. I got confused about the tangent line, because you call it a 90 degree line, but then you say "angle in, angle out".

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

I don't remember what I said or what context, but I'm assuming with the tangent line (which is the same as 90 degree line from contact with OB) I was just describing different terms for the same thing. Then angle in - angle out would be how to project the tangent line to the rail, and then being able to estimate cue ball movement off the rail based on angle in and angle out. Said another way, let's say the CB leaves the OB along the tangent line and enters the rail at a 27 degree angle. Then roughly with no english the CB will leave the rail at about a 27 degree angle as well. Slight differences due to speed, spin, table conditions, etc., but roughly the same. So between tangent line and angle in - angle out you can get a good idea of CB travel when using no english and when sliding at contact. Then adjust from there by using follow, draw, or sidespin once the cue ball hits a rail. Hope that helps... :)

[@happygeezer1872]

This helps clear up about sixty years of my getting it all wrong. Thank you so much. I shall watch this video and subscribe to your videos.

[@johnstorton]

Just for a visualization/reference, 30 degrees from 12 o'clock is 1 o'clock (or 11 o'clock). (Each number on the clock is another 30 degrees.)

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

1 o'clock to 11 o'clock is 60 degrees not 30 degrees according to your logic. "Each number on the clock is another 30 degrees." 30 x 12 = 360

[@johnstorton]

​@@BladeRunner-td8be - You are correct in saying that, by my logic, 11 to 1 is 60 degrees (2 numbers apart X 30 degrees is 60 degrees.) , but I wasn't talking about 11 to 1. I was talking about 12 to 1, OR 12 to 11. When referencing the "o'clock" thing, 12 is always used as the reference for dead center. From 12 0'clock to 1 is 30 degrees. From 12 to 11 is 30 degrees in the other direction. The "/" that I typed means "or." If I had meant "from _ to _", I might have used a hyphen (though that phrase wouldn't work in the sentence). I'll edit my post in an attempt to make it less confusing. My original post: "Just for a visualization/reference, 30 degrees from 12 o'clock is 1 o'clock/11 o'clock. (Each number on the clock is another 30 degrees.)" Anybody else confused by this?

[@battlefieldclips7013]

@ John Storton nice tips ever

[@Deep_Divers]

Funny I didn't even think about that until you posted it. Sometimes we overlook the obvious. Thanks.

[@lapincheriatota]

damn, thank you dude this helps a lot :D

[@fraserwing8744]

Nice video. Pool videos are well served to have overhead filming though, for future demos. Thanks for the tuition.

[@gtrmusic69]

These videos are fantastic sir. Thank you. Definitely liking and subscribing.

[@medallion39]

I look forward to watching this. Love your content

[@jmbanxa]

I like your explanations it makes sense

[@paullibby2764]

Thanks you made things alot clearer.

[@drmdr1]

Thank you so much!!!! I absolutely learned a ton from this video!!!

[@drmdr1]

How can I get some of your write ups you mentioned in your video?

[@brettberanekrealtor493]

great info Scott thanks for putting this out.

[@arunkansagra183]

I truly appreciate the effort you put in explaining and I watch your videos over and over again. I would like to see if you can send me the literature about the angles that you mentioned in the video. Once again I do thank you for doing this wonderful teaching videos.

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Send me an email I can send you the info. Not sure if you are referring to the full explanation of the 60 degree rule or the shot angle diagrams. Email at [e-mail] and let me know what you are looking for, thanks!

Nice video very informative. Perhaps you could mic the crowd or repeat the questions for your KZbin followers? Thanks!

[@travisvitch7813]

Thank you for the help! I've played very inconsistent for most of the time I've been playing pool. This will make a huge difference in my game and take a lot of guessing out of it as well. I've always played on the smaller bar tables. I really dislike playing on the larger 9 ft tables and I'd like to become comfortable when I'm on one. There's a lot of pool halls where I am and very few bar tables like back home. What advice could you give me to not feel so intimidated?

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Playing on a larger table will always feel more difficult or more intimidating. The shots just look (and are) farther away, if you won't adapt your speed you will end up even farther away, etc. My only advice is to practice on larger tables as often as you can. If you usually play on bar tables, then that's probably all you can do and just know to give yourself some extra time to get used to larger tables before a tournament etc. Moving down can be a slight issue (overhitting shots a bit, feeling clustered, etc.) but in my opinion much easier than moving up.

[@johnstorton]

I'm glad you fixed your mic! :)

[@MarcoNavarro-w6c]

hey Scott. I'm really enjoying your tutorials. I do have a quick question. I noticed that sometimes when cutting an angle you use your cue to point and it appears to help you decide the angle you need to cut the ball with. Can you explain what exactly you are doing? It seems you are using the diamonds but I could be wrong. Thx

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

I did this quite a while ago. I don't normally use my cue to aim with or determine angles etc. I may have been using it to point to something or demonstrate a principle that was based on an angle. If you can point out the part in the video where I'm doing this I can look and possibly provide more details.

[@iainscott3736]

Would be better if you could hear the questions from audience OR he could repeat it on camera. Also, as regards the 30 degree rule, if you hit top spin but with force, the q ball will leave on the 90 degree tangent line 1st.....then take up the 30 degree rule line. This is handy to know as it could help with breakouts and/ positioning.. like his style generally, not as confusing as some. But, if there are “buts; to a rule, it should also be mentioned, such as , outside edges the angle reduces hugely.....ie a very thin cut will not come of at 30 degrees regardless of speed,but just a few degrees depending on just how thin the cut is, into guessing line therefore. Overall, I like his style.

[@aimprobilliards1009]

I believe Scott did qualify the rule by saying it applies to cuts between a quarter ball and three quarter ball hit. You are right about what happens at speed. I refer you to a video I made that compares the results at slow and fast speeds at about 7 different cut angles across the full spectrum of shots. kzbin.info/www/bejne/baraqYSefJx9jZI That video illustrates a feature of my AimPro Billiards product called an AimRight. The User Guide gives exact angle information for each of the 16 defined cut angles AND gives an illustration of the offset required at speed. It also gives 'rules' and approximations to cover all cuts, if you don't care to memorize the 16 numbers. It also gives much other information about position-related aspects for each cut angle -- not just for 'normal roll' shots as discussed here, but also for stun and strong draw. To get the User Guide, you need to buy the product either from me at [e-mail] or from seyberts.com.

[@Kevin-ib4gv]

Hi Scott I really enjoyed this video but my only concern is with the tangent line 90 degree rule and the rolling ball 30 degree rule. It might help to explain that the movement of the cue ball on the 90 degree line is taken from the OBJECT ball path to pocket, and the 30 degree line is taken from the path of the CUE ball to the object ball.

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

I think I did explain that in the video, and showing that the 90 degree line is technically from the ghost ball position at contact with the OB if being precise. Maybe I didn't call it out explicitly... :)

[@Kevin-ib4gv]

@@ScottsPoolSchool HI Scott. When I first found out about the 90 degree rule quite a few years ago, it wasn't clear to me that it had to be a stun shot, no movement of the cue ball, to get 90 degrees, hence I rolled the cue ball and got 30, and didn't find out for several weeks that I needed to stun the cue ball!! Like magic.....90 degrees!! As beginners I believe we really need to have every detail spoon fed to us as s-l-o-w-l-y as possible in order to sink in! (no pun intended) Thanks again for the fine video.

[@shubhashinikumari8154]

why the cue ball is always going to the left tangent line and not right side tangent line? I follow your videos closely and try to learn and practice..

[@GMDCam]

Enjoyed the video, I was wondering if these rules would still work okay on English tables with a smaller cue ball to the object ball? I know follow is a little harder to do, and draw easier, (top-spin and back spin as its called here). Would it make any difference?

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

I've played a lot of billiard games but never English 8 ball. I would guess with the smaller cue ball that these concepts would be close but not as exact, especially if the smaller cue ball weighs less as well (which I'm not sure). You could try some of the rules out and see, maybe still useful with some small adjustments.

[@jairambalkaran4964]

Very educational and interesting but a view on a cue ball demonstrating contact points will be appreciated.

[@allgood6760]

Thanks for this 👍🙂

[@mrpoolplayer6379]

Do you have any lessons or charts on how to "tie the dots on the rails together. Something like the old Hoppe book....?

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Dozens and dozens of diamond systems. Watch my kicking video below for some examples, watch part 2 as well for some multi rail examples. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpSwq6ebjdJ5js0

[@osvaldobazan9024]

can u make a video talking more about the 60 degree rule!!

[@kevinbransky1817]

Does practicing on a bar box hinder my chances on a 9 foot? Should I share such table time equally, or does practicing on a 9 foot all the time make every other format just as easy?

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

In my opinion it's easier to practice on a 9 foot and adjust down vs. the other way. However, they really are different games, that's why there are bar table specialists that can beat better 9' table players and vice-versa. This is due more to traffic on the table, generally more forgiving corner pockets and shorter shots, and less forgiving side pockets. If you play serious pool on both sizes, you really need to practice on both sizes as well, especially before an event on a particular size. That's not always possible, so if all you have available is a bar table you could certainly run drills, practice patterns, etc. just fine and would just need to adjust for the longer shots and cue ball paths when playing on a 9 footer. Our brains adjust pretty quickly to the size difference, just like we adjust pretty well to slower or faster cloth. Good luck!

[@CHADKANDARIS]

Playing on a 9 footer is overwhelming if you never do it. It's like a par 5 in golf. I bought a 9 footer and it does help with the bar box game but it's not like you are now a god on the small table. Small tables, you deal with clusters more. I will take a 9 footer all day.

[@joeygonzo]

playing on a bar box will make you develop bad habits

[@joeygonzo]

@Hammer Thorsson People who play on barbox primarily never really learn to line-up their bodies to the shot. When they switch to 9 footers, they can't make a ball.

[@joeygonzo]

@Hammer Thorsson those barboxes have ridiculous huge pockets and very shallow slate shelves. If the ball rattles softly in the jaws, they still fall . Can't do that on Diamond table or good Gold Crown.

[@bradhairston2146]

Scott, do you do the clinics in the woodlands, tx?

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

No, at the store in Jacksonville, FL

[@bretwahlberg1146]

Billiards 🎱 is geometry 📐, stroke , bridge and trail arm !!!! It’s all simple really

[@roytaylor414]

Hi Scott will this system work on the smaller tables we us in the uk

[@billiardfactory2918]

It should work on smaller tables, yes. I believe in English 8 ball though the cue ball is smaller (and maybe lighter?) than the object balls, so therefore some of these angle rules (tangent line, 30 degree, 45 degree, etc.) might not be exact due to the different size/weight of the balls. But they should be fairly close and you can experiment yourself and see what works and what doesn't.

[@roytaylor414]

Billiard Factory thank you for your quick response I have enjoyed watching your videos.

[@RickHovey]

What tip are you using on your shaft?

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Standard Victory Soft. I've had 2 or 3 of those, some I liked, some I cut off right away. This one has been good. I've also used Kamui Black Clear S for a prolonged period of time prior to this tip. I generally try to stay in the soft/medium category with stiffer shafts, seems to soften the hit just a bit. Others like it firmer. All personal preference.

[@RickHovey]

Scott Rohleder appreciate the response and input. Great videos by the way. Can’t get enough of them.

[@MJ18883]

Do you have links to more info on the 60 degree rule?

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

I can send you a little write up... 😁 send me an email at [e-mail]

[@MJ18883]

@@ScottsPoolSchool thanks, email sent!

[@aimprobilliards1009]

I have a training product called the AimRight. In the user guide, I describe many aspects of where the cue ball will travel after a shot, including where it goes when shooting a shot close to a rail. I describe how the cue ball will rebound for EACH of the 16 AimRight-defined cut angles (that is, ALL cut angles) and illustrate how that compares with the 60 degree rule, which I also describe (which only applies to cuts between 1/4 and 3/4 ball hit). Further, I describe how to modify the rule to account for the object ball being off the rail by any amount. I also describe that all methods, including the 60 degree rule are based on assumptions that are not entirely true. Of special note are the cut-induced spin imparted to the cue ball that changes the rebound and the post-rail curvature that's exaggerated because of the speed reduction of the cue ball. Note that the 60 degree rule is for shots when the CB has normal roll. The User Guide also describes where the CB will go off a rail with stun and with strong draw. You can purchase an AimRight at seyberts.com or direct by emailing [e-mail]. You can watch KZbin videos at the AimPro Billiards channel. Start with kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIvdp52cr52khqs

[@spillebeenkenny7120]

What cue does Scott use?Thx

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Right now I'm using a Predator Panthera 3-2, which is actually made by Jacoby with some Predator tech in it such as weight bolt system etc. Paired with Revo 12.4mm radial with Victory S tip. Previous cue for 15+ years was Schon Ltd with many different shafts over the years, most recently Mezz WX-700. Watch for my next video where I discuss and demonstrate that it doesn't really matter, just play with what feels good to you... :)

[@mikehernandez570]

Do you compete in tournaments?

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Yes I do, although not as much as I like. There are good local weekly tournaments at several places 4 or 5 times a week with top players in the city and even people coming in occasionally from other neighboring cities. Many of my peers play in 3 or 4 of these a week. I play maybe one a month. I also try to play a regional tournament maybe once or twice a year, and a pro tournament maybe once a year as well. Since October I played in the International 9 ball open, the World Straight Pool tourney, and a year end regional tournament with top players. I played well in the International, cashed in the straight pool after not playing straight pool for 10 years, and took 3rd in the regional tourney behind the top 2 players in FL. So not bad for a non-tournament player... :) I would love to play more, I enjoy it and it would really keep my game sharp, but job, side projects, family, etc take up a lot of time, and I can't justify taking the time away from that to play pool, especially given the time it takes and the payback is typically not there. Plus I would like to stay married... :)

[@mikehernandez570]

@@ScottsPoolSchool are you on Facebook? I almost quit my job about 15 years ago to play full time. I was younger and fearless. At age 8 I found out I could just see where to hit the object ball, even on banks. But I had no training and no gameplan cuz I was able to make shots, I didn't need position. Then I stopped playing cuz my mom was against it. Didnt take it up until adulthood.

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

@@mikehernandez570 yes I am...

[@jaimemolina1777]

Scott, this is great. Please consider using a stripped ball with a darker color (like the 10 ball) to demonstrate English. The 9 ball colors are difficult to see with the bright lights

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Gotcha, thanks! Still working on clarity and sound, and just moved everything to new table. Hopefully once the permanent camera positions are in place will be even easier to see. Thanks!

[@johnstorton]

@@ScottsPoolSchool - When showing spin, a slow-mo replay would be helpful.

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

@@johnstorton true, but these are live clinics. I will try and do some shorter produced and edited segments in the future like some others do. Then I will never miss... 😁

[@ghweldon11]

Great lesson...that table plays a bit short. ; - )

[@juanantoniomexia8586]

Puede ayudarnos con videos en español, muchas gracias

[@jdtyler007]

Hi Scott, can you check your spam folder for my email? Thanks and keep up the great work!👍🏻👍🏻

[@richardleal6903]

46 haters with no stroke disliked this video.

[@ScottsPoolSchool]

Lol, everyone has an opinion... 😁 thx for watching!

[@PobrengGuapo]

CTE @ half ball hit (30deg angle) kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2armGeom711bas

[@veniceautobody244]

You paid for this? are you kidding me.