Have you considered this application when you're playing real life pool? Sorry, Yahoo just doesn't count here.

Question

This is more of a statement than a question but have you ever really considered the physics of the game? Most everyone that talks about pool laments about how the game is one of geometry.

What brings this up is that I was playing Ray Martin (His name is well worth typing into the google search engine) last night and he said he didn't study the geometry, or angles if you will, about the table when he first started playing. Rather he studied the action and reaction of the cue ball, they physics.

When Ray Martin talks, people listen, so I went home and looked something up about the subject. I highly recommend you take some time to read up on the link I provided. You'll be surprised at how intriguing it is and how much you'll want to apply the concept to your game.

http://www.google.com/search?q=cue+ball+physics&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Answer 1

Frankly, at your ability level, I'm surprised you didn't know this already.

Once you have reasonable control over cue ball speed and the spin you apply, how you hit the ball becomes much more important than the way they are setup (i.e. the geometry). A good player can send the cue ball almost anywhere on the table by applying the proper spin and/or cheating the pocket correctly. That is all about physics.

There's an instructor named Fast Larry who in my opinion is among the best in the world (although he's a bit rough around the edges personally). He has a drill he shows where you line up a straight in shot into the side pocket, then practice pocketing the ball and moving the cue ball to basically every possible position on the table by using only follow and draw. That drill has nothing to do with geometry, yet is likely the most powerful tool you could possibly have once you've mastered it.

Answer 2

In short the cue is the only ball you have real control over that is physics

geo. is for the object balls

Answer 3

Actually I've always looked at it more in terms of vectors, an expansion of basic geometry that brings in principals of physics.

you can account for a lot of what's going to happen on a table using vectors, including jump shots and masse's, at least I can.  I can picture most of it in my mind, always have.  It's probably a big part of why I enjoy the game so much, it's just an application of theory.

Below is a google link like the one above, take a look and see what you think.

Answer 4

Actually, yes I have considered the physics as well asthe geometry. I learned to play pool many years ago but have not in a longh time, recently I was at a bar and picked up a cue and was embarrassed at my performance. I used to shoot pooll very well. I suppose it is practice makes perfect, good question.