Billiards and Pool Cut Shots

Introduction

Cut shots are an important part of the game of Pool. Pool Cut Shots make up a majority of the shots that need to be made in the game of pool. To be great at Pool or Billiards, a player needs to master cut shots. Billiards Cut Shots are similar to Pool Cut Shots as they are made in the same manner. The name billiards is sometimes used to describe pool; however, the games can use different sizes of balls. In this article, we review some common methods to make cut shots during a game of Billiards or Pool. Those methods include Fractional Ball Aiming, Ghost Ball, and the CutShots Method.

Pool Cut Shot Methods

Fractional Ball Aiming

One of the popular methods to make cut shots is the Fractional Ball Aiming method. This method splits shots into three categories, ¾ hit, ½ hit, and a ¼ hit. A player then hits the object ball with one of the selected fractions and the object ball will then move at a certain percentage angle based on the fractional hit. A ¼ inch hit will give a larger angle than a ¾ hit. Based on the angle that is needed to sink the object ball, a player selects one of the fractions to match with the angle.

The Fractional Ball cut shot method can be good for players to use because there are only three fractions to remember. The downside to the method is that there are only three ways to hit the object ball, which gives players limited options and less accuracy. There are additional fractions that can be added to the method to give more options; however, it is difficult to “see” those fractions as they are small.

Ghost Ball Method

The Ghost Ball method is a very popular cut shot method that involves players visualizing a ghost object ball behind the main object ball. The method is very simple to use, which makes it popular among players.

A player has to imagine that there is a pool ball behind the object ball and then focus on hitting the ghost ball in the center. By hitting the ghost or imaginary pool ball in the center, the cue ball will hit the real object ball at the correct angle to pocket it. The ghost ball must be placed right behind the ball in the direction that is pointing to the pocket. To help visualize this on a pool table, a player can take the cue and point it in the direction that would sink the object ball. The player then moves back 2 inches and then pivots the cue so that it lines up with the cue ball. Next, the cue is moved back to the cue ball and the player then takes the shot at that angle. The object ball will now enter the pocket as a result of the angle that it was hit at.

Limitations of the Ghost Ball method include the use of an invisible ball, which makes it hard to visually see exactly where the cue ball needs to hit the object ball. By having to pretend that there is a ball behind the object ball, errors can easily be made. If a player does not line up the cue exactly in the direction of the ghost ball, the object ball will not go into the pocket.

CutShots Method

To make Pool aiming more simple, CutShots has developed a method using a concept called equal and opposite. The CutShots Aiming System uses a specially designed object ball and cue ball, with multi-colored shapes, to help players visualize the exact spots that they need to hit on both of the balls.
Players start by locating the spot that would sink the object ball into the pocket if it were to be hit directly with the cue. After finding that spot, players remember the location by using the shapes as a reference to locate the spot. Moving to the cue ball, a player then finds the point that is the same distance from the edge, on the opposite side, as the spot on the object ball (when viewing from the cue ball). Next, the player moves the cue from that position to the center of the cue ball and then takes the shot. The result is that the cue ball will strike the object ball at the correct position, and it will enter the pocket.

By practicing with CutShots, players will gain visual and muscle memory that will allow them to know where to hit the object and cue ball to sink the shot. A person could use the CutShots method without the training balls to sink cut shots. All a player has to do is to remember the locations without the visual aid of the shapes on the CutShots ball.

The downside to the CutShots method is that if you do not hit the cue ball in the right spot, the object ball will not go into the pocket.

You can learn more about the CutShots method on this page.

Overview

Fractional and Ghost Ball aiming systems are the two main methods that people use to make Pool and Billiards cut shots. The CutShots Method is a new and easy method that allows players to use the concept of equal and opposite. The Fractional and Ghost Ball aiming systems are common methods that people use to make cut shots. The fractional system will allow you to know the angle that the ball is going to take; however, being fixed to certain fractions of the ball give it some limitations. The Ghost Ball method is great as you can just aim toward an imaginary ball that is directly behind the object ball. The limitation with that method is that you have to aim toward a ball that is not there, which can be hard to do. The CutShots Method is rather easy to use as a player can locate the exact locations where the ball needs to hit.