How to use the Billiard Aim Trainer (BAT)™
- Align the BAT with the object ball and pocket. [fig. 6]
- Carefully slide BAT around the object ball using the “BAT U-Guide™”, making sure to align the red fiber optic center line with the object ball and the pocket. [fig. 7]
- Next, rotate the “BAT Arrow™” until it points directly back at your cue ball. [fig. 8]
- Take note of the degree of the angle in the “BAT Degree Window™” and the contact point on the “BAT Protractor™” (horizontal plane). In our example of a perfect ½ ball cut, the angle is 30°. [fig. 9]
- Finally, get down behind the cue ball and line up the shot as if you are going to shoot. Now looking through the transparent “BAT Window™” (vertical plane), take note of how much of the object ball is actually being cut. Using the BAT arc lines on the “BAT Window™” as your guide, you can quickly confirm whether the shot is a ¼, ½, ¾ ball cut or if it is between these standard cuts. The red fiber optic center line clearly shows you the actual path your cue ball needs to take in order to pocket the object ball! With all this visual information, you now have absolute knowledge of how to pocket the object ball. [fig. 10 & 11]
- At this point you will understand the following information about your cut shot:
- The contact point
- The degree of the angle
- The amount of the object ball that needs to be cut
- The actual path the cue ball needs to travel to correctly send the object ball towards the pocket.
- Will confidence and real knowledge, you can remove the BAT and play your shot.
- Through constant practice, you will quickly begin to recognize at a glance exactly what the cut angle is during your regular games.
All Shots are Straight
Once you have familiarized yourself with the standard cut angles, aiming will become a very natural and rhythmical part of your pre-stroke routine. You won’t have to think about it nearly as much as you do now. Your instincts will guide your body into the proper alignment as you get down to play your shot. It is important to understand that in essence all shots are straight once you have the correct alignment. Play your stroke true to the alignment you have set with your body and focus on positioning the cue ball for your next shot. That is what the pros do. And now with the BAT’s help, you can do the same.
The Half Ball Reference
 As mentioned earlier, the only true reference point on a spherical object is its edge. In billiard, because the object ball and cue ball are the same size, the edge of the object ball represents a perfect ½ ball cut shot and is thus an excellent point of reference to determine all other shots within a game. Understanding that a perfect half ball cut is a collision of the cue ball and object ball at a 30° angle can be a tremendous advantage over your opponent. Once your eye has been trained to recognize this 30° angle, you automatically know that your point of aim for the cue ball is the edge of the object ball. In other words, your cue tip and the center of your cue ball must be pointed directly at the edge of the desired object ball to successfully send it on the correct path towards the pocket. A simple way to estimate 30° when playing is to create a ‘V’ (peace) symbol with your first two fingers (fig. 14).
Basic geometry tells us that 30° is one-third of a perfect right angle (90°). Use this information as a reference when trying to recognize a ½ ball cut shot when you next play.
Next: Training Drills / Frequently Asked Questions / Ask BATman
Download the BAT Training Manual (Version 1: October, 2006)
|
