Answers to Questions About Throw

Most answers to questions about throw can be found in the following videos:

Most other questions are answered in the resources linked in the list of throw effects on the squirt, swerve, and throw effects resource page.

Why is CIT less at faster speed and SIT less with lots of sidespin?

See the throw speed effects and maximum throw resource page.

How do you know which way the object ball will throw for different types of shots?

For the basics, see the throw section in the online Pool Tutorial.

Throw direction depends on the direction of the relative motion of the surface of the cue ball in contact with the object ball. This direction is affected by both cut angle and spin. “Throw – Part VI: inside/outside english” (BD, January, 2007) and “Throw – Part VII: CIT/SIT combo” (BD, February, 2007) illustrate the different possibilities quite well. Here’s a good video demonstration and explanation of both cut-induced throw (CIT) and spin-induced throw (SIT):

See also:

A complete summary of all squirt, swerve, and throw effects can be found here.

Is the contact point on the OB the same for shots with draw, stun, follow?

No.

See the effects of draw and follow on throw resource page.

The contact point is at the theoretical point along the line to the pocket (along the “line of centers”) only for a gearing outside english shot. For visual proof, see:

The visual evidence is very clear, and you can also easily reproduce this stuff at a pool table yourself.

Do CIT and SIT add or subtract as independent factors?

No. Cut-induced throw (CIT) and spin-induced throw (SIT) are not separate effects that add or subtract. They are just different names for throw, depending upon the primary cause of the throw. If there is inside spin or less outside spin than the gearing amount, throw is due to the cut (CIT); and if there is more outside spin than the gearing amount, throw is due to (SIT). Adding inside spin to a cut shot can actually decrease the amount of throw. For more info, see the inside spin effects resource page.

Outside english (OE) can diminish, eliminate, or even reverse the direction of throw. But at larger cut angles, a small amount of OE can actually increase the amount of throw (e.g., see Diagram 1 in “Throw – Part VII: CIT/SIT combo” (BD, February, 2007)). Again, the reason has to do with the relative surface speed between the balls. Sliding friction (and therefore throw) is greater at slower relative surface speeds. With larger cut angles, inside english (IE) increases the relative surface speed between the balls and reduces the amount of friction and the amount of throw. For a large cut angle, a small amount of OE can reduce (but not reverse) the surface speed some resulting in more friction and more throw. For more info, see throw speed effects.

With “gearing outside english” (gOE) there is no sideways force whatsoever. That’s why there is no throw. The OB heads exactly in the impact-line direction (i.e., in the ghost-ball line-of-centers direction). There can be throw only when there is a sliding force between the CB and OB. With gOE there is no sliding between the balls during contact (see “Throw – Part VI: inside/outside english” – BD, January, 2007). With less-than-gearing OE, throw is in one direction (the CIT direction); and with more-than-gearing OE, throw is in the other direction (the SIT direction). There either is throw or there is not, and it can be in one direction or the other. GOE completely eliminates throw and cling. It’s just tough judging the exact “gearing” amount of OE you need for each cut angle.

Object ball throw direction and amount depends on many factors, including cut angle, shot speed, type and amount of english, and the amount of vertical plane spin (draw, follow, stun). All factors and effects related to throw are fully explained and demonstrated in the articles and videos linked on the squirt/swerve/throw effects resource page.

See also:

Do balls of different sizes (e.g., snooker vs. carom vs. pool) throw the same amount?

See throw ball size effects.

Does the type of cloth affect throw?

No. The cloth has nothing to do with throw. The throwing force pushes the ball in the thrown direction during impact, before the ball has any time to interact with the cloth.

The OB starts off in the same direction regardless of the properties of the cloth. Only once the OB starts moving across the cloth (after CB impact) does the cloth have any effect. The cloth affects how the OB speed and top/bottom spin change during motion, but it does not affect the straight-line direction of OB motion (assuming there is no massé spin on the OB). The OB direction is a direct result of the forces (impact and throw) acting during the incredibly-brief ball contact time. The amount the OB moves during CB impact is negligible. The OB acquires its speed and direction immediately (for all practical purposes).

Cloth condition has many effects (see cloth effects), but throw direction is not one of them. Although, there are some possible indirect throw effects related to cloth condition. With a faster cloth, less speed will be used on most shots, and throw is larger with less speed (see throw speed effects). Also, slow/sticky cloth might wear chalk marks off the CB more which could result is less frequent cling/skid/kick.

Why does the CB move sideways with a straight, square-hit sidespin shot?

SIT causes the OB to be thrown. However, the throwing force acting between the CB and OB is equal and opposite; because for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The CB throws the OB, but the OB also pushes back on the CB. This is what makes the CB move sideways.

With just the right amount of slight cut, the CB can be made to stop in place while throwing the OB. It is actually possible to have the CB and OB move in the same sideways direction. The following video illustrates these effects:

NV B.21 – Straight shot squirt, swerve, and throw

Also, if the CB and OB are initially set up straight for a line-of-centers square hit, when the CB is struck with right sidespin it squirts to the left and swerves back to the right. If the aim is compensated perfectly for both squirt and swerve to create an original-line-of-centers hit, the CB will be cutting the OB to the left slightly, relative to the new CB direction caused by the swerve, which would make the CB want to drift to the right. And because the CB spin is throwing the OB to the left, the OB pushes back, which would cause the CB to move to the right even more.

This effect can be used to help hold the CB for position on cut shots. For more info, see the video and other info here:

using throw to help hold the CB

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