technical proof technical proof

TP A.24
The effects of follow and draw on throw
supporting:
“The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards”
http://billiards.colostate.edu
by David G. Alciatore, PhD, PE ("Dr. Dave")

originally posted: 8/29/2006 last revision: 8/29/2006

final OB
initial OB
direction
direction
∆θ
impact
line

θthrow
φ

n t

y
OB

x
CB

The cue ball (CB) strikes the object ball (OB) with velocity v in the y direction with cut angle φ.
The OB gets thrown amount θthrow, and spin imparted about the t axis (due to draw or follow)
causes the trajectory to curve a small amount ∆θ.

1.125 ⋅ in
R := ball radius converted to meters
m
2 ⋅ mph
v := typical cue ball speed converted to meters/sec
m
s
v
ω roll :=
R natural-roll spin rate
From TP A.14, the OB post-impact velocity can be expressed with the following relations:

−3 − 1.088⋅ v
µ ( v ) := 9.951 × 10 + 0.108 ⋅ e

( )
v rel v , ω x , ω z , φ :=
v OBt( v , ω x , ω z , φ) := min
(v⋅ sin(φ) − R⋅ ω z)2 + (R⋅ ω x⋅ cos(φ))2
 µ ( vrel( v , ω x , ω z , φ) ) ⋅ v ⋅ cos( φ) 

v rel( v , ω x , ω z , φ)
 ⋅ v⋅ sin( φ) − R⋅ ω
 1
( z)

 7 

( )
v OBn v , ω x , ω z , φ := v ⋅ cos( φ)

The throw angle can then be expressed as:

 v OBt( v , ω x , ω z , φ) 
( )
θ throw v , ω x , ω z , φ := atan
 vOBn ( v , ω x , ω z , φ) 

From Equation 10 in TP A.14, the friction impulse component in the tangential direction is:
~
Ft = mvOBt

From Equation 5, the total frictional impulse is then:

~
~ Ft
Fµ =
eµ t
and the friction impulse component in the vertical direction, using Equation 3, is:

~ ~ ~ eµ ~ vB Rω x cos(φ )
Fz = Fµ eµ z = Ft z = Ft z = mvOBt
eµ t vBt v sin (φ ) − Rω z

This frictional impulse imparts spin to the OB about the t axis, which can be found from
the following angular impulse-momentum equation:

− 5vOBt ω x cos(φ )
ωOB = −
t
1 ~
I
( )
Fz R = −
5 ~
2 Rm
Fz =
2(v sin (φ ) − Rω z )

( )
−5 ⋅ v OBt v , ω x , ω z , φ ⋅ ω x ⋅ cos( φ)
(
ω OBt v , ω x , ω z , φ := ) 2 ⋅ ( v ⋅ sin( φ) − R⋅ ω z)

This induced spin curves the trajectory of the OB slightly with a masse type action.
From TP A.4, applying Equations 21 and 22 to the OB motion, the final (post curve)
OB motion will have the following velocity components:

(
v OBtf v , ω x , ω z , φ := ) 5
7
(
⋅ v OBt v , ω x , ω z , φ )

( ) ( ( ) ( ))
1
v OBnf v , ω x , ω z , φ := ⋅ 5 ⋅ v OBn v , ω x , ω z , φ − 2 ⋅ R⋅ ω OBt v , ω x , ω z , φ
7

Therefore, the change in OB angle due to curve caused by follow or draw is:

 v OBtf ( v , ω x , ω z , φ) 
( )
∆θ v , ω x , ω z , φ := atan
 vOBnf ( v , ω x , ω z , φ) 
− θ throw( v , ω x , ω z , φ)

Example values for a 1/2-ball hit: φ := 30⋅ deg

stun shot: ω x := 0 ω z := 0

(
θ throw v , ω x , ω z , φ = 4.366 deg )
(
∆θ v , ω x , ω z , φ = 0 )
A stun shot has the most throw, and there is no OB curving.

draw shot: ω x := ω roll ω z := 0

(
θ throw v , ω x , ω z , φ = 1.454 deg )
(
∆θ v , ω x , ω z , φ = −0.061 deg )
A draw shot has less throw than a stun shot, and the curve
effect tends to decrease the throw, but only by an
extremely small amount.

follow shot: ω x := −ω roll ω z := 0

(
θ throw v , ω x , ω z , φ = 1.454 deg )
(
∆θ v , ω x , ω z , φ = 0.067 deg )
A follow shot has the same throw as a draw shot, and the
curve effect tends to increase the throw, but only by an
extremely small amount.