Billiards Shot Training Device and Method

Abstract

The shot training device is used as a training aid for learning to play pocket billiards. The device aids the student in learning the three major components of a shot for pocket billiards: pocketing the object ball, cue ball direction, and cue ball speed control. The device includes an object ball circle for placement of an object ball. The device also includes an imaginary cue ball circle for aiming the cue ball. The device further includes cut angle lines and cue ball path lines for determining a cut angle to the object ball and plotting a path of the cue ball after impact with the object ball. A kit and a method of training a user to play billiards are also disclosed.

1 . A method of training a user to play billiards comprising the steps of:
 a) placing an alignment device on a surface of a billiards table such that a target line of the alignment device points toward a pocket of the billiards table;   b) placing an object ball in an object ball hole on the alignment device;   c) placing a cue ball on a cue ball spot on the billiards table behind a 90-degree reference line on the alignment device;   d) determining a cut angle of the cue ball to the object ball using a plurality of cut angle lines on the alignment device; and   e) determining a post-impact cue ball path of the cue ball using a plurality of cue ball path lines on the alignment device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising marking the cue ball spot with a ball marker disk. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising marking a finishing spot for the cue ball to come to a stop along the post-impact cue ball path with a landing pad disk. 
   
   
       4 . A billiards shot training kit comprising:
 a) at least one alignment device comprising:
 an object ball circle for placement of an object ball; 
 an imaginary cue ball circle tangent to the object ball circle; 
 a target line extending from the object ball circle and collinear with a line from the center of the object ball circle to the center of the imaginary cue ball circle; 
 a plurality of cut angle lines extending toward the center of the imaginary cue ball circle on the side opposite the object ball circle, each cut angle line denoting a cut angle of a cue ball with respect to an object ball; and 
 a plurality of cue ball path lines extending toward the center of the imaginary cue ball circle on the side of the object ball circle and corresponding to the cut angle lines; 
   b) at least one landing pad disk;   c) at least one ball marker disk; and   d) a user's manual.   
   
   
       5 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one landing pad disk comprises a beginner's landing pad disk having a diameter of 10 inches and an expert's landing pad disk having a diameter of 5 inches. 
   
   
       6 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one ball marker disk comprises six ball marker disks, each ball marker disk having a diameter of 1.25 inches. 
   
   
       7 . The kit of  claim 6 , each ball marker disk having a center hole having a diameter of 3/16 inch for placement of a billiards ball. 
   
   
       8 . The kit of  claim 4 , the cut angle lines comprising a 10-degree cut angle line, a 20-degree cut angle line, a 30-degree cut angle line, and a 60-degree cut angle line. 
   
   
       9 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein each cut angle line is color-coded to its corresponding cue ball path line. 
   
   
       10 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the alignment device has a through-hole in the center of object ball circle for placement of the object ball. 
   
   
       11 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein the alignment device has a thickness less than 1/32 of an inch. 
   
   
       12 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein a top surface of the alignment device has a texture mimicking a playing surface of a billiards table such that the alignment device does not alter a billiards shot occurring on the alignment device. 
   
   
       13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the top surface of the alignment device comprises a textured vinyl material. 
   
   
       14 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein a bottom surface of the alignment device comprises a smooth vinyl material coated with a reusable adhesive. 
   
   
       15 . An alignment device comprising:
 a) a top layer transparent to light and having a top surface texture mimicking a playing surface of a billiards table such that the alignment device does not alter a billiards shot occurring on the alignment device;   b) a bottom layer having a smooth bottom surface and a reusable adhesive on the bottom surface; and   c) a plurality of artwork printed on at least one surface of at least one layer of the alignment device, the artwork comprising:
 an object ball circle for placement of an object ball; 
 an imaginary cue ball circle tangent to the object ball circle; 
 a target line extending from the object ball circle and collinear with a line from the center of the object ball circle to the center of the imaginary cue ball circle; 
 a plurality of cut angle lines extending toward the center of the imaginary cue ball circle on the side opposite the object ball circle, each cut angle line denoting a cut angle of a cue ball with respect to an object ball; and 
 a plurality of cue ball path lines extending toward the center of the imaginary cue ball circle on the side of the object ball circle and corresponding to the cut angle lines. 
   
   
   
       16 . The alignment device of  claim 15 , wherein the artwork is printed on a middle layer sealed between the top layer and the bottom layer. 
   
   
       17 . The alignment device of  claim 15 , wherein the middle layer is paper. 
   
   
       18 . The alignment device of  claim 15 , wherein each cut angle line is color-coded to its corresponding cue ball path line. 
   
   
       19 . The alignment device of  claim 15 , wherein the alignment device has a through-hole in the center of object ball circle for placement of the object ball. 
   
   
       20 . The alignment device of  claim 15 , wherein the alignment device has a thickness less than 1/32 of an inch.