A device for determining a lag winner in billiards and method of use are provided. The method disclosed includes placing a lag winner determination device such that the device is alongside a side rail of the billiards table and closer to a head rail of the billiards table than billiard balls used in the lag. The method further includes activating an illumination source within the lag winner determination device and moving the illumination source until it provides incident light to one of the billiard balls used in the lag. The method further includes determining the winner as a player that used the billiard ball that received the incident light from the illumination source.

An apparatus and method of use for assisting in ghost ball aiming are provided herein for use in cue sports. The apparatus enables a player to align an object ball with a target and determine an aim line at which to propel a cue ball to send the object ball to the target. The apparatus is selectively engaged or selectively attached to a cue stick to provide a visual indication of the aim line along the length of the cue stick. A pivot point of the apparatus is placed in contact with the play surface and secures an absolute position on the play surface as the cue stick and apparatus are rotated from a target line to the aim line.

Disclosed are systems and methods of calculating projected impact generated by sports and gaming implements. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a measurement from a sensor associated with a subject of impact; receiving a measurement from a sensor associated with an object of impact; wherein the at least one received measurement includes one or more characteristics of movement of the subject in response to an external stimuli and one or more characteristics of movement of the object in response to the impact by the subject; calculating, by a projection tool, a projected impact of the subject on the object before the actual impact; and calculating, by a modeling tool, a model of movement of the object in response to the impact by the subject based at least on the projected impact and one or more rules defining a movement of the object based on the projected impact by the subject.

A method of providing feedback for a piece of cue-sport equipment, a cue ball or cue stick, during a game play first collect spatial positioning and orientation data from a plurality of measurement sensors that is integrated into the cue-sport equipment. Then, the collected data is analyzed to generate a virtual movement model of the cue-sport equipment as the virtual movement model includes a calculated impact force diagram, an animated travel path, and a calculated absolute orientation for the cue-sport equipment. Then, the player can view the virtual movement model through an external computing device to improve their cue-sport skills effectively and efficiently.

A billiards aiming device is provided. The device is comprised of at least one aiming spot that can be placed on a playing surface of a billiards table. The aiming spot may be positioned in one embodiment via at least one alignment tool. The aiming spot has a plurality of structures designed to aid a user in factoring in various conditions for making a shot on the table.

A billiards training device for grooving a pool stroke includes a strap mechanism. The strap mechanism has a first end and a second end. The strap mechanism includes a loop on the first end and an attachment mechanism on the second end. The loop is configured to be wrapped around an upper arm of a player just above an elbow. The attachment mechanism is configured to be attached to an elevated end of a support structure. Wherein, when the loop is positioned around the upper arm of the player just above the elbow, and the attachment mechanism is attached to the elevated end of the support structure, the billiards training device is configured to aid the player in maintaining the upper arm in a fixed position during the pool stroke.

A tool for assisting a billiards player to easily and accurately aim and direct the cue ball to strike a target ball an propel the target ball towards a target such as a pool table pocket. An aiming ring is placed on the billiards table adjacent to the target ball that allows the billiards player to automatically aim the cue ball and propel the target ball into a pocket or other desired location. A billiards goniometer tool is described to assist with bumper shots.

Disclosed are systems and methods of calculating projected impact generated by sports and gaming implements. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a measurement from a sensor associated with a subject of impact; receiving a measurement from a sensor associated with an object of impact; wherein the at least one received measurement includes one or more characteristics of movement of the subject in response to an external stimuli and one or more characteristics of movement of the object in response to the impact by the subject; calculating, by a projection tool, a projected impact of the subject on the object before the actual impact; and calculating, by a modeling tool, a model of movement of the object in response to the impact by the subject based at least on the projected impact and one or more rules defining a movement of the object based on the projected impact by the subject.

Apparatuses, methods, and associated devices to detect deviation of a ball from a path when spin is applied, providing an indication about whether a spin alignment compensation is optimally calibrated for deflection of the ball. An example apparatus includes a support structure and detection members. The detection members are coupled to the support structure and arranged to allow a ball to travel between the detection members. At least one of the detection members is movable relative to the support structure and moves upon collision with the ball. The movement of at least one of the detection members indicates that the ball has deviated from a straight path of travel through the detection members. A displacement of at least one of the detection members indicates the direction of deviation of the ball, and an amplitude of movement of the detection member indicates a degree of deviation of the ball.

Billiard ball movement prediction includes capturing imagery of a billiard ball while in motion and submitting the imagery to an inference engine trained to predict a metric of movement of the billiard ball based upon the captured imagery. Thereafter, the predicted metric of movement is transmitted to a remote computing device for viewing by the end user. In one aspect of the embodiment, the inference engine is trained with annotated video imagery including known speed, revolutions, angular direction and angular momentum. As such, the predicted metric can then include a predicted velocity of the billiard bill, a number of revolutions of the billiard ball during travel along the pool table, an angular direction of movement of the billiard ball relative to a direction of movement of a cue striking the billiard ball, and an angular momentum demonstrated by the movement of the billiard ball.