Program Instruction

Basic Introduction:

The WBP is a series of 76 shots arranged in 19 groups of 4 shots per group. The program carries a similar format to the Artistic Billiard competition, wherein all players shoot the exact same shots, get three tries per shot, and earn points upon successful completion of each shot.

Using This Blog
Use the Shot links in the right sidebar to select pages to view.

In each blog page for a shot, there are two pages stored:

page 1: the Initial Position
page 2: Suggested Solution

In the table program, use the page navigation arrows located at the bottom right corner to view two pages for the shot. You can also view them as puzzles. Save your solution onto page 1 and compare it to page 2. This is a great learning experience for everyone.

All our suggested solution will be carefully examed by advanced players. More comments will also be made accordingly.

Commenting on the shot
Please feel free to add comments at the end of any page. However please keep the conversation topic only on the shot so everyone can have a pleasing experience in sharing ideas.
For commenting on general issues, you can add it at the end of this page (Program Instruction).

Instructions for Play

- The cue ball used is always the Yellow ball. The driven or first object ball is always the White ball. The score or second object ball is always the Red ball.

- Each shot will only count if the 3 balls land and remain in the gathering zone in accordance with the predetermined path. (the gathering zone for every shot is the green 1 diamond square in each diagram).

- Each diagram yields from 4-11 points relative to its complexity and difficulty. Total points for all possible shots is 500. The shot is completed if the balls duplicate the diagram and the billiard is scored in the gathering zone and all balls remain in the gathering zone.

- Please note that to kiss is usually considered a mistake and the shot has not been successfully completed. However in selected shots to be noted, a kiss is allowed if it occurs in the gathering zone and in specific kiss-back shots.

-The shots as diagrammed are set up for right-handed players. The shots may be set up on the opposite sides of the table to accommodate left-handed players.

- Power strokes, whip strokes and masse' shots are not in the programs; the cloth is not abused.

-This program was original developed when the standard equipment was ivory balls and heavier wool cloth. With the newer equipment of plastic balls and more sheer worsted wool cloth, several of the shots are very difficult and may not even be possible with brand new cloth and balls.

Background Info

The Original Creator

Weingartner Billiard Program was created by Mr. Heinrich Weingartner approximately 50 or 60 years ago. According to Mr. Bob Jewett, Mr. Weingartner is still conducting a billiard school in Austria.

A link to Mr. Heinrich Weingartner Bio

A link to Weingartner Billiards Museum


Background
These are the words by Steve Hegg in the first online adaptation of Weingartner Billiard Program using WeiTable:

Through a series of posts, and use of the WEI carom table, I'm going to try and transfer some carom billiard knowledge in something called the "Weingartner Billiard Program," which from here on I'll refer to as the WBP. This information was given to me a few years ago by Eli Castleman, a kind old gentleman that I used to know. Back around '95-'96 when I was first starting out in carom billiards, Eli took me under his wing and showed me a lot of basic concepts and finer points of making gathers in straight rail and balkline carom billiards. He also gave me a copy and translations of the program, which was originally written in German about 50 or 60 years ago.

During the past few years, I've shared hard copies of this program with Deno Andrew and other billiard friends that I've come to know. You can gain a good understanding to some basic concepts behind gathering and/or controlling all 3 balls with the precision required for solid play in 3-cushion, straight rail or balkline. Just my opinion, but a lot of this knowledge could transfer over well to some pool games where precise control of driven balls (e.g., 1-pocket, 9-ball safety play, etc.)

Also, you can use it to walk over to any carom billiard table, set up the shots, and see what kind of stroke you really have. It is also a lot of fun and possibly could be used in part or whole for some internet-based competition across the continents.

I think one of the most important concepts of the program is the relative simplicity of the strokes required. The WBP specifically states the power strokes, whip strokes and masse' shots are not in the program and that the cloth is not abused. So if you try any of the shots, you don't need to use any fancy technique, just a good solid stroke. Shots in this program, and other similar shots, are personally satisfying for me, because I like the great charge that I get when I can make all 3 balls do exactly what I want them to do. I get much more satisfaction out of making a precise straight rail gather than I do from some fancy multiple rail trick shot for 3-cushion billiards.

Also, it has been a "labor of love" for me. One of my goals in billiards is to find "old knowledge" that has been lost or misplaced over the years, and share it with people who are interested. So many years ago during the golden age of billiards, there were many people would could teach and execute the shots in this program, as well as all of the other skills necessary to become a great player in straight rail or balkline. These people are all but non-existent in the USA today. I would hope than one day, we could again have a solid teaching program for carom billiards once again, like there is in Europe.

By making these shots generally available, anyone so inclined can at least get a feel for many of the basic gather shots and strokes required for these games. There is, after all, only 1 correct way to make each shot. Also, I think there is a lot that can be learned from these shots on a billiard table and transferred over to the various pocket games. Maybe someday, there will be enough interest to have an internet-based competition, like others have done with Fargo and Equal Offense.

As you can see, all 19 groups of shots for the 76 shot Weingartner Billiard Program, are complete and available for everyone in the newsgroup. I want to thank WEI for creating the table and the scripting program to make all of this possible. Also thanks to Guy in France who has e-mailed a lot of feedback to me about his interest in the program. One other note is that all the diamond lines and balk lines can be drawn on the table with a small piece of tailor's chalk.

Rules for Match Play

Rules for Match Play:

- Each player may try up to 3 times to complete the shot. In the gathering zone, the Cue ball (Yellow) and the first object ball (White) may touch the borders of the zone.

- Each player will receive a number by drawing lots. Player number 1 starts with Group 1 and plays all 4 shots in the group. Then each subsequent player plays the Group in turn. Then Player 2 starts Group 2 and so on through Group 18.

For Group 19, the players are put in the order of:
(1) the highest number of points
(2) if a tie, then the fewest total shot attempts
(3) if a tie, then the most shots solved (i.e., successful execution)
(4) if a tie, then the largest amount of high point value shots

- Then for Group 19, the lowest player in the ranking starts and the highest player in the ranking is last. The winner is determined by the same rankings as above.

The Shot Program, Groups and Point Assignments:

In the WBP, each shot is assigned a degree of difficulty by use of point values, where each shot carries a point value between 4 and 11 points. A perfect score for successful execution of all shots is 500 points.

Group 1: Ball-to-Ball Draw Shots
Shots 1-4: 5, 7, 7, 11 points, 30 total

Group 2: 1-Cushion Draw Shots
Shots 5-8: 5, 6, 7, 7 points, 25 total

Group 3: 3-Cushion Shots
Shots 9-12: 4, 4, 7, 9 points, 24 total

Group 4: Follow Shots
Shots 13-16: 5, 6, 7, 8 points, 26 total

Group 5: 1-Cushion Draw Shots
Shots 17-20, 6, 7, 7, 9 points, 29 total

Group 6: Rail-First Shots
Shots 21-24: 6, 6, 7, 7 points, 26 total

Group 7: 2-Cushion Draw Shots
Shots 25-28: 7, 8, 9, 10 points, 34 total

Group 8: 3-Cushion Shots
Shots 29-32: 5, 6, 7, 8 points, 26 total

Group 9: Ball-to-Ball Draw Shots
Shots 33-36: 6, 6, 7, 7 points, 26 total

Group 10: 1-Cushion Shots
Shots 37-40: 4, 6, 6, 10 points, 26 total

Group 11: 1-Cushion Draw Shots
Shots 41-44: 5, 6, 7, 9 points, 27 total

Group 12: 2-Cushion Shots
Shots 45-48: 5, 6, 6, 10 points, 27 total

Group 13: 1-Cushion Shots
Shots 49-52: 4, 5, 5, 9 points, 23 total

Group 14: Full Table Follow Shots
Shots 53-56: 4, 5, 6, 10 points, 25 total

Group 15: Kiss-Time Shots
Shots 57-60: 4, 5, 6, 11 points, 26 total

Group 16: Dead Ball Draw Shots
Shots 61-64: 4, 5, 6, 6 points, 21 total

Group 17: Dead Ball Follow Shots
Shots 65-68: 4, 6, 6, 10 points, 26 total

Group 18: 1-Cushion Shots
Shots 69-72: 4, 4, 5, 9 points, 22 total

Group 19: Kiss-Back Shots
Shots 73-76: 4, 7, 9, 11 points, 31 total

WBP Shot 40

CATAGORY
Group: 10, 1 Cushion Shots
Point Value: 10

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 ball gap from the top rail, 1 ball gap from the right rail
White Ball: 2 diamonds from the left rail, on the upper balkline
Yellow Ball: 2 1/2 diamonds from the left rail, 4 balls gap from the top rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square from the top right corner

NOTES
The object of the shot is to carom the cue ball off the white and bank it 1 rail down the length of the table to the score ball. The white is driven 4 rails around the table to the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 39

CATAGORY
Group: 10, 1 Cushion Shots
Point Value: 6

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 ball gap from the bottom rail, 1 ball gap from the right rail
White Ball: 1 ball gap from the left rail, on the upper balkline
Yellow Ball: 3 diamonds from the right rail, on the lower balkline

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square from the bottom right corner

NOTES
The object of the shot is to carom the cue ball off the white and bank it 1 rail down the length of the table to the score ball. The white is driven 2 rails diagonally across the length of the table into the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 38

CATAGORY
Group: 10, 1 Cushion Shots
Point Value: 6

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 2 1/2 diamonds from the left rail, 1 ball gap from the bottom rail
White Ball: at the intersection of the upper balkline and the right balkline
Yellow Ball: 1 diamond from the right rail, on the upper balkline

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square formed between the first lower diamond and the bottom rail, the second and third right diamonds

NOTES
The object of the shot is to spin the cue ball off the right side of the white and banking it 1 rail diagonally across the width of the table to the score ball. The white is driven 1 rail into the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 37

CATAGORY
Group: 10, 1 Cushion Shots
Point Value: 4

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 1/2 diamonds from the right rail, frozen to the bottom rail
White Ball: 1/2 diamond from the right rail, 1 ball gap from the bottom rail
Yellow Ball: 1/2 diamond from the right rail, along the inside of lower balkline

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square formed between first lower diamond and bottom rail, first and second right diamond

NOTES
The object of the shot is to stun the cue ball off the white, straight down the the short rail and softly up to the score ball. The white is driven 2 rails, back and forth across the width of the table to the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 36

CATAGORY
Group: 9, Ball to Ball Draw Shots
Point Value: 7

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 ball gap from the top rail, 1 ball gap from the left rail
White Ball: 1 diamond from the left rail, frozen to the bottom rail
Yellow Ball: 2 diamonds from the left rail, 1 ball gap from the bottom rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square from the top left corner

NOTES
The object of the shot is to draw the cue ball off the white and directly across the table to the score ball. The white is driven 5 rails around the table into the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 35

CATAGORY
Group: 9, Ball to Ball Draw Shots
Point Value: 7

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 2 1/2 diamonds from the right rail, 1 ball gap from the top rail
White Ball: 3 diamonds from the right rail, 1 ball gap from the bottom rail
Yellow Ball: 2 diamonds from the right rail, 1 ball gap from the bottom rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square formed between the top rail and the first upper diamonds, the second and third right diamonds

NOTES
The object of the shot is to draw the cue ball off the white and directly across the table to the red. The white is driven 2 rails up and down the table into the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 34

CATAGORY
Group: 9, Ball to Ball Draw Shots
Point Value: 6

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 1/2 diamonds from the bottom rail, frozen to the right rail
White Ball: at the intersection of the bottom balkline and the right balkline
Yellow Ball: 1 1/2 centermeter gap to the right of the white ball

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square formed between the right rail and the first right diamonds, the first and second lower diamonds

NOTES
The object of the shot is draw the cue ball softly off the white to just arrive on the score ball. The white is driven 1 rail up and down the length of the table into the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 33

CATAGORY
Group: 9, Ball to Ball Draw Shots
Point Value: 6

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: at the intersection of the bottom balkline and the right balkline
White Ball: at the intersection of the upper balkline and the right balkline
Yellow Ball: 2 diamonds from the right rail, on the lower balkline

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square formed between first and second lower diamonds, first and second right diamonds

NOTES
This is a classic balkline gather shot!

The object of the shot is to draw the cue ball softly off the white so that it just barely arrives on the score ball. The white is driven softly 3 rails, long, short, long, into the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 60

CATAGORY
Group: 15, Kiss-Time Shots
Point Value: 11

INITIAL POSITION
Draw a reference line from the right rail at the point that's 1 1/2 diamonds from the bottom

Red Ball: along the top side of the reference line, frozen to the right rail
White Ball: along the top side of the reference line, frozen to the right rail, also frozen to the red ball
Yellow Ball: 2 diamonds away from the bottom rail, 2 balls gap from the right rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square formed between the right rail and the first right diamond, the first and second lower diamonds.

NOTES
The object of the shot is bank the cue ball gently 1 rail across the width of the table, into the white and coming to rest approximately at the white starting point. The force of the carom gently pushes the white away from the short rail, while keeping it within the gathering zone. The force of the carom and the kiss between the whhite and red, banks the red 1 rail and back into the gathering zone to meet the yellow for the score.

WBP Shot 59

CATAGORY
Group: 15, Kiss-Time Shots
Point Value: 6

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 diamond GAP from the bottom rail, frozen to the right rail
White Ball: 1 diamond from the top rail, 1/2 diamond from the right rail
Yellow Ball: 3 ball gap from the right rail, frozen to the top rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square formed between the right rail and the first right diamond, the first and second lower diamonds.

NOTES
The object of the shot is to follow the cue ball through the white and into the gathering zone to await the arrival of the red. The white is driven 1 rail to the edge of the gathering zone where it caroms into the red. The red is gently pushed toward the cue ball and the white comes to rest in the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 58

CATAGORY
Group: 15, Kiss-Time Shots
Point Value: 5

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 1/2 diamonds from the right rail, frozen to the top rail
White Ball: frozen to the left side of the red ball, frozen to the top rail
Yellow Ball: 3 diamonds from the left rail, 1 diamond from the top rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square formed between the top rail and the first upper diamond, the first and second right diamonds

NOTES
The object of the shot is to follow the cue ball with spin gently into the white. The force of the carom pushes the white out of the way, but keeping it in the gathering zone, and drives the red down to the short rail and back to the gathering zone to meet the yellow for the score.

WBP Shot 57

CATAGORY
Group: 15, Kiss-Time Shots
Point Value: 4

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 2 1/2 diamonds from the right rail, frozen to the bottom side of the white ball
White Ball: 2 1/2 diamonds from the right rail, 1 1/2 diamonds from the top rail
Yellow Ball: 2 1/2 diamonds from the right rail, 1/2 diamond from the top rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square formed between the second and third right diamonds, the first and second upper diamonds

NOTES
The object of the shot is to drive the cue ball into the white with a small amount of spin and force. The spin and force of the carom push the white gently to the side, while keeping it in the gathering zone. The kiss between the red and white drives the red 1 rail across the table and back into the gathering zone to meet the yellow for the score.

WBP Shot 54

CATAGORY
Group: 1
Point Value: 5

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 ball gap from the bottom rail, 1 ball gap from the right rail
White Ball: 4 diamonds from the left rail, 1 ball gap from the top side of yellow ball
Yellow Ball: 4 diamonds from the left rail, 1 ball gap from the bottom rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square from the bottom right corner

NOTES
The object of the shot is to follow the cue ball off the white and bank it 2 rails diagonally up and down the table to the score ball. The white is driven 1 rail back and forth across the width of the table and into the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 55

CATAGORY
Group: 1
Point Value: 6

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 ball gap from the top rail, 1 ball gap from the right rail
White Ball: 1 diamond from the bottom rail, 4 diamonds from the right rail
Yellow Ball: 1/2 diamond from the bottom rail, 2 diamonds from the right rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square from the top right corner

NOTES

The object of the shot is to follow the cue ball off the right side of the white with english and bank it 3 rails around the table to the score ball. The white is banked 2 rails diagonally across the length of the table and into the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 56

CATAGORY
Group: 14, 1, 2 and 3-Cushion Shots
Point Value: 10

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 ball gap from the bottom rail, 1 ball gap from the left rail
White Ball: 2 diamonds from the bottom rail, frozen to the right rail
Yellow Ball: 1 diamond from the top rail, 1 diamond from the right rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square from the bottom left corner

NOTES
The object of the shot is to follow the cue ball through the white with overspin, banking it 1 rail along a curved path to the score ball. The white is driven 3 rails back and forth across the width of the table and into the gathering zone.ball. The white is banked 2 rails in and out of the corner and over to the gathering zone.

WBP Shot 53

CATAGORY
Group: 14, 1, 2 and 3-Cushion Shots
Point Value: 4

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 ball gap from the bottom rail, 1 ball gap from the right rail
White Ball: 2 diamonds from the bottom rail, 2 diamonds from the right rail
Yellow Ball: 1 ball gap from the top side of the white ball, 2 diamonds from the right rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square from the bottom right corner

NOTES
The object of the shot is to cut the white paper thin into the gathering zone. Then the cue ball travels 3 rails around the table to the score ball.

WBP Shot 51

CATAGORY
Group: 13, 1 Cushion Shots
Point Value: 5

INITIAL POSITION
Red Ball: 1 ball gap from the top rail, 1 ball gap from the right rail
White Ball: 1 diamond from the right rail, on the lower balkline
Yellow Ball: 2 diamonds from the top rail, frozen to the right rail

Target Gather Zone: 1 diamond square from the top right corner

NOTES
The object of the shot is to carom the cue ball off the outside of the white with spin and bank it 1 rail to the score ball. The white is driven 2 rails up and down the length of the table and into the gathering zone.