[vinaypai]

https://millionballs.app

It's a web app to help you improve your real-life pool (billiards) game. You can practice shots and learn to visualize the angles. Eventually, I want to go way beyond basic shotmaking and teach patterns, but it's already useful in it's current state at least to beginners and intermediate players.

I've posted about it before but I've made a lot more progress since then, including making it mobile-friendly.

[Folcon]

I do think the arrow keys make it a little easier to aim, would some drag to aim moving left/right and releasing the mouse to go down give a bit more reasonable feeling of the experience?

I'm just aware that when you're playing you don't feel like you're moving in very fixed increments left/right when aiming, which using the keyboard seems to produce as an experience.

[vinaypai]

You don't actually move in fixed increments with the arrow keys. You start moving, initially at a slow speed then faster as you keep it pressed up to a certain maximum speed.

You'll only get the same results if you have exactly the same timing every time you tap the key.

That said, I've been prioritizing the touchscreen controls because that's where a majority of traffic comes from. I don't want to neglect desktop users entirely though!

[mumintrollet]

This is cool! It felt really satisfying finally getting shots after trying a couple times. Makes me want to play billiards again, it's been a while now :)

[vinaypai]

Glad to hear that! I love pool because it's so easy to pick up the basics and have fun, but there is always more to learn.

[demyinn]

Super cool project! I love billiards! Is there a way to implement adjusting your angle while in the "aiming" state? I noticed that the only way to adjust your aim was to stand and move the angle then you could try aiming again. Or is this the intention for visualization?

Really like it over all :)

[vinaypai]

It's very much intentional. Beginners often try to adjust their aim while down, usually with poor results. Instructors will universally teach you to aim while standing, and get up and reset if things don't feel right when you get down.

I've taken lessons with several instructors including a former world #1 player ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mika_Immonen). He would make me get up and try again if I made the tiniest aim adjustment when down.

The "aiming" state is in fact when you're standing.

[Folcon]

It is the point of the sim it seems, pushing you to get used to aiming while standing.

[vinaypai]

Exactly this!