Ball in Mind: A Revolution in Billiards Training

Ball in Mind is a unique software that transforms a traditional billiards table into an interactive training tool using a video projection system. Designed for players of all skill levels, this tool displays guidelines, exercises, and animations directly on the table’s surface, offering a groundbreaking and immersive learning experience.

In practice, the projector is fixed to the ceiling above the table and the computer drives the display. The player keeps the cue in hand: the software is controlled from a phone. Nothing sits on the cloth, nothing is stuck to the cushions.

The content comes in one version per discipline. Carom, American pool and English pool each have their own drills, games and markings: a placement in carom has nothing in common with a break at 8-ball, and the software is written accordingly.

The goal of Ball in Mind is to make training more effective and accessible. By integrating educational content from the Billiards School of the French Billiards Federation (FFB), the software offers exercises designed by experts. These exercises help players improve their precision, strategy, and mastery of spin effects in a visual and interactive way.

Drills are graded by level and scored in stars. Players see at a glance where they stand and what is left to pass, and can repeat a figure until they get it. The billiards school paths run from the very first shots up to the bronze, silver and gold awards.

Unlike other solutions that rely on image recognition or complex sensors, Ball in Mind operates with just a projector and a computer. The user selects an exercise, and the software projects visual guides and trajectories directly onto the table, making it easier to understand the fundamental principles of billiards.

That simplicity has a direct consequence: there is nothing to recalibrate between frames, and the table can still be used normally when the projection is off. The table is not transformed, it is lit differently.

Installation comes down to a short-throw projector, a mini PC and a ceiling mount. Alignment is the only step that calls for precision, and the Ball in Mind team can take care of it through its equipment packages.

Ball in Mind caters to both individual players and clubs looking to enhance their training sessions. Its interactive approach allows for a variety of exercises and attracts a wider audience, from beginners to advanced players. It is a valuable tool for modernizing billiards instruction and engagement.

Clubs and venues now have a subscription that gives access to the whole of the software and its updates.

On the events side, Tournament mode sets up a competition in a few taps, and the projected games, darts or pétanque, work well as a hook for a discovery evening.

The team behind Ball in Mind is constantly working to improve the software. New features and exercises are regularly added to enhance the user experience. As digital technology continues to expand in sports, Ball in Mind is part of an innovative movement that promises to transform billiards training for years to come.

Stay tuned for upcoming articles on software features, user feedback, and the impact of technology on the game of billiards!

Additions arrive through updates, with nothing to buy again. Three articles on this blog set out what each version contains: Training Carom, Training US and Training Pool.