# How can I calculate the initial velocity of a cue ball after hitting it with a cue stick?

I'm currently building a billiard game, and I'm faced with the following problem:

A cue ball is hit with a stick at an angle equal to Θ. Given that the stick is hit at the exact center of the ball, and that the force behind the stick is equal to X, how do I calculate the initial velocityX and the velocityY of the cue ball?

I don't have the necessary physics education on this topic, so I'm seeking help from others using online resources like this forum, so I hope you understand my situation.

• How long has the cue been accelerating with the force X, and what is its mass? We'll need those terms to calculate its momentum at the time of impact. – DMGregory Jan 7 at 14:55
• Can't you just give the ball the same velocity as the cue? Presumably the user sets the strength of shot, you could pre-set a range of force 0-100, tweak it to feel right, and map that directly to the user input. – JeffUK Jan 9 at 13:07