Tight pockets or big pockets

[tedisbill]

There's no better feeling than knocking in an 80, and then thinking "yeah, but I missed on 9 really".

[CoachGavin]

Personally I think if you are a beginner you should not play on tables that are too tight.. That's because you never get chance to learn break building skills as you get so concerned with potting a few balls. Start on nice sized pockets and build a good cue action and learn how to move the cue ball about and then move onto tighter tables without getting frustrated.

[j6uk]

Yes, any decent club should have a pro standard or even tighter table, if anything to attract the decent players, otherwise the tables could be 'a relaxed fit' to suit the social players and the players to hone there craft.

Personally I think if you are a beginner you should not play on tables that are too tight.. That's because you never get chance to learn break building skills as you get so concerned with potting a few balls. Start on nice sized pockets and build a good cue action and learn how to move the cue ball about and then move onto tighter tables without getting frustrated.

[lesedwards]

Hi Terry just pulled my table a part today and added a washer behind the steel blocks to open the pockets. They are now exactly 3-5/8" wich should be perfect but what should the side be? and where do we measure from?

[Terry Davidson]

Les:

Because the side cushions are a little bit further from the fall of the slate the middle pockets will automatically be a little bit easier. There is no way I know of to adjust the size of the middle pockets except for moving the rails out (which would make the corners smaller) or shaving the rubber/wood of the middle pockets.

Terry

[lesedwards]

Les:

Because the side cushions are a little bit further from the fall of the slate the middle pockets will automatically be a little bit easier. There is no way I know of to adjust the size of the middle pockets except for moving the rails out (which would make the corners smaller) or shaving the rubber/wood of the middle pockets.

Terry

Hi Terry so much for my brain storm idea. Everything worked great until I went to put the rails back on and the pockets would not fit so I had to take everything back a part and put it back to the way it was. Back to 3-3/8" which is a small 3-3/8" closer to 3-1/4". So now the only thing we can try is pull the cloth back and see if we can get an 1/8" out of each side with the belt sander. I think it is possible.

[Booters]

I agree beginning players should not play on too tight equipment.
Pocket size is indeed a factor which contributes to overall playing difficulty, but it certainly isn't the only one. What good are loose pockets, if you also get slow cloth and/or pinball like cushions, poor quality balls...etc.
For any serious practise, beginner level or not, overall playing conditions must be taken into account.

Yes that's true, this particular table with the big pockets seems to have the most responsive cushions and fastest cloth in the club so I have been sticking to that, only using the other tables when this one is in use, after a few weeks with a new, longer cue it seems to have ironed out some errors in my cueing and I don't really notice the difference in my potting on the tighter tables. Still make similar breaks

[Byrom]

If you are hitting middle of the pocket it does not matter what size you play on really. Funny enough I think I actually tend to play worse on a big pocket table than a tight table because I don't concentrate as much and tend to cheat the pocket more and pay less attention to position. Basically they make me lazy.

I don't mind what the pockets are like though as long as the speed of the cloth is good and the cushions responsive - that is more important to me.

[tedisbill]

Problem is I never hit the middle of the pocket. My highest break would be 12 without big bags

[lesedwards]

Problem is I never hit the middle of the pocket. My highest break would be 12 without big bags

Yes I am with you. Right now my table is just too tough. When I had my coaching session with Cliff Thorburn he had me making hi & lo blacks with no problem then I come home and I make about 25% of them. Cliff called me a few days after our coaching session to see how I was making out and I explained the problem with the black ball and he told me to practice Pinks off the spot and forget about the black ball until I get the pockets made bigger. As Terry has told me in the past tight pockets like mine ruin any confidence you might have. 1st week of January we are going to get them fixed, from 3-1/4" to 3-5/8 club pockets.

[j6uk]

x2 and they stick to the rail

If you are hitting middle of the pocket it does not matter what size you play on really. Funny enough I think I actually tend to play worse on a big pocket table than a tight table because I don't concentrate as much and tend to cheat the pocket more and pay less attention to position. Basically they make me lazy.

I don't mind what the pockets are like though as long as the speed of the cloth is good and the cushions responsive - that is more important to me.

[miscuehamburg]

[QUOTE=Terry Davidson;737372]damien:

There are standardized templates for amateurs which are sold by the IBSF and there are also the older B&SCC ones.

I didn't find any of those at the IBSF page. My club urgently needs one though, since we are experimenting with a not so experienced table-fitter. Any ideas how to move forward?

[rightoncue89]

Tight pockets or big pockets

get an experienced table fitter!

[lesedwards]

get an experienced table fitter!

Yes and do not let them make the pockets two tight. I switched tables two months ago from a 5x10 with templated pockets and then made loose to a full 3-5/8" to a 6x12 with templated pockets that are smaller then match tables at 3-1/4 to 3-3/8" my game is now completly shot. No confidence in any kind of shot. I have stopped playing on it and given up practicing because I just get so frustrated. Dont make the mistake I made. I have guys coming back the first week of January to take a good 1/8" or better off the rubber, this should make my table a lot more enjoyable to play on and start to re build my confidence.

[Terry Davidson]

miscuehamburg:

If my template drawings didn't help you then I do have another solution for you. I have a set of official IBSF templates here that I don't use anymore. They cost me $300(US) when new and the only thing I did to them is to place the fall of the slate on the top of the main corner pocket template.

I will sell them for $210(CAN) + shipping to you if you want them. This would be around 120GBP + about 45GBP for shipping as they come in a heavy attache case. Certificate included. The price is about $100(US) less than I paid for them or a 33% discount.

Terry