2016 UK Championship

[jonny66]

They don't make the pockets any smaller on the small tables, not the ones I've played on anyway, ridiculous pockets. What they do do on a lot of smaller American pool tables is make the white bigger so it goes through the mechanism on coin operated tables, don't bother even trying a screw shot.

[vjmehra]

Out of curiosity, do they make the pockets smaller on a seven footer? Surely they can't have 4.5 inch pockets on a seven foot table, there would be more pocket than cushion.

A normal club American pool table typically has much bigger pockets than 4.5 inches...that would be considered 'tight' even on a 7 footer!

In a club they are as wide as 5.25 inches, typically around 5 inches and a tight 9 foot table would be 4.5 - 4.875 inches.

That said, some people on AZ say they've got them tighter, down to 4.25 and even 4 inches (from the factory not shimmed).

[vjmehra]

They don't make the pockets any smaller on the small tables, not the ones I've played on anyway, ridiculous pockets. What they do do on a lot of smaller American pool tables is make the white bigger so it goes through the mechanism on coin operated tables, don't bother even trying a screw shot.

Or heavier and the same size...which is also a bit weird to play with!

That said, I'm sure the Americans think English pool is just as weird!

[itsnoteasy]

A normal club American pool table typically has much bigger pockets than 4.5 inches...that would be considered 'tight' even on a 7 footer!

In a club they are as wide as 5.25 inches, typically around 5 inches and a tight 9 foot table would be 4.5 - 4.875 inches.

That said, some people on AZ say they've got them tighter, down to 4.25 and even 4 inches (from the factory not shimmed).

Imagine getting good on 4 inch pockets then going to a club with 5 1/4 inch pockets! We call pockets buckets and there is only an eighth or two of an inch difference. Club pockets are around 3.5 and template pro pockets are 3 1/3 I think.

[vjmehra]

Imagine getting good on 4 inch pockets then going to a club with 5 1/4 inch pockets! We call pockets buckets and there is only an eighth or two of an inch difference. Club pockets are around 3.5 and template pro pockets are 3 1/3 I think.

Yeah, American pool is a strange game in a lot of ways, it always feels like you should never miss...but of course its the same for your opponent, so that adds to the dynamic.

I wonder if the future could be Chinese 8-Ball, which looks like a pool/snooker hybrid almost, I'm sure if the prize money was big enough even Ronnie would give it a go, Selby got to the final 2 years ago after all!

[the lone wolf]

He was talking about the state of the game, saying:

Clubs are closing down
No new UK players are coming through
The standard at the bottom of the tour is poor
Tournaments should focus on the top 32 (he suggested 5/6 invitational events for the top 16/32 and 10-12 ranking events I think)
He also said most tournaments should move to China (which I could have sworn he was previously against) due to the prize money they are willing to offer (but only for tournaments containing the top players)

Steve Davis sitting next to him did not look impressed at all!!!

Thanks vjmehra :snooker:

[the lone wolf]

It's easy to toot a horn and get people to notice you...
What ROS needs to understand that change begins within the self.

Would schools serious tell ROS to F off if he wanted to do a few exhibitions, clinics and talks to their pupils? The publicity only would have many head teachers drooling.

Promoting the snooker is not just up to the governing body. It's a job for everyone! :snooker:

[the lone wolf]

LOL!
Just caught the interview.
If the standard is so poor, how come ROS doesn't smash 'em all?
Going back to how snooker was will kill its development instantly as fewer people will be watching.
Sure snooker could make a killing in China, but for how long?
Places like Canada, S America need developing as there seems to be a genuine interest in cue sports there. :snooker:

[daffie]

Anyone watching the games at hand?

Selby 3-1 up on Zhang but this could get closer I feel...

Ollie looks like he could be going home, he's 4-0 behind. Fu comfortably ahead.

Edit : Selby won the 5th frame, because Zhang missed an easy green, so probably scratch that closer part

[VillaGuy]

With the property prices causing closures of clubs in central urban areas can't clubs relocate to the outskirts, the sort of areas that have ten pin bowling, driving ranges, 5 a side etc... The five a side pitches surely can't be run at a profit, isn't there social development fundings available for sports clubs, to get people involved in public instead of sitting behind a tv or pc? I don't see why snooker clubs need to be in the centre of town, although I did used to like a get together at a snooker club as a starter to a night out when I was at uni, it wouldn't be so easy needing a taxi ride. I think there's scope for development in not just the areas also mentioned, but Eastern Europe too, when I was in Sofia and Bulgaria in general there was quite a few nice snooker clubs, it's a more affordable and easier to organise sport there compared to the team sports (volleyball &football mainly), tennis is fairly expensive for court rental and golf is none existent apart from about 5 touristy new development courses, again expensive for people on local wages. If snooker can get a good foothold and foundation in these different areas sponsorship revenue will rise faster than what it is doing now. You can't wait for developments to occur naturally when sports are basically competitors to each other, world snooker needs to act with aggression.

[daffie]

What a completely boring evening of snooker this has been. Fu about to whitewash Ollie, and Selby on the brink of a 6-1 walkover.

Meh...onwards to tomorrow it is then.

...Not that anyone here seems to care

[itsnoteasy]

It's easy to toot a horn and get people to notice you...
What ROS needs to understand that change begins within the self.

Would schools serious tell ROS to F off if he wanted to do a few exhibitions, clinics and talks to their pupils? The publicity only would have many head teachers drooling.

Promoting the snooker is not just up to the governing body. It's a job for everyone! :snooker:

Chris Small tried this in Scotland, taking snooker to the schools and giving kids lessons, got no interest in it at all and sadly it never took off.

[DeanH]

2016 UK Championship

Fu on a mission, played superbly.
Oliver Lines had a brilliant tournament, played some great snooker, great exposure on the TV table, BBC interviews and skits, and handled it very well. Great experience that he will surely want again so hopefully this will springboard him onwards and upwards in the near future.

[vjmehra]

With the property prices causing closures of clubs in central urban areas can't clubs relocate to the outskirts, the sort of areas that have ten pin bowling, driving ranges, 5 a side etc... The five a side pitches surely can't be run at a profit, isn't there social development fundings available for sports clubs, to get people involved in public instead of sitting behind a tv or pc? I don't see why snooker clubs need to be in the centre of town, although I did used to like a get together at a snooker club as a starter to a night out when I was at uni, it wouldn't be so easy needing a taxi ride. I think there's scope for development in not just the areas also mentioned, but Eastern Europe too, when I was in Sofia and Bulgaria in general there was quite a few nice snooker clubs, it's a more affordable and easier to organise sport there compared to the team sports (volleyball &football mainly), tennis is fairly expensive for court rental and golf is none existent apart from about 5 touristy new development courses, again expensive for people on local wages. If snooker can get a good foothold and foundation in these different areas sponsorship revenue will rise faster than what it is doing now. You can't wait for developments to occur naturally when sports are basically competitors to each other, world snooker needs to act with aggression.

I suspect it may be different outside the South East, but especially in and around London I'd wager people expect to be able to get the tube to a club, if you have to drive, you can't have a drink afterwards, you have to go home from work before you can go out and so on...its just a less attractive prospect, so out of town snooker halls probably only make sense in locations where everyone drives (i.e. not in major cities where the problem is).

You mention bowling alleys and the fate of tenpin bowling is something you absolutely wouldn't wish on snooker in this country. So many alleys have closed down, prices per game have skyrocketed and its no longer possible to find a 'proper' bowling alley. Yes there are of course a few about, but they are the equivalent of an argos foldaway snooker table (sort of tricky to come up with a good analogy, but essentially they aren't maintained properly etc.) so no good to any serious bowler. In essence the UK tenpin bowling scene is all but dead, partly at least because all the city centre bowling alleys had to close down and the out of town ones cater to social occasions only. Snooker may well go down a similar route unless something changes.

Personally I think snooker is popular enough to survive far more than tenpin bowling, so I don't think that will happen...I'm just saying it could!

[streamer45]

That was some break from Selby to win the match.