Did they change the pocket template?

[moondan]

You wont be able to tell from photos, the pockets can fit a tenplate but still be very different in the way they accept the ball.
They have been experimenting with different cloths around the pockets and cushions which also can improve acceptability for the ball.

[cueman]

I think the pockets are accepting balls a lot easier but that can be for a number of reasons. They have re-clothed the table yesterday so you'd expect that to help but also these tables are dis-assembled and re-assembled over the whole season so naturally the pockets might move fractionally from tournament to tournament.

However, as I've always said, its the same for both players. What would you prefer, games solely based on tactical battles and players losing their confidence if the pockets are extra tight!

That said, I do think Hendry is now in form because of the ease of conditions, it must be like going back to the mid 90's for him and the days of playing with buckets, you only have to look back at footage from that time to realise how much easier it was but then the standard was nowhere near what it is today all round.

[moglet]

Cueman,

Disassembly and reassembly cannot account for the variations we see, the "size" of the pocket is obviously decided on factors we may not be aware of, however distasteful I find this, it is a fact of life. But still, it is the same for both and all players.

To suggest that the relaxation in the pockets is the reason for Stephen Hendry's current success means you did not pick up on what other factors were different.

Don't tell me you didn't notice, this same difference applied as much to Ding as well.

[moglet]

You wont be able to tell from photos, the pockets can fit a tenplate but still be very different in the way they accept the ball.
They have been experimenting with different cloths around the pockets and cushions which also can improve acceptability for the ball.

Yes moondan, there is no substitute for being at the scene and being allowed to check the pockets, a definite "no no". As I said earlier, it is unlikely a player would complain unless he felt that he was so good that relaxed pockets would give him a disadvantage. This seems unlikely to me especially since the other questionable conditions that all players have to contend with have not been tackled at all as we can see.

[Malachi-b]

You realize they keep on going on about breaking the world record on the amount of centurys in the crucible... Is this just a coincidence? I think not futher proof of easy pockets

[moondan]

I think the pockets are accepting balls a lot easier but that can be for a number of reasons. They have re-clothed the table yesterday so you'd expect that to help but also these tables are dis-assembled and re-assembled over the whole season so naturally the pockets might move fractionally from tournament to tournament.

However, as I've always said, its the same for both players. What would you prefer, games solely based on tactical battles and players losing their confidence if the pockets are extra tight!

That said, I do think Hendry is now in form because of the ease of conditions, it must be like going back to the mid 90's for him and the days of playing with buckets, you only have to look back at footage from that time to realise how much easier it was but then the standard was nowhere near what it is today all round.

I have the complete opposite view.

[brettski]

I noticed most notably when they play dead weight balls to the middle bags, even when it appeared that it was going to hit the jaw and bounce away it was almost pulled into the pocket. The pockets in my local clubs and the local circuit have middle pockets that if you float a ball to the outside edge of the pocket it will never go in. I don't see why they'd let them be this forgiving for the best players in the world.

[mihnea]

Why can't we do the same thing in snooker as they've done here: http://www.pro9.co.uk/html/print.php?sid=929 Now that would end all speculations. Look at those asian tour pockets - really tight!

Let's start a thread where people can post picture of different tables. Surely someone can get access to the tournaments tables at each tournament.

It's a good idea to start a threat to post pictures of different kind of pockets. I can post pictures with Dynamic, Riley Renaissance, Wik (used in world series of snooker and eueopean snoker championship) Wiraka M-1, and maybe Riley Aristocrat, and other tables. It would be very interesting to see the pockets from Star Tables (used in China Open and Shanghai Masters), and the new Wiraka-IBSF (used at world amateur snooker chapionship), or the Thurston tables pockets...or any other pockets.

[tai pichit]

I think the pockets are accepting balls a lot easier but that can be for a number of reasons. They have re-clothed the table yesterday so you'd expect that to help but also these tables are dis-assembled and re-assembled over the whole season so naturally the pockets might move fractionally from tournament to tournament.

However, as I've always said, its the same for both players. What would you prefer, games solely based on tactical battles and players losing their confidence if the pockets are extra tight!

That said, I do think Hendry is now in form because of the ease of conditions, it must be like going back to the mid 90's for him and the days of playing with buckets, you only have to look back at footage from that time to realise how much easier it was but then the standard was nowhere near what it is today all round.

completely disagree

the WPBSA changed table supplier from BCE to Riley for the start of the 1994 season. i've got loads of footage of hendry on both makes of table & there's no doubt the pockets on the BCE westbury table were far more forgiving.
the mid 1990's (when hendry was at his peak) were tough & you couldn't fire balls in along the cushions at pace as you can on the pockets this year.
i think it's got a lot to do with the fineness of the cloth & the cushions more than the actual template size nowadays.