As some of you may know, I have been rather vocal about the super fast cushion trend, and in short I'm not in favour of it. But I live in the real world, and my poolhall, has now changed the cushion on almost every table to a much faster type. I must admit, it has had an effect on my game.
First, since the cushions are so much faster, controlling the ball using the cushions becomes more difficult. Certain 2 rail shots can no longer be reliably lengthened by applying spin, but only comes off much faster with spin than without. Kill shots also become less effective, but still can be done, of course. It just feels like you have to use more spin, and the fine increments that could be used on more spin-responsive cushions, just do not work anymore. The new cushions, in fact, act a lot like snooker cushions. I used to use 1/2 tip, 1/4 tips etc, but there is just no point now. I either have to use a full tip, or no spin at all. Let me explain that further: If the shot goes straight into the cushion, you have a chance to affect the angle, but if there is any angle at all, it will follow the natural path almost every time. To me it looks like it comes off with reverse, when I'm using 1 tip running english, that's how drastic the difference is!
Basically it limits what can be done with the cueball, and has hugely decreased the position play skill-gap between the good player and the lesser ones. Fortunately you can still beat them with better speed control, patterns and of course potting, but it feels like you are giving them a huge spot. I'm playing on 760 cloth, with lightening fast rails. I havent' played a full stroke since they installed the damned cushions.
The game itself has changed to a potting game, like snooker, with center table position with center ball. As a player I used to pride myself on my position play, which I feel was always above my overall skill level, due to long hours of drill practice. I'm now close to a C level IMO position player, but one that stays in line more than most of them perhaps. I play area postion and stay away from english, as the advantages have more or less disappeared. I have to rely on potting and speed control, and endlessly bunting/rolling balls in. What a sad state of affairs when you have to go to a snooker table with match cloth, to let your stroke out!! I might have to switch diciplines completely, if this trend continues.
First, since the cushions are so much faster, controlling the ball using the cushions becomes more difficult. Certain 2 rail shots can no longer be reliably lengthened by applying spin, but only comes off much faster with spin than without. Kill shots also become less effective, but still can be done, of course. It just feels like you have to use more spin, and the fine increments that could be used on more spin-responsive cushions, just do not work anymore. The new cushions, in fact, act a lot like snooker cushions. I used to use 1/2 tip, 1/4 tips etc, but there is just no point now. I either have to use a full tip, or no spin at all. Let me explain that further: If the shot goes straight into the cushion, you have a chance to affect the angle, but if there is any angle at all, it will follow the natural path almost every time. To me it looks like it comes off with reverse, when I'm using 1 tip running english, that's how drastic the difference is!
Basically it limits what can be done with the cueball, and has hugely decreased the position play skill-gap between the good player and the lesser ones. Fortunately you can still beat them with better speed control, patterns and of course potting, but it feels like you are giving them a huge spot. I'm playing on 760 cloth, with lightening fast rails. I havent' played a full stroke since they installed the damned cushions.
The game itself has changed to a potting game, like snooker, with center table position with center ball. As a player I used to pride myself on my position play, which I feel was always above my overall skill level, due to long hours of drill practice. I'm now close to a C level IMO position player, but one that stays in line more than most of them perhaps. I play area postion and stay away from english, as the advantages have more or less disappeared. I have to rely on potting and speed control, and endlessly bunting/rolling balls in. What a sad state of affairs when you have to go to a snooker table with match cloth, to let your stroke out!! I might have to switch diciplines completely, if this trend continues.
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