Matt_24 said:

Straight Pool is MADE for larger pockets. Having different sections of a pocket available to aim to allows for greater angles and more options to break open clusters, create break shots, etc, during a run. These tests of straight pool knowledge separate the good from the great player. A sub 4" pocket for straight pool is silly, and would be incredibly boring to watch.

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"Nine ball is MADE for larger pockets. Having different sections of a pocket available to aim to allows for greater angles and more options to break open clusters, create routes, etc, while putting together a multi-rack package. These tests of rotation pool knowledge separate the good from the great player. A sub 4" pocket for nine ball is silly, and would be incredibly boring to watch."

I don't think your argument makes sense since you could say that about any cue sport with pockets.

FWIW, my three highest runs have all come on 4" pocket tables.

holy crap. yea, tough on the non-asians with the short notice

jax_joe said:

As far as the "International" in St Augustine goes, Pat said they were skipping 2026 due to scheduling conflicts. 14.1 barely had 20 players last year. Maybe the old "American 14.1" event can be resurrected somewhere else?

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it seemed to me that the 14.1 before the integration with the international had a lot of enthusiast benefactors behind it, and maybe still has, so let's hope it will be held somewhere

I look forward to every new addition!!!

Matt_24 said:

Straight Pool is MADE for larger pockets. Having different sections of a pocket available to aim to allows for greater angles and more options to break open clusters, create break shots, etc, during a run. These tests of straight pool knowledge separate the good from the great player. A sub 4" pocket for straight pool is silly, and would be incredibly boring to watch.

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The only thing you're talking about is you need all kinds of slack to play pool. The point of tighter equipment is precision. The game - and the breed - improves with the stiffer requirements. A challenge might help get that rolling.

I like tight pockets but look around. The Americans aren't cutting it. It's the buckets that are silly.

CocoboloCowboy said:

Fargo is City in North Dakota.

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What do you do when kids get on your lawn?

I played on the new Olhausen at the Hopkin's Expo in April. I had my own set of balls and was there about 1am after the exhibitors all closed trying the new Olhausen, new GC7 9' and 7', and the Rasson. I probably played about 30 min each on all 4 tables. They all played good. I didn't notice any issues with the Olhausen pockets rejecting balls. The GC7 was my favorite. But I didn't see anything wrong with the Olhausen.






This below picture was showing the parting line from the injection molding of the Olhausen pocket. It was fine, didn't bother me. (same as the GC7 9' and 7'). However on the Rasson, they put the parting line on the very top, and it scraped my hand. Was a poor engineering decision on the Rasson, and probably designed by an engineer that didn't play pool. I'm an engineer in my dayjob, and have had to design around sharp parting line edges many times. Putting it at the top is easiest from a molding perspective, that's why they put it there.


This pic below is the new Brunswick pocket (same on 7' and 9'). The PL is about 1/4" below the top. That's harder from a molding perspective, but much better from a player perspective.


Rasson below:


All the tables mentioned had a bigger radius here than the Diamond, resulting in a shorter shelf near the pocket facings. This leaves less shelf for the ball to hang up on. Much better than the Diamond shelf, IMO. I'm talking about the radius of the cut from left to right, it's flatter on the Olhausen. NOT talking about the radius "drop" on the edge of the slate.

His matches are on youtube.

datnodude said:

ESPN's decline can be traced to journalists leaving and it becoming more about debates foolishness. Two highest paid employees are SAS and McAfee. Bob key gone, Stuart Scott gone, sports reports show gone. It's all rants and antics. PTI still holding it down and nfl live. Get up is fine

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ESPN has declined for 3 major reasons, two of which you accurately pointed out already:

1. Reduction of on air talent and sports journalists
2. Rise of argumentative-based programming that feature loud-mouths like Stephen A Smith instead of guests that can provide intelligent analysis
3. Mass adoption of social media companies like twitter, instagram, etc.

People used to turn on ESPN to watch highlights of games or top 10 crazy plays but now you can pull up highlights instantly on your phone without having to change the channel or wait for a certain segment to roll back around. ESPN has lost their cultural significance and has been in a self-damaging pursuit to generate buzz on social media through the rise of “hot-take” debate shows intended to farm engagement, good or bad being irrelevant.

Pretty sure Accu-Stats has a couple of videos of him from some of the tournaments back in the 1980s...I recall watching one of him vs. Mizerak I believe. Probably wouldn't tell you much about his money game but would give you a decent idea of how he shot for sure!