pocket reducers?

J

James2003

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Anyone ever use them? The pockets on the table I am getting has about 1/2 inch of space left after placing two balls side by side.. I am going to ask about taking them in 1/4" on each side. (more if I can) But I would like for them to not be TOO tight because my son is learning to play and if he is not making balls he will lose intrest.

Any suggestions?

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Practice-Pr...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item48361bd1c6
 
i bought some a while ago. they fine for doing drills but to be honest i hardly ever used them. i'll see if i have the whole set and i'll shoot 'em to you for less than that ebay link has them listed for
 
poolplayer2093 said:
i bought some a while ago. they fine for doing drills but to be honest i hardly ever used them. i'll see if i have the whole set and i'll shoot 'em to you for less than that ebay link has them listed for
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How much? Let me see how much I can have them take the pockets in. If they take them in where I want them I think the reduers will be TOO tight to use.
 
I use them nearly everyday. They make it tough, but it helps me really dial in before a match. Then when I get to the bar or pool hall the pockets seem gaping.

Like previously said, I find them useful for drilling. I bought mine from Seyberts and consider it money well spent.
 
zy112 said:
I use them nearly everyday. They make it tough, but it helps me really dial in before a match. Then when I get to the bar or pool hall the pockets seem gaping.

Like previously said, I find them useful for drilling. I bought mine from Seyberts and consider it money well spent.
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Cool thanks for the reply... I am sure I will be getting some.. Maybe a used set.. :grin:
 
poolplayer2093 said:
i bought some a while ago. they fine for doing drills but to be honest i hardly ever used them. i'll see if i have the whole set and i'll shoot 'em to you for less than that ebay link has them listed for
Click to expand...

My zip is 30721 let me know a price on them shipped. Thanks
 
James... I skipped over the part about you saying your son is learning to play. Def take them off when he shoots. They rob you ALOT and he will struggle.
 
zy112 said:
James... I skipped over the part about you saying your son is learning to play. Def take them off when he shoots. They rob you ALOT and he will struggle.
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Well he really does want to learn and anything he does. When he started bowling I would not let him use bumbers. If he wanted to do it he had to do it right. in less than a year he went from a avg of 60 ish a game to 146 a game now..

It will make it hard but at the same time it will make him better.. I'll let him use them when he just wants to practice certian shots.. (drills)
 
There was a previous thread that has a lot to say about them. I know Shawn Putnam posted that he doesn't recommend them but that's one persons opinion.

I bought them and rarely use them so I'm not qualified to say. I practiced with them all this week for a tournament that has tight pockets so I guess I'll find out what I think.

They seem to work for straight shots but balls close or on the cushion are a pain. I don't know if that's my shooting or the pocket reducers.

I understand your situation, but if I had it to do over again I would have just set the table up with tight pockets.

I would ask an instructor who posts here. Kids show no fear he might adjust fine.
 
accustatsfan said:
There was a previous thread that has a lot to say about them. I know Shawn Putnam posted that he doesn't recommend them but that's one persons opinion.

I bought them and rarely use them so I'm not qualified to say. I practiced with them all this week for a tournament that has tight pockets so I guess I'll find out what I think.

They seem to work for straight shots but balls close or on the cushion are a pain. I don't know if that's my shooting or the pocket reducers.

I understand your situation, but if I had it to do over again I would have just set the table up with tight pockets.

I would ask an instructor who posts here. Kids show no fear he might adjust fine.
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Well if I can get them to reduce the pockets so two balls will not sit between the rails then that would be great. But I am not sure if they can do that or not.
 
James2003 said:
Well he really does want to learn and anything he does. When he started bowling I would not let him use bumbers. If he wanted to do it he had to do it right. in less than a year he went from a avg of 60 ish a game to 146 a game now..

It will make it hard but at the same time it will make him better.. I'll let him use them when he just wants to practice certian shots.. (drills)
Click to expand...

I would suggest to just get your pockets shimmed or rails extended rather than these things. They reject way too many balls and more a tight pocket the same width. They can be discouraging to a good player and very much so to a child. I would think the child should focus on pocketing the ball AND moving the cueball. Tight pockets in general will hurt both of these, so I wouldn't tighten them too much. But in general, I wouldn't recommend the pocket reducers. Just my opinion.
 
I've used the reducers a lot in the past, and like others have said, they're good for accuracy drills-but that's about it. They cut the pocket size down to about 2 3/4 inches, which makes cheating the pocket impossible.

They also don't react the same way cushion rubber does. They're much harder, and any ball that even grazes the side of the bumper will NOT fall. Cutting balls down the rail is even harder than on a snooker table, because the ball must touch the point, and bank into the pocket.

These evil pocket reducers spit it out and laugh at you.

So in closing, I hate them...But one of my most memorable accomplishments was a break and run in 8 ball using the pocket reducers in practice.
 
the420trooper said:
I've used the reducers a lot in the past, and like others have said, they're good for accuracy drills-but that's about it. They cut the pocket size down to about 2 3/4 inches, which makes cheating the pocket impossible.

They also don't react the same way cushion rubber does. They're much harder, and any ball that even grazes the side of the bumper will NOT fall. Cutting balls down the rail is even harder than on a snooker table, because the ball must touch the point, and bank into the pocket.

These evil pocket reducers spit it out and laugh at you.

So in closing, I hate them...But one of my most memorable accomplishments was a break and run in 8 ball using the pocket reducers in practice.
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Totally agree.

I hate the way balls react when they hit those little edges: "thlunk- spit," and that down- the- rail shots take huge amounts of concentration and ensuring that you put the tighteners exactly flush in the pocket.

I would also add that the metal hinges stick up pretty high on the top, so they are often sticking up in the way of your cue/ hand/ body on a shot into a different pocket. They're pretty firm tension hinges, too, so you can't just pull them out and stick them back in for better access to that one shot- especially since it takes some time to set them in flush...
 
I rub lemon on the pockets. Tightens them right up for about an hour.




PS. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT AT A JOKE, DO NOT TRY THIS!!!!
 
blah blah said:
Totally agree.

I hate the way balls react when they hit those little edges: "thlunk- spit," and that down- the- rail shots take huge amounts of concentration and ensuring that you put the tighteners exactly flush in the pocket.

I would also add that the metal hinges stick up pretty high on the top, so they are often sticking up in the way of your cue/ hand/ body on a shot into a different pocket. They're pretty firm tension hinges, too, so you can't just pull them out and stick them back in for better access to that one shot- especially since it takes some time to set them in flush...
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Agree with all your points.

I started setting them deeper in the pocket (hope I don't screw up my table) than the manufacturer's site recommends. Setting them flush I seem to start looking at the reducer points instead of the pockets I have blue Simonis and the green against black is strange. Shelf's reduced but I still get the accuracy benefit.
 
I should probably re-state that I only use these for shot making drills. It would make a game miserable and they do act much different than the rubber rails. But what I do like, is every one knows that perfect shot, where the ball touches nothing but the bottom of the pocket. When practicing with these, you def know when you hit that shot and helps me find that shot. I'm sure there not for everyones taste, but I like them for the purpose they serve me
 
Couldn't find all of 'em. if you can find someone that'll just sell you one or 2. they're only good for doing drills anyway. you wouldn't want to play a whole game with these.
 
cleary said:
I would suggest to just get your pockets shimmed or rails extended rather than these things. They reject way too many balls and more a tight pocket the same width. They can be discouraging to a good player and very much so to a child.
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nothing to add really. Pocket reducers change the pocket mouth opening and can suit nothing else but straight-in shots. And how many times do you need to shoot striaght in the heart of the pocket without touching a rail or a jaw? There are other ways to challenge your stroke, and they should be under common playing conditions.
 
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