Pockets spitting balls out

Sarnia Shorty

Sarnia Shorty

He's going to the bag
Silver Member
Just wondering if anyone out there can help me. I have had my 8' custom for a couple years now but have always had a problem with 2 of my corner pockets spitting balls back out.

The pockets are leather and are very stiff. When a ball is hit directly in the center every now and then the pocket will throw the ball back out. I have tried to bend the pockets a bit to help them accept the balls but nothing seems to work for very long. Is there anything I can do that might stop this from happening? I have been thinking about trying to heat them up a bit but I am not sure if this will cause more problems.
 
Well to start,look very closely and compare the other pockets to the problem ones.Any Differences? Pay close attention to what is called the inside shield. This the narrow strip of leather that the balls hit. Check to make sure it is not attached too tight and acting like a springboard.


John
 
check pocket

check to see if pocket is sitting straight . if back of pocket is faceing
in a upward angle it could do that.off just a little will make a differance.
 
Balls Spitting out?

Ever consider backing down the ball speed just a tad? Usually to get a drop pocket table to ricochet balls straight back out (not jarring the facings..) you require a near break shot speed. Pocket speed, pocket speed, not trying to set a land speed record :wink:
Rob

ps: I shoot a little too hard as well...
 
I will check the pockets for differences tonight. As for the comment about ball speed, the pocket will spit balls out even if they are shot at table speed. There is something else affecting the balls.
 
Sarnia Shorty said:
I will check the pockets for differences tonight. As for the comment about ball speed, the pocket will spit balls out even if they are shot at table speed. There is something else affecting the balls.
Click to expand...

If I was a ball heading into a pocket like your avatar I'd be jumping out of the pocket too. :grin:
Sorry, couldn't resist.
 
since it must be hitting squarely for this to happen in the pocket I would take my small hammer and tap that spot until it has changed the angle a bit. Probably would take about 40-50 hits. Much in the way you put a tip on a cue.

Or if there is slop in the pockets ears, wrap them with duct tape to raise them up slightly.
 
I have a feeling that the problem is coming from the "inside shield" that Scruffy was talking about.

If the shield is too tight what can I do to fix it short of taking the pockets apart. Not sure I want to start dismantaling my table.
 
Sarnia Shorty said:
I have a feeling that the problem is coming from the "inside shield" that Scruffy was talking about.

If the shield is too tight what can I do to fix it short of taking the pockets apart. Not sure I want to start dismantaling my table.
Click to expand...

Presuming your pocket looks like this - softening the inside shield leather may help as well as making sure it is vertical and not tilted towards the table somehow.

pocketview.jpg
 
Sarnia Shorty said:
I have a feeling that the problem is coming from the "inside shield" that Scruffy was talking about.

If the shield is too tight what can I do to fix it short of taking the pockets apart. Not sure I want to start dismantaling my table.
Click to expand...

To start,make sure the ends of the inside shield are not under the rail and are loose. Some people also nail them to the rail. Check this first.

John
 
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