Alex Pagulayan at the Jay Swanson Memorial Tournament

Slh

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The tables have very tight pockets ( I heard 4 inches) and Alex made the pockets look like 10 inches. Both Alex and Amar missed some shot, but this is the proof 4 inches pockets are not too tight.. I'm against tables where bangers ( like me) can run packages and I think 4 inches should be the standard size for tournament play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSjHl9A2Q1w&feature=g-all-u&context=G245a2cdFAAAAAAAAAAA
What do you think?

PS I'm still against the magic rack in 9 ball especially winner breaks.
 
The tables have very tight pockets ( I heard 4 inches) and Alex made the pockets look like 10 inches. Both Alex and Amar missed some shot, but this is the proof 4 inches pockets are not too tight.. I'm against tables where bangers ( like me) can run packages and I think 4 inches should be the standard size for tournament play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSjHl9A2Q1w&feature=g-all-u&context=G245a2cdFAAAAAAAAAAA
What do you think?

PS I'm still against the magic rack in 9 ball especially winner breaks.

I have played plenty on that table and I have seen it make pros look bad. 4.5 in pockets is perfect , 4in is to tight to play alot of shots, forget cheating those pockets even a little.
 
I have played plenty on that table and I have seen it make pros look bad. 4.5 in pockets is perfect , 4in is to tight to play alot of shots, forget cheating those pockets even a little.

do you know the size of the pockets? I think are slightly bigger than 4in ( maybe 4,25in) but I could be wrong? Who are the pros who looked bad?
Alex played real good on that table so maybe the other pros had a bad day or *maybe* are not the same speed of Alex..
 
do you know the size of the pockets? I think are slightly bigger than 4in ( maybe 4,25in) but I could be wrong? Who are the pros who looked bad?
Alex played real good on that table so maybe the other pros had a bad day or *maybe* are not the same speed of Alex..

They are 4in, I have seen guys like MIKA struggle on those tables. Not saying he is a bad player of course, just that those table can make anyone struggle.
 
They are 4in, I have seen guys like MIKA struggle on those tables. Not saying he is a bad player of course, just that those table can make anyone struggle.

As Spanky said, tables 1 and 6 are four inches - at most. In another thread I think Jaden mentioned he put a tape measure to them at the Swanee and they were 3 7/8" to be exact.

Also, the pockets are cut pretty "square" meaning the facings are not splayed open like say on an Olhausen (they are more "U" than "V"). So when the pockets are that tight there is very little margin for error because the OB is more likely to catch the point rather than the facing. And if it hits the point - forget it.
 
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Also, the pockets are cut pretty "square" meaning the facings are not splayed open like say on an Olhausen (they are more "U" than "V"). So when the pockets are that tight there is very little margin for error because the OB is more likely to catch the point rather than the facing. And if it hits the point - forget it.

I play mostly on Olhausen's where I live, and the depth of the shelf, along with the cut on the corner pockets will bobble balls just because sometimes. A ball can be played full length of the table, along the side rail, hit the corner pocket perfect, and still bobble. The shelf is just that deep on an Olhausen, it limits how hard you can hit shots and still have the ball drop.
 
I play mostly on Olhausen's where I live, and the depth of the shelf, along with the cut on the corner pockets will bobble balls just because sometimes. A ball can be played full length of the table, along the side rail, hit the corner pocket perfect, and still bobble. The shelf is just that deep on an Olhausen, it limits how hard you can hit shots and still have the ball drop.

Right, the dreaded Olhausen rattle. Of course, in the case of "O's" there is more to it besides the shelf depth and the facing angle.
 
To tight!

If it's an Olhausen, the shelf is so deep that a 4'' pocket would make the table un-playable. You might get away with a 4'' pocket on a Gold Crown, but I lie what Buddy Hall has said about this subject for years...,

"the game should not come down to the guy who shoots the straightest, but to the guy that plays the best".
 
I think the best players are the ones that can play on any table at any time. Tight, loose, 5x10, bar table, Diamond, Gold Crown, etc etc etc.

SVB is a good example, he plays a variety of games well on a very consistent basis, and wins tournaments on all sorts of different tables.

What I about different standards for different games? I don't know if I would be really excited to play banks on those HT tables but 1P would be OK.
 
I think the best players are the ones that can play on any table at any time. Tight, loose, 5x10, bar table, Diamond, Gold Crown, etc etc etc.

SVB is a good example, he plays a variety of games well on a very consistent basis, and wins tournaments on all sorts of different tables.

What I about different standards for different games? I don't know if I would be really excited to play banks on those HT tables but 1P would be OK.

Except SVB didn't play well on a converted 10-foot snooker table with tight pockets against Earl! :p
 
Since a std pool ball is 2 1/4" that leaves 1 3/4" to cheat. Obviously some shots can not be cheated, but many can.

I got 4 1/4" on my table and they play tough, but fair.
 
Having played many hours on the front 2 at HT (probably more than anyone when I am in CA), I have got to say that the specific setup on 1 and 6 gives a big advantage to whoever is more accustomed to those specific tables. Its not just the pockets that make the table tough, I have played on much easier 4 inch pocket tables. The tough part about those tables is the combination of tight pockets, dirty balls, and relatively slow and worn cloth. As Spanky said, they humble many pros that come through (let's face it, Alex could run out 9 ball on a snooker table if you put up the cash, he doesnt represent everyone else).

They are great for gambling because in gambling you can always change tables if one opponent doesn't want to play on those conditions, but in a tournament, I don't think players should be forced to play in conditions that represent about 0.1% of the tables that they will ever come across.
 
The tables have very tight pockets ( I heard 4 inches) and Alex made the pockets look like 10 inches. Both Alex and Amar missed some shot, but this is the proof 4 inches pockets are not too tight.. I'm against tables where bangers ( like me) can run packages and I think 4 inches should be the standard size for tournament play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSjHl9A2Q1w&feature=g-all-u&context=G245a2cdFAAAAAAAAAAA
What do you think?

PS I'm still against the magic rack in 9 ball especially winner breaks.

The pros should play on 2 1/2 inch pockets that way there would be very little margin for error but even then someone would want a tighter pocket.
 
Alex may be the best on earth on super tight and gaffy equipment.....

He may be 5' nothing on the outside but in his mind he's 6'9" and has an S tattooed on his chest.
 
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