Any ball/ any pocket...how hard can it be?
1 Reason For All The 100 Ball Runs
- Thread starter Johnnyt
- Start date
I have mixed feelings about this. I think the equipment needs to be easy enough that players have some ability to maneuver. They can't be worrying about missing routine shots. With that said, I don't think it's good when players are losing without shooting. I think 4.75" to 5" is a good size pocket for a tournament like this.
I think a little bigger is right for 14.1. A big part of the game is throwing or caroming balls out of the rack, which becomes less and less frequent as the pockets get tighter, taking "reading the rack" right out of the game if the pockets are too small. I like the 14.1 creativity and risk/reward feature with a little larger pocket.
Yes, I agree. It should be a little bigger than what the pros are typically playing 9ball on which is 4.5". Many of these tables are around 5.25" which is a little too big. It's a ripe setting for upsets.
are there any events around that are sanctioned? (by who?)
Ultimate 10 ball for one, The US Open 9B , DCC was -not sure about currently
.http://www.wpa-pool.com/web/sports_calendar
confusing with the 'non WPA' notation- why cant things just be clear?
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Yeah you see guys who can really play, playing on super tight tables and they are not even looking at the rack. I don't blame them, who wants to try to carom a ball into some tiny pocket? But reading the rack was such a great part of that game and I'm sorry to see it go. A little larger pocket promotes risk taking which is the drama of 14.1, for example, a guy trying a full table break shot, make and you can win, miss and you can lose. If the pocket is too tight, its too low a percentage shot to risk the entire game on.
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Ultimate 10 ball, U.S Open 1 pocket, 8 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball off and that's not all, just off the top of my head and that's just in the U.S...no 14.1. Johnnyt
I don't think a 10 footer is good for 14.1.
How ever, as a sponser I would think Olhausen would do much better in this big spot.
I managed to view a bit** of the first day and it looks to me this tv table sucks.
Players shakin their heads when they miss easy postitions is a dead give away.
I believe all the big runs were on outer tables (GCIII's).
Plus I hated to hear the balls dropping into a plastic bucket. Not at all classy Olhausen.
I hate to think this is their top of the line product !
**btw, I have a connection of 30 down and 4 up.
For me the stream was mostly unbearable to watch. Choppy and buffering or gone !
But good thing it is free. Could not expect to sell this kind of broadcast.
To all those who like what I see so far, nevermind, enjoy.
:groucho:
Probably the largest WPA-sanctioned 14.1 event is the European Championships.
Here are the WPA specs in a little more detail. For the full equipment specs, go to wpa-pool.com and look under the rules tab.
9. Pocket Openings and Measurements
Only rubber facings of minimum 1/16 [1.5875 mm] to maximum ¼ inch [6.35 mm] thick may be used at pocket jaws. The WPA-preferred maximum thickness for facings is 1/8 inch [3.175 mm]. The facings on both sides of the pockets must be of the same thickness. Facings must be of hard re-enforced rubber glued with strong bond to the cushion and the rail, and adequately fastened to the wood rail liner to prevent shifting. The rubber of the facings should be somewhat harder than that of the cushions.
The pocket openings for pool tables are measured between opposing cushion noses where the direction changes into the pocket (from pointed lip to pointed lip). This is called mouth.
Corner Pocket Mouth: between 4.5 [11.43 cm] and 4.625 inches [11.75 cm]
Side Pocket Mouth: between 5 [12.7 cm] and 5.125 inches [13.0175 cm]
*The mouth of the side pocket is traditionally ½ inch [1.27 cm] wider than
the mouth of the corner pocket.
Only rubber facings of minimum 1/16 [1.5875 mm] to maximum ¼ inch [6.35 mm] thick may be used at pocket jaws. The WPA-preferred maximum thickness for facings is 1/8 inch [3.175 mm]. The facings on both sides of the pockets must be of the same thickness. Facings must be of hard re-enforced rubber glued with strong bond to the cushion and the rail, and adequately fastened to the wood rail liner to prevent shifting. The rubber of the facings should be somewhat harder than that of the cushions.
The pocket openings for pool tables are measured between opposing cushion noses where the direction changes into the pocket (from pointed lip to pointed lip). This is called mouth.
Corner Pocket Mouth: between 4.5 [11.43 cm] and 4.625 inches [11.75 cm]
Side Pocket Mouth: between 5 [12.7 cm] and 5.125 inches [13.0175 cm]
*The mouth of the side pocket is traditionally ½ inch [1.27 cm] wider than
the mouth of the corner pocket.
Wishing this event were on 10-footers is about as meaningful as wishing they held the tournament on a cruise ship. Neither will happen any time soon. Dragon is the only organization out there promoting 14.1 tournaments, they're only doing one event a year and the past five events have been in poolrooms. And, there are no poolrooms of 10-foot tables.
I think the only thing any 14.1 enthusiast can wish for are MORE 14.1 events. That's about it.
I'm just hoping that midway through this tournament they get bored and switch it to 10ball.
13? What is that?
Is it a MD thing?This is a Straight Pool thread. Please get with the program or go watch American Idol.
This is false. They are not even the only one doing tournaments in the US. Not even the only one in New York and New Jersey.
Well. 4.6 is not really that big depending how they are cut, but I agree in principle. Years ago when most of the play was on huge GC pockets everyone and their brother was a 100 ball runner. All it took was an understanding of the game and some skill to run balls. As much as I liked 14.1 I hated playing in competition. I could not stand sitting there as a guy just ran out, not much fun. I much preferred playing on a tight table that required some good cue ball management and shot making skills to run a 50. 50 should be like par. A table should be set up so it is a real challenge to run 50. I don't want pockets where well hit balls pop out, neither do I don't want badly hit balls going in. There may need to be a bit of table modification for real championship pool. Although Diamond to a large degree has done that already.
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