Balls popping out of the pocket

Shannon.spronk

Shannon.spronk

Anybody read this?
Silver Member
So the other night I was playing in our ten ball league and not once but twice I had a table run stunted by a ball dropping into the pocket and then hopping right back out onto the table. Nearly made me lose it the second time. Now these are not just drop pockets. These are valley tables. It was not even on the same table.

Anyone else ever have trouble with this?


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Shannon.spronk said:
So the other night I was playing in our ten ball league and not once but twice I had a table run stunted by a ball dropping into the pocket and then hopping right back out onto the table. Nearly made me lose it the second time. Now these are not just drop pockets. These are valley tables. It was not even on the same table.

Anyone else ever have trouble with this?


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All the time. The Valley drop pocket liners bounce balls out that are struck hard. Especially if they have been repaired with tape or something because they've cracked.

EDIT: oversized cueballs contribute to this!!!!
 
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I rarely play on Valleys but the first time I went to Nationals (ACS) in Vegas, first match, first shot I hit a ball into the side pocket that came right back out. Absolutely freaked me out. It only happened once but I kept waiting for it.

Brian in VA
 
Had it happen plenty on tables with plastic pocket liners. A friend of mine has a Brunswick 8 footer with plastic pocket liners and it's almost a daily occurrence with balls flying out.
 
Odd coincidence: just this morning I had a 10-ball into the corner pocket, jump about a foot straight up in the air. Luckily it came back down in the pocket.

It was fun to see everyone's reaction. Whoa!

Note: Not a Valley table. It's an 8-foot Presidential Billiards with plastic drop pockets. The mechanic who re-clothed the table said the cushion facings didn't have any downward angle and asked if we ever have balls pop up.
 
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DAVE_M said:
Had it happen plenty on tables with plastic pocket liners. A friend of mine has a Brunswick 8 footer with plastic pocket liners and it's almost a daily occurrence with balls flying out.
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A leather pocket will do this as well, if the Irons get loose. If you can jiggle the pocket with your hand, you can bet that sooner or later, it will spit a ball back out, especially with any kind of speed on the shot......very frustrating.:eek:
 
one reason valley tables do this is when the pocket liner isn't press back against the casting. I don't recommend valley pocket liners for this reason.
 
I have not had that happen yet but my friend has a furniture table with leather drop pockets and they are round. I had a ball spin all they way around the side pocket and come out the opposite side it went in, twice.:angry:
 
Definitely had this happen a few times on Valleys in disrepair. The pocket liners were a little loose, and I had a couple of side pocket shots jump back out. If I remember correctly, it was on a hard draw stroke. Interestingly enough, the ball return gully pockets on my GCIII occasionally throws a ball out of the sides because of the size of the opening into the return track being small. That only happens with an absurd amount of follow...
 
This used too happen too me all the time with my old table it had the leather drop pockets but now that I have the pro am have not had it happen idk if it has too do with the pockets or what
 
It only happens on a Valley when the pocket liners in at the wrong angle. I've hit 1000's of balls on mine and it hasn't happened even once. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
It only happens on a Valley when the pocket liners in at the wrong angle. I've hit 1000's of balls on mine and it hasn't happened even once. Johnnyt
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I was just about too say this I had too adjust mine all time cuz after while they would slope down a lil not even
 
Busboy said:
I was just about too say this I had too adjust mine all time cuz after while they would slope down a lil not even
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There are 2 bolts on each corner holding the corners together. If they are loose, the liners will have room to shift. Johnnyt
 
Used to be tables at a venue here that had metal runners for the ball return and if hit with pace into a side they would spring off the bars back onto the table.
My GC has metal runners but I've never had it happen on mine. I just get balls that either fall off the runners onto the floor, or get off the runners and stay between the frame and runner and stay there. Only balls pocketed in the side.
 
If you happen to be playing on a table you know this may happen on, put a ball or two in the pocket before you shoot your shot. When you shoot with some speed this will help prevent them from spinning out.
 
Efren's match

I can't remember who Efren's opponent was, but his opp. had a ball pop out of the pocket, Efren's subsequent shot in same pocket, his ball popped out too.
 
The only tables that I see it happen on consistently are Golden West, which are about the only leather pocket tables that I play on.
The old Shakespeare's in Denver had 9 ft. Golden West tables and it was so common, especially the side pockets, that they changed the rules for the Wednesday night in-house league.
If the ball popped out and didn't touch any other balls, it counted.
Coincidently, tonight my in-house APA league plays on 7 ft. Golden West tables, and you really have to watch it there, and I've seen the ball spin it's way out on a relatively simple corner pocket shot.
Freaks me out when it happens.
Shakespeare's was never able to correct it, but I doubt they tried replacing the leather.

Rarely have I seen it happen on a Valley table, but I can see it with the side pockets.
 
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