Table without side pockets

[macguy]

Looks like Earl is going to get what he wants. I head Upstate Al mention that Earl and Efren..(Efrom to some)...were going to have a match at Steinways (sp) sometime in the near future on a table with just the corner pockets. Anyone heard more about this? Earl was spot on about ten foot tables. He started shooting with an extension on his cue for all shots, that has many top players and us little people following suit. He was right...again and again. Hope he's right about this as well. Can't wait to so what happens.

If he doesn't want to use side pockets, don't. You don't need a special table. Maybe a few on here give it a try playing without side pockets and see how it changes the game.

 

[pt109]

Hokay, Earl....how about this one?
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j...joB4bbi_LFNyn0jaQnndEJyA&ust=1402512031870723

 

[Mr. Bond]

Also a bit like english bar billiards. The 'pockets' are actually holes in the bed of the table, which also has strategically placed skittles on it.

English billiards is fun as hell.

+5 for the proper use of 'skittles ' in a sentence.

 

[bdorman]

But where will I scratch on the break?

Sure, I can put the CB in a corner pocket but where's the skill in that?

It's like playing a golf course with no sandtraps.

 

[AngryTurtle]

I like the idea of booby trap side pockets, where a ball in means a foul.

 

[JoshStodola]

He is brilliant

Like many things that Earl says, it sounds a little
crazy at first. But the more I think about it, this
would really make things more challenging for the
top pros. Or as he would probably put it, separate
the men from the boys.

 

[Magog30]

Instead of eliminating the side pockets I have suggested making them smaller at 4.5 like the corner pockets. This makes it harder to pocket balls at sharp angles but still allows for side banks that most of us love!

 

[pooler]

Since side pockets are for wimps lets put flippers in them like you see in the pin ball games.

Have them constantly flipping so you have to time the flip just right to make a ball go in.

If you hit the flipper it just flips the ball back onto the table.

Don

Ladies and Gentlemen, place your bets:
which player flips out first :thumbup:

 

[westcoast]

interesting and somewhat funny video of Earl ranting about numerous things and then performing a trick shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o26poHcEFI

 

[Electech]

I love Earl to death, but this is the goofiest thing Ive ever heard from him.
Heres an idea as long as we're talking about goofy stuff.....

9'x18' table
12' cues that weigh 25lbs minimum
Only one pocket on the table thats guarded by a guy with a hockey mask.
If you make a ball on the break, it gets spotted on the table next to you, and you have to jump it in the only pocket on YOUR table, with your 25 lbs cue or the guy with the mask gets to tazer you.
The object of the game is to pocket 25 balls out of the 50 ball stack, and every other shot has to be behind the back with your off hand. Failure to do so in 3 minutes results in a tazer to the back.
Then its the opponents turn. If he can beat your time, you get tazed again, else he has to take one to the nuts.
I call the game Giant Table Tazer Tag Ball.

Chuck

^ this is great!!

 

[jeffj2h]

Has anyone actually heard Earl explain why he proposed eliminating the side pockets?

 

[3kushn]

Ironically, four-pocket tables were actually the standard for many games back in the middle 1800's.

In april 1864 the first technically 'public' competition of 3ball caroms was played on a 6x12' four pocket table.

Yes, that's a 12 foot table.

Thank you Mr. Bond for stepping in. I was trying to prove this, finally you stepped in. Case closed.

I'd personally love to play on this table. Side pockets are a drag. They always get in the way of a good carom.

 

[Mr. Bond]

Thank you Mr. Bond for stepping in. I was trying to prove this, finally you stepped in. Case closed.

I'd personally love to play on this table. Side pockets are a drag. They always get in the way of a good carom.

Can you even imagine ...3kush or straight rail on 12ft of lawn .....with hazards :0
It's enough to keep a man up at night.

 

[Mr. Bond]

Thanks!

Bar billiards is a really fun game. In another thread someone was asking for suggestions to increase business at a pool hall. English billiards would do the trixk, and since you only shoot from one end, you don't need much space.

Another genius solution to limited space I also saw in England. It wad a hexagonal (with 6 pockets), revolving table! The revolving was so smooth that, unless you were rough, the balls would stay in correct position. Again, as you shot from the same position the table could be wedged into a corner. Not sure I'd want a table like this, but it was good fun for a couple of evenings. Playing position took some getting used to!

I really really want to play this....'devil amongst the tailors' game. It looks like a total mindphuck...lol..

http://chicagobilliardmuseum.org/files/Devil_Among_the_Tailor.jpg

 

[Webbs Billiards]

If you want to make it more difficult, I'd say add pockets and make it more like one pocket... Every other is off limits, is a foul/scratch with a severe limit on the number of foul shots per set including the break.

Four pockets, just in the corners, is like lowering the basketball goal for the taller players.

 

[gxman]

I'd like to see earl in some real action matches.

 

[pt109]

Like many things that Earl says, it sounds a little
crazy at first. But the more I think about it, this
would really make things more challenging for the
top pros. Or as he would probably put it, separate
the men from the boys.

I've been around a lot of action....
...if you want to separate the men from the boys....
....play on 5 inch pockets with a clean fall.

If you miss, you lose.

 

[3kushn]

Can you even imagine ...3kush or straight rail on 12ft of lawn .....with hazards :0
It's enough to keep a man up at night.

What a great game. I've been looking for skittles for a while hoping it might get my 14 yr old interested in picking up a cue.

Also thinking of trading my Verhoeven for a pool table:frown:

 

[Cuebuddy]

Hey, let's create a table that has these little stanchions strategically placed around the table so not only do you have to play position on the next ball you have to avoid the stanchions. You could also use them to bank off of. Sorry for the sarcasm but I guess I am too set in my ways. Bad idea IMO but he is free to do as he wants.

Al

This might be close.

 

[RiverCity]

I've been around a lot of action....
...if you want to separate the men from the boys....
....play on 5 inch pockets with a clean fall.

If you miss, you lose.

Bingo. The pro game has changed and IMO not for the better. The movement towards tighter pocketed, tougher playing tables have slowed the game down, and led to increased safety play when the shot is there, but is lower percentage because of the table. I think its also added to the now common rack inspection and mechanics that goes on. It makes the game less interesting to watch, ESPECIALLY to the general public who dont understand why the players seem to be playing timid. And stand there for 5 minutes staring at the pack before they break, often reracking the balls several times.
Looser tables and longer races makes for a much more interesting and fun to watch match. It becomes more about runout power than a gaffed up table. And the better player still wins.
Chuck