If Given the Choice...

victorl

victorl

Where'd my stroke go?
Silver Member
Let's say your playing 9 ball match against a player who's a couple of balls better than you.

If you could choose between playing on a table with regular (4.5" ) pockets, a loose table, or a tight one, which would you prefer? What about if you're playing someone who is lower-ranked than yourself?

I'm interested in seeing what players of different skill levels would choose and why.

Vic
 
CBW said:
Tighter pockets always favor the stronger player so adjust accordingly.
Click to expand...

Depends on the game....the more weight you give, the looser you want
the table to be.....and vice versa
 
Depends on the player. Better but aggressive player, I want tight pockets. Better but conservative player, standard or loose pockets. If I'm the better player I want tight pockets in most cases, unless the opponent has a strong defensive game but can't make shots, then give me the buckets lol.
 
Here is one reason that tight pockets might favor the better player. Bert Kinister has a 9-foot Gold Crown I with the tightest pockets I've ever seen. The table is abusive; you have to focus on every shot. I've played multiple sets with him a half a dozen times and he usually drums me.

And here's why the table seems to favor him: He knows that on this table I'm not a favorite to run 6 balls and out. But he can. So if he has no shot and he does not think I can run out, he will ride the 9 or otherwise blast the balls. Something, maybe the 9, seems to fall an amazing percentage of the time. To the casual observer he looks like the luckiest guy in the world. But it's intentional luck, used as a strategy on a tight pocketed table.
 
Some good points, guys. I guess it's really what you feel comfortable with.

Personally, I prefer playing on tighter tables against better players because it reduces their chances of runnning out and putting packages together. I feel I have a better chance to win if I can drag them down into the trenches for a long, hard fought battle.

Against weaker players, I'll know I'll be in control of the table most of the time, so I'd prefer normal to loose pockets so I can cheat the pocket more for shape, put together some runs and overpower my opponent without having to work too hard.
 
Tight table, if I get to shoot I can win. If my opponent is running 4s and 5's on me I wont be able to win just due to the shell shock.
 
Tight as possible, I don't know why some of you think a tighter table prevents others from putting packages together on you, it doesn't at all. It's not gonna slow me down, it will hurt you more.
 
Colonel said:
Tight as possible, I don't know why some of you think a tighter table prevents others from putting packages together on you, it doesn't at all. It's not gonna slow me down, it will hurt you more.
Click to expand...

It does, a lot actually. People still put up packages on tighter tables, but the frequency is far lower.

Check out any given match on table 1 at Hardtimes.
 
Masayoshi said:
It does, a lot actually. People still put up packages on tighter tables, but the frequency is far lower.

Check out any given match on table 1 at Hardtimes.
Click to expand...

We'll have to agree to disagree then, my favorite table is triple shimmed, intentionally as to hone my game sharp. I torture people on it, put me on a looser table & it really gets ugly. It's all what you've adapted your game to.
 
TIGHT.

I play with a guy 4 balls ahead of me at least every so often and I get demolished on any normal table.

When we switch to the 10 foot with the rough pockets it gets better,

As long as he jaws the 9 at least. :cool:
 
Colonel said:
We'll have to agree to disagree then, my favorite table is triple shimmed, intentionally as to hone my game sharp. I torture people on it, put me on a looser table & it really gets ugly. It's all what you've adapted your game to.
Click to expand...

Umm...so if you play on a looser table, you torture people more than on your tight table. That would imply you are running out more on the looser table, contrary to what you are claiming.
 
Masayoshi said:
Umm...so if you play on a looser table, you torture people more than on your tight table. That would imply you are running out more on the looser table, contrary to what you are claiming.
Click to expand...

You taking it out of context. The question is what do I prefer, I prefer tighter because my game is adapted to 4" pockets & it doesn't hamper my ability to string packages on you as a result. Will I be more fierce on a table with 4.5" pockets, sure, who isn't but my preference is tighter because playing someone of similar speed to myself with my game adapted to 4" pockets & his not its my advantage. I'm going to put strings together either way.
 
Colonel said:
You taking it out of context. The question is what do I prefer, I prefer tighter because my game is adapted to 4" pockets & it doesn't hamper my ability to string packages on you as a result. Will I be more fierce on a table with 4.5" pockets, sure, who isn't but my preference is tighter because playing someone of similar speed to myself with my game adapted to 4" pockets & his not its my advantage. I'm going to put strings together either way.
Click to expand...

Suppose you are playing someone of a similar speed to yourself but you have a much better break, are the 4" pockets going to allow you to capitalize on that advantage?

Each match is different imo.
 
Last edited:
Colonel said:
You taking it out of context. The question is what do I prefer, I prefer tighter because my game is adapted to 4" pockets & it doesn't hamper my ability to string packages on you as a result. Will I be more fierce on a table with 4.5" pockets, sure, who isn't but my preference is tighter because playing someone of similar speed to myself with my game adapted to 4" pockets & his not its my advantage. I'm going to put strings together either way.
Click to expand...

What's out of context? Just because your game is oriented towards tighter tables doesn't mean you will be running out on 4 inch pockets with the same frequency as 4.5 inch pockets.

If you had one chance to pick a table to run a 5 pack on or get shot in the head, would you pick a table with 4 inch pockets or 4.5 inch pockets?

Any chance you give me, even safeties (assuming you or the player I am playing is 2 or 3 balls better than me according to the OP), I will take and do infinitely more than I could had you run out on me instead. And considering the amount of chances you get is positively correlated to the toughness of the table, I would say my odds are much better on the tighter table.
 
Masayoshi said:
What's out of context? Just because your game is oriented towards tighter tables doesn't mean you will be running out on 4 inch pockets with the same frequency as 4.5 inch pockets.

If you had one chance to pick a table to run a 5 pack on or get shot in the head, would you pick a table with 4 inch pockets or 4.5 inch pockets?

Any chance you give me, even safeties (assuming you or the player I am playing is 2 or 3 balls better than me according to the OP), I will take and do infinitely more than I could had you run out on me instead. And considering the amount of chances you get is positively correlated to the toughness of the table, I would say my odds are much better on the tighter table.
Click to expand...

You took it out of context in that the thread question is about what we prefer, I prefer one thing, you may prefer something else. I don't argue your point of what you like or why & don't feel the need to defend my choice either.
 
(((Satori))) said:
Suppose you are playing someone of a similar speed to yourself but you have a much better break, are the 4" pockets going to allow you to capitalize on that advantage?

Each match is different imo.
Click to expand...

I'll take my chances as I feel good about them.
 
victorl said:
Let's say your playing 9 ball match against a player who's a couple of balls better than you.

If you could choose between playing on a table with regular (4.5" ) pockets, a loose table, or a tight one, which would you prefer? What about if you're playing someone who is lower-ranked than yourself?

I'm interested in seeing what players of different skill levels would choose and why.

Vic
Click to expand...

Playing 9 ball the loose table favors the better player a lot. This is not even debatable all you have to do is play the game on different tables and you will see what happens.
I was in with Toby once and he was giving a guy the 7, 8 9 and they played on a tough front table. At the end of the night they were around even. The next night that table was being used and they played on another table that pretty much loose.

Here is the dynamic in play. A guy getting the 7 8 9 is not a great player to start with. What advantage will the looser table give him? He will have a balls go in that may have rattled on the tight table now and then. He isn't any smarter, he doesn't play any better safeties or kick any better he will just make a few more balls with the assistance of the easier table.

For Toby though the loose table turns him into a God. He may never miss and he can do things he couldn't on the other table. Like maybe like fire a ball down the rail and get out where on the other table it would have rattled and then put three more racks in back of that.

Both players will benefit from the loose table, just that the loose tables value though is much greater to the better player then to the weaker player. In some cases so much so as to have the game go completely off kilter in the favor of the better player.

If players play about the same speed, a tighter table will produce a much better match and may expose some weakness in one of the players.
 
Last edited:
jeffj2h said:
Here is one reason that tight pockets might favor the better player. Bert Kinister has a 9-foot Gold Crown I with the tightest pockets I've ever seen. The table is abusive; you have to focus on every shot. I've played multiple sets with him a half a dozen times and he usually drums me.

And here's why the table seems to favor him: He knows that on this table I'm not a favorite to run 6 balls and out. But he can. So if he has no shot and he does not think I can run out, he will ride the 9 or otherwise blast the balls. Something, maybe the 9, seems to fall an amazing percentage of the time. To the casual observer he looks like the luckiest guy in the world. But it's intentional luck, used as a strategy on a tight pocketed table.
Click to expand...

Sounds like Mr. Kinister has himself a copy of Push & Pool's guide :D

STRATEGIC BLAST!!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top