Tight Pockets

[jalapus logan]

I dislike super tight tables mainly not because they are tough but because they change the game. There are absolutely certain shots that DO NOT GO on a stupid tight table THAT SHOULD GO and do go on a regular table. This ends up making you change your startegy, stroke, mentality which I don't think you should have to do.

This is true. It also discourages exploring other aspects of the game. On a tight table, a player will often elect to pass up a bank shot or another shot such as one using force follow when shot from a decent distance. I will play on all tables, but tight tables do not improve a players stroke. Drills and practice does that. I've seen great players play on tight tables on the stream from places like Hardtimes. Really boring to watch and I could tell that it changed their games.

The Diamond table with the deep shelf is tough enough but fair enough. 4" pockets don't make much sense to me. But to each their own.

 

[Eric.]

I think some advice might overlap from this thread:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=69419


Eric >:wink:

 

[jasonlaus]

I dislike super tight tables mainly not because they are tough but because they change the game. There are absolutely certain shots that DO NOT GO on a stupid tight table THAT SHOULD GO and do go on a regular table. This ends up making you change your startegy, stroke, mentality which I don't think you should have to do.

I told the guy doing mine - I should be able to hit the ball 100mph and it should go in if its hit correctly, he agreed. I havent changed one thing about my stroke or speed because of the pockets.
Jason

 

[pt109]

I dislike super tight tables mainly not because they are tough but because they change the game. There are absolutely certain shots that DO NOT GO on a stupid tight table THAT SHOULD GO and do go on a regular table. This ends up making you change your startegy, stroke, mentality which I don't think you should have to do.

That's how I feel about tight pool pockets....I wanna play POOL on a pool table, not SNOOKER.

 

[Bank it]

I agree, for 1 pocket the tighter the better but for 14.1, banks and rotation it actually makes the game a little ridiculous. I don't want buckets but I don't want 4" pockets either.

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

Its been over four months now and I still seem to be struggling to make shots on my GCIV with the 4.25 inch pockets. Especially shots down the rails. Seems as if you have to pretty much hit the shot really sweet for it to go. Any contact with the side rails and they seem to rattle and most of the time wont fall.

Plus another drawback is that it makes it more difficult for balls to go in on the break.

I am wondering if I need to call my mechanic back and ask him to loosen them up a little somehow?

r/DCP

 

[Wheels33]

Its been over four months now and I still seem to be struggling to make shots on my GCIV with the 4.25 inch pockets. Especially shots down the rails. Seems as if you have to pretty much hit the shot really sweet for it to go. Any contact with the side rails and they seem to rattle and most of the time wont fall.

Plus another drawback is that it makes it more difficult for balls to go in on the break.

I am wondering if I need to call my mechanic back and ask him to loosen them up a little somehow?

r/DCP

Look up some of RealKingCobra's posts....I know there have been threads on here that talk about the angle of the pocket and how it must match with the pocket size or it will cause balls to rattle like crazy.

I've got 4 3/8 " pockets, and I don't have any issue hitting balls down the rail. I can slow roll or hit it a million miles an hour and it will drop.

It could be that the angle of the pocket opening and/or the down angle of the pocket facing don't match up with the size of your pockets.

Something to look into if you haven't already.

 

[deanoc]

tight pockets are no fun
watch tony and bustamote miss shots all night with 4.25
watch them miss banks all night
what fun is that


pool is more fun with 5inch pockets

 

[dickp]

Look up some of RealKingCobra's posts....I know there have been threads on here that talk about the angle of the pocket and how it must match with the pocket size or it will cause balls to rattle like crazy.

I've got 4 3/8 " pockets, and I don't have any issue hitting balls down the rail. I can slow roll or hit it a million miles an hour and it will drop.

It could be that the angle of the pocket opening and/or the down angle of the pocket facing don't match up with the size of your pockets.

Something to look into if you haven't already.

Absolutely this!
How did your mechanic go about tightening your pockets? Did he just glue a bunch of extra pocket facings on, or did he extend the subrails? Even aside from the pocket angle issue (which is huge), you technically could have pockets cut to an ideal angle, but if there's 3/4" of soft rubber either side of your pocket, it's not surprising that you're getting balls rattling out. And if that's the case, it's not even any better of a One Pocket table either, since you don't have any more effective rail to work with for banks close to the pockets (just an unpredictable, monster pocket point that extends too far up the rails, if you follow me).

Use the search function to pull up RKC's posts on this, as Wheels suggested, and also Mark Gregory's posts. As Wheels pointed out, if balls well hit down the rail are rattling out, something is very wrong.

But recognizing that you have a problem is the first step to recovery, lol. I don't know what kind of budget you're working with, but a home table that plays like crap is going to turn you into a bowler faster than anything. You already invested in the table. Sending your rails off to someone like Mark Gregory will have you weeping with joy once you get them back, after what sounds like months of frustration. He made me an Anniversary out of walnut with 4.25" pockets and while it's tough as hell for me (I'm no A-level player), it has zero rattle and so long as I do my part and put the ball between the points, it'll fall - even at break speed.

Lots of far more knowledgeable posters have already made compelling arguments for why sub-4.5" pockets fundamentally change the game in some detrimental ways, particularly if you're not predominantly a one-holer. Wouldn't presume to disagree. However, since you've clearly made a commitment to having tight pockets, there IS an argument for you following through, which is that if you just have your mechanic scrape off the extra pocket facings and return your table to standard, this may well foster a phobia of tight pockets.

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

Absolutely this!
How did your mechanic go about tightening your pockets? Did he just glue a bunch of extra pocket facings on, or did he extend the subrails?

My mechanic put all new SuperSpeed cushions on my table. I'm not sure exactly how he got the pockets down to 4.25 inches.

He did make a comment to me last March that he could do something to make the pockets a little more open. I might have to give him a call and see what he says here.

r/DCP

 

[Icon of Sin]

My mechanic put all new SuperSpeed cushions on my table. I'm not sure exactly how he got the pockets down to 4.25 inches.

He did make a comment to me last March that he could do something to make the pockets a little more open. I might have to give him a call and see what he says here.

r/DCP

Question... long thread, not sure if it's been asked.... do the walls of your pockets look more like this | | or like this \ /.

I asked because the more open they are the less chance of them accepting balls near the rail. The rattle more.

There is a weekly tourney I shoot in on Saturday nights. Pockets for the most part are big. It is on 9 foot Brunswick Century table. Not quite as good as a GC but still a decent table. Well shooting balls from the middle of the bed of the table isnt a problem, you got all the room in the world. But you would be making a mistake if you think that when balls are near the rail. The pockets are cut with the faces pretty open, balls hit the wall of the pocket and just hang on the shelf. You have to hit them perfect.

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

Question... long thread, not sure if it's been asked.... do the walls of your pockets look more like this | | or like this \ /.

I asked because the more open they are the less chance of them accepting balls near the rail. The rattle more.

Here are a few pics of my pockets.

 

[Icon of Sin]

Here are a few pics of my pockets.

The first two pics dont look bad, the last one looks like it is a bit more open. The pocket looks tight as hell though. I play on a 4 inch GC3 regularly at my local poolhall, your table looks tougher.

How did he tighten it? The material/shims could also play a part for the pocket not accepting balls.

 

[Jimbojim]

As long as the pockets are honest, having them tight is a plus.

But not to a point where it should change the way you need to play it but only where it punishes the nonchalant.

 

[BmoreMoney]

The first two pics dont look bad, the last one looks like it is a bit more open. The pocket looks tight as hell though. I play on a 4 inch GC3 regularly at my local poolhall, your table looks tougher.

How did he tighten it? The material/shims could also play a part for the pocket not accepting balls.

Ya talking about nines and the Hat? I've never cared for the tables at 9's ( been playing on those for let's say 25 years lol ) and I know Hat has 2 or 3 of I guess " triple shimmer tables ". They always put non locals on one of those three if action and they don't know any better.

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

The first two pics dont look bad, the last one looks like it is a bit more open. The pocket looks tight as hell though. I play on a 4 inch GC3 regularly at my local poolhall, your table looks tougher.

How did he tighten it? The material/shims could also play a part for the pocket not accepting balls.

Back on Page 3 of this thread is another pic of two balls in the pocket.

Not sure how he tightened it. I believe he used contact cement and staples to put some black things over the end/edge of the SuperSpeed cushions.

 

[Wheels33]

Here are a few pics of my pockets.

It's hard to tell from a picture.

the difference of even a degree or two can make a huge difference.....it's not something that you can measure with your eye.

do a search on the forum for 'miter angle' .....if you dig deep enough, you'll find a post that will tell you the precise angle a 4 1/4" pocket facing should be.

 

[iusedtoberich]

If you can't hit the facing of the pocket cleanly, almost every time, without brushing the rail (even the tiniest amount) before pocketing the ball, why in the world did you get super tight pockets?

 

[Lesh]

With 4.25 inch pockets is it possible this Gold Crown IV can play too tough? One poster told me that would be brutal to play on. I've noticed I'm not getting too many chances off the break the last few days.

r/DCP

4.25" pockets are like single or double-shimmed. Sure, the smaller the pockets, the fewer balls you will see going on the break. Simple. Smaller pockets = less balls made on break.

I'm really just here to read peoples heroic tales of 3" pockets and how lucky you are. Why, back in my day, we'd have to fend off a grizzly bear while kicking a ball three rails in 1-Pocket AND getting safe.

Imma whipper snapper,

Lesh

 

[realkingcobra]

They do play great. If i want to run out. I have to WANT to run out. I love it. Next time, I say we put 4s on it, Todd. I like to shoot straight, and im shooting as straight as i did when i was younger, and its only because of tight pockets

That corner pocket is 4 3/8"ths, not 4 1/4"