Initial thoughts after playing on a 12 foot snooker table for the first time.

[ChrisinNC]

I figured I would just make a new thread out of this as opposed to my 2+ week old thread asking for opinions about which Cue to use on a 12 foot snooker table.

First impression, it didn’t take me long to realize my 12 mm shaft/tip I use for pool was way too big for a standard size snooker cue ball. I just didn’t feel like I could get precise enough aim when lining up a shot, so honestly I didn’t even give it much of a chance.

With a snooker cue with a 9 mm shaft/tip, I was amazed at what virtually seemed like zero deflection of compensation needed when aiming, when applying spin on the ball. Once I adjusted to this and stopped over cutting everything, I was fine.

Also, even when trying to hit dead center ball, I initially found myself over cutting virtually all my cut shots. Apparently from the two snooker/pool players I was playing with, that is normal trying to adjust from standard size pool balls to the much smaller standard size snooker balls.

Does anyone on here that actually knows the physics, does a half ball center to edge contact between a cue ball and an object ball result in an increased degree angle of cut as the balls get smaller? It seems like I vaguely remember from the old days of playing with the big cue ball on a barbox table, that you had to cut a ball more than you normally think you have to cut it with the big cue ball as opposed to a standard size cue ball. I guess the same concept applies?

 

[Black-Balled]

No direct input for you, but I have been wanting to get the balls for the snooker table instead of the carom table at a place I've begun visiting.

I'll be watching this thread before doing that.

 

[jviss]

standard size pool balls to the much smaller standard size snooker balls

They're smaller, but I wouldn't say "much smaller." It's 57mm versus 52.5mm in diameter. (2 1/4" v. ~ 2 1/16")

 

[jviss]

No direct input for you, but I have been wanting to get the balls for the snooker table instead of the carom table at a place I've begun visiting.

I'll be watching this thread before doing that.

Not following that. They have a carom table? I thought those didn't have pockets?

 

[ChrisinNC]

They're smaller, but I wouldn't say "much smaller." It's 57mm versus 52.5mm in diameter. (2 1/4" v. ~ 2 1/16")

It may not sound like a lot, when you put both these balls on the table up against each other, it is a huge difference not only in size but in weight, which I’m guessing is even more than the 10% size difference.

 

[ShootingArts]

It may not sound like a lot, when you put both these balls on the table up against each other, it is a huge difference not only in size but in weight, which I’m guessing is even more than the 10% size difference.

When playing with the big cue ball on a bar table, it is big and the other balls are smaller. This difference in size is what changes the cut angle. If all balls were one inch or three inches the half ball hit would result in the same cut angle.

WIsh I had a snooker table nearby, they are fun!

Hu

 

[ChrisinNC]

When playing with the big cue ball on a bar table, it is big and the other balls are smaller. This difference in size is what changes the cut angle. If all balls were one inch or three inches the half ball hit would result in the same cut angle.

WIsh I had a snooker table nearby, they are fun!

Hu

If we had a bigger pool room with more than our current 10 tables (8-9’, 1-7’, 1-10’), I wouldn’t think twice about removing two of our tables and replacing them with a 12-foot snooker table.

 

[jviss]

It may not sound like a lot, when you put both these balls on the table up against each other, it is a huge difference not only in size but in weight, which I’m guessing is even more than the 10% size difference.

Yes, but you don't put them on the table next to each other.

BTW, I play snooker on a 12' table (suspended for covid) with what I think might be American snooker balls, 2 1/8." Not sure, I will check when we can return.

 

[Black-Balled]

Not following that. They have a carom table? I thought those didn't have pockets?

You follow.

I been going to a place that just put in 4 beautiful billiards tables and 2 snooker tables, all new.

There is a group that comes in and gambles amongst themselves. One day when I came in. One dude was there playing solo and I said I'd like to try playing snooker but didn't know how...he lit up like it was fucking Christmas and said he plays..for money. I was tempted to tell him to put the reds up and we could play some for 10 or 20 a ball, but I will keep that quiet for the right opportunity- the Koreans there like to gamble and I am becoming accepted- his group comes in and we might get to betting pretty good.

I seen how he plays and he's not going to like a shooting battle.

 

[Black-Balled]

Yes, but you don't put them on the table next to each other.

BTW, I play snooker on a 12' table (suspended for covid) with what I think might be American snooker balls, 2 1/8." Not sure, I will check when we can return.

I've played with pool balls on a snooker table before and it was basically impossible to shoot a ball in the hole. I wouldn't even bet I could shoot a full rack of balls into the holes directly.

There must be some different pocket size standards.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... There must be some different pocket size standards.

For official events the table has to match pocket templates. If a table is an American table, it almost certainly doesn't match the templates. I've seen a US "snooker" table that was so tight you couldn't make the black off its spot. They didn't play snooker on it.

On a tournament table, it is possible to run a ball down the rail at speed and have some chance of it dropping.

 

[straightline]

For official events the table has to match pocket templates. If a table is an American table, it almost certainly doesn't match the templates. I've seen a US "snooker" table that was so tight you couldn't make the black off its spot. They didn't play snooker on it.

On a tournament table, it is possible to run a ball down the rail at speed and have some chance of it dropping.

I like tight but impossible is counterproductive. You can dribble pool balls down the rail on commercial snooker tables if the groove holds but what's the point? You'd only shoot those golfing or whatever motivates snooker interchange.
I got the best mileage out of the big tables just practicing; making observations on shot mechanics etc. CIT is a good one to practice on a big table. Long thin cuts reveal what it is about ball paths. Simply memorize...

 

[book collector]

I figured I would just make a new thread out of this as opposed to my 2+ week old thread asking for opinions about which Cue to use on a 12 foot snooker table.

First impression, it didn’t take me long to realize my 12 mm shaft/tip I use for pool was way too big for a standard size snooker cue ball. I just didn’t feel like I could get precise enough aim when lining up a shot, so honestly I didn’t even give it much of a chance.

With a snooker cue with a 9 mm shaft/tip, I was amazed at what virtually seemed like zero deflection of compensation needed when aiming, when applying spin on the ball. Once I adjusted to this and stopped over cutting everything, I was fine.

Also, even when trying to hit dead center ball, I initially found myself over cutting virtually all my cut shots. Apparently from the two snooker/pool players I was playing with, that is normal trying to adjust from standard size pool balls to the much smaller standard size snooker balls.

Does anyone on here that actually knows the physics, does a half ball center to edge contact between a cue ball and an object ball result in an increased degree angle of cut as the balls get smaller? It seems like I vaguely remember from the old days of playing with the big cue ball on a barbox table, that you had to cut a ball more than you normally think you have to cut it with the big cue ball as opposed to a standard size cue ball. I guess the same concept applies?

I figured I would just make a new thread out of this as opposed to my 2+ week old thread asking for opinions about which Cue to use on a 12 foot snooker table.

First impression, it didn’t take me long to realize my 12 mm shaft/tip I use for pool was way too big for a standard size snooker cue ball. I just didn’t feel like I could get precise enough aim when lining up a shot, so honestly I didn’t even give it much of a chance.

With a snooker cue with a 9 mm shaft/tip, I was amazed at what virtually seemed like zero deflection of compensation needed when aiming, when applying spin on the ball. Once I adjusted to this and stopped over cutting everything, I was fine.

Also, even when trying to hit dead center ball, I initially found myself over cutting virtually all my cut shots. Apparently from the two snooker/pool players I was playing with, that is normal trying to adjust from standard size pool balls to the much smaller standard size snooker balls.

Does anyone on here that actually knows the physics, does a half ball center to edge contact between a cue ball and an object ball result in an increased degree angle of cut as the balls get smaller? It seems like I vaguely remember from the old days of playing with the big cue ball on a barbox table, that you had to cut a ball more than you normally think you have to cut it with the big cue ball as opposed to a standard size cue ball. I guess the same concept applies?

I haven't even seen a 12 foot table since the 1960s

 

[Geosnookery]

I’m glad you had a positive experience on a Snooker table.

As I mentioned before, many American pool players feel discouraged on a Snooker table but actually do fine once they reboot their mind set and approach the game differently. A winning strategy is about cueball position and not trying to sink a ball on most trips to the table.

I also play 8 ball and 9 ball on my snooker table with American size balls...no issue with pocket size. Yes, a bit more difficult but just adds to more challenge to the game.

Using a snooker cue isn’t better or worse but just ‘different’. Now you know why top snooker players like Ronnie O’Sullivan and Steve Davis use their snooker cues when playing American pool. One gets used to putting extreme spin and accuracy on a ball and it changes how you approach the table...less straight lines and more subtle curves. American cues are fine for American pool when coming off on a couple banks to get a good general line on a shot.

Fun video. When watching snooker videos it’s more about where the cuball ends than sinking a ball. Getting on a high value colour from a red, etc.

 

[alphadog]

You follow.

I been going to a place that just put in 4 beautiful billiards tables and 2 snooker tables, all new.

There is a group that comes in and gambles amongst themselves. One day when I came in. One dude was there playing solo and I said I'd like to try playing snooker but didn't know how...he lit up like it was fucking Christmas and said he plays..for money. I was tempted to tell him to put the reds up and we could play some for 10 or 20 a ball, but I will keep that quiet for the right opportunity- the Koreans there like to gamble and I am becoming accepted- his group comes in and we might get to betting pretty good.

I seen how he plays and he's not going to like a shooting battle.

Go get em BB.

In the old poolhall there was a group of Africans that gambled amongst themselves, for.....livestock.

 

[9ball5032]

Hard Times Bellflower Snooker/Golf Table 12ft. Riley
1988 to 2005ish Liability and Golf was the game
2005ish to 2020 Golf was mostly played
pocket size so small you practically needed to set the ball to make it.

 

[jay helfert]

For official events the table has to match pocket templates. If a table is an American table, it almost certainly doesn't match the templates. I've seen a US "snooker" table that was so tight you couldn't make the black off its spot. They didn't play snooker on it.

On a tournament table, it is possible to run a ball down the rail at speed and have some chance of it dropping.

You got to see Denny Searcy in his prime I believe. No one ever ran a ball down the rail better than him on a snooker table.

 

[Geosnookery]

You got to see Denny Searcy in his prime I believe. No one ever ran a ball down the rail better than him on a snooker table.

Many good Snooker players ‘can’ often run a ball down a rail and pot it. The issue is at what risk. If that skilled, then likey there is a better choice of safety shot on the table.

Today O'Sullivan and Higgins are playing in a 19 frame match. Two of the best to ever pick up a billiards cue. Chances are neither will attempt to run a ball down the rail even once. It’s not good enough to pot it 80% of the time ...that’s way too much risk of leaving a hanger or losing the advantage that a good safety would have made.

I can ‘often’ run a ball down a rail with a touch of low english rail side . If I make it? Cueball likely out of position even if I pot the object ball. If I don’t pot it, opponent has a hanger he can get good position off.

The Brits have an analogy with football, Liverpool could easiky score 10 goals against Manchester United...however, they would have 15 scored against them. Better to win 1-0. It’s not about potting difficult balls in Snooker but winning the frame.

 

[jviss]

Chances are neither will attempt to run a ball down the rail even once.

John Higgins did it already in the finals.

 

[hang-the-9]

Yes, but you don't put them on the table next to each other.

BTW, I play snooker on a 12' table (suspended for covid) with what I think might be American snooker balls, 2 1/8." Not sure, I will check when we can return.

If you are talking about Billiards Cafe, the "pool" balls for the snooker table are the same size as the standard snooker set just done in pool colors and numbers.