Smaller Pockets Don’t Always Play Smaller … Dr. Dave Evaluates His New Rails and Pockets

dr_dave said:
It isn’t just “perception.” I did careful measurements.
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Understood, no doubt. 😊

Guess I’m saying If I showed up blindly encountering the old configuration I would have thought the pockets would play large solely based on the looks. I don’t go around with calipers and the TDF thread before I play on unknown tables, but I guess there’s a first time for everything. 😄

Thanks to accurate measuremets we know they were not so easy after all. And of course after several quizzical rattles and rejections that would have proved the point as well.
 
TDF aside...I'd still say the first setup plays easier. You just have to understand the conditions you're playing under. Leave yourself thinner cuts into the larger pockets to avoid the rattled balls. That coupled with the larger target for all the object ball near mid-table shots, makes the setup easier in my book. A lot of the OLD Gold Crowns play like this and they are way easier to maneuver around than a harder table, even if they rattle a few balls here and there. Plus cross side banks into cavernous side pockets is an easy way to get out of trouble on such tables.
 
TDF is great but the ultimate test is whether or not you run out more. That may capture total table difficulty better than just pocket dimensions as our psychology can determine how we attack a table.
 
I found that one way to manage Olhausen tables to avoid pocket rattle is to play to cut balls away from the primary pocket facing - trying to not hit that facing flush - so over- cutting balls slightly to the inside middle of pockets. Really tricky on steeper longer cut shots and down the rail shots- all this in addition to speed control taken down a notch in ball velocity to the pocket- tough to gain proper long position — since those tables have less rebound speed off rails than BR or Diamonds - Olhausen traditional tables are a nightmare .
 
mikemosconi said:
I found that one way to manage Olhausen tables to avoid pocket rattle is to play to cut balls away from the primary pocket facing - trying to not hit that facing flush - so over- cutting balls slightly to the inside middle of pockets. Really tricky on steeper longer cut shots and down the rail shots- all this in addition to speed control taken down a notch in ball velocity to the pocket- tough to gain proper long position — since those tables have less rebound speed off rails than BR or Diamonds - Olhausen traditional tables are a nightmare .
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I think you know what you are describing but I do not understand. What is: a primary pocket facing...inside middle of the pocket...facing flush...A diagram would help. Thanks.
 
dr_dave said:
FYI, I just posted a new video that shows the installation of my new rails and pockets, uses the Table Difficulty Factor (TDF) system to compare the modified table to the previous one, and performs a set of tests to measure the effective sizes of the pockets at different angles and speeds to see how the toughness compares to the original table. Check it out:


Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:28 - Table Conversion
2:42 - TDF Comparison
4:17 - Pocket Testing
---- 5:25 - results summary
6:45 - More Info

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

For reference, here’s the previous video:

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I too have interviewed Greg Sullivan at Diamond HQ in 2010 on the years of research and testing he did to design the cut and shelf size of Diamond table pockets and the standardization of playing conditions for pool.
This is an interview done by someone else but good stuff👍

 
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cjr3559 said:
Understood, no doubt. 😊

Guess I’m saying If I showed up blindly encountering the old configuration I would have thought the pockets would play large solely based on the looks. I don’t go around with calipers and the TDF thread before I play on unknown tables, but I guess there’s a first time for everything. 😄

Thanks to accurate measuremets we know they were not so easy after all. And of course after several quizzical rattles and rejections that would have proved the point as well.
Click to expand...
Sorry about my false assumption. Understood.
 
BasementDweller said:
TDF aside...I'd still say the first setup plays easier. You just have to understand the conditions you're playing under. Leave yourself thinner cuts into the larger pockets to avoid the rattled balls. That coupled with the larger target for all the object ball near mid-table shots, makes the setup easier in my book. A lot of the OLD Gold Crowns play like this and they are way easier to maneuver around than a harder table, even if they rattle a few balls here and there. Plus cross side banks into cavernous side pockets is an easy way to get out of trouble on such tables.
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Good points. My experience so far tells me the new setup plays slightly easier, but that could because of the new/slick cloth on the cushions letting balls slide in more.
 
I have the same Olhausen table as yours, but in cherry. What is involved in ordering the new rails? Are they your custom request, or something Olhousen can do for others?
 
Highmiles said:
I have the same Olhausen table as yours, but in cherry. What is involved in ordering the new rails? Are they your custom request, or something Olhousen can do for others?
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Olhausen custom-made these for me as a favor. I don’t know if they offer this service, but it can’t hurt to ask. I don’t know what they might charge. Sorry.
 
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