Pro Pocket Size TOO Small for 9 Ball

Jaden said:
Speak for yourself, I love it, actually I made my table 3.9" and it doesn't stop me from running out. Adjust to the conditions, just because they get scared doesn't mean anything, incentivise going for it or change the rules if you think it's too boring when people choose safeties.
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I'm sure there are golfers that use a smaller cup size, or maybe an insert to make it tougher.
Public is what it is.

I played on Big Bertha, the five/ten snooker table yrs ago in the Six Ball Ring Game in Bellflower CA at hard times
It was the n/west corner pocket that was so tight, the cushion nose would stop/grab the ball on the way in, making it a foul.
I was up very close shooting my shot, not realizing this and I luckily had Enough speed for it to go in.
When I saw thee entire group twitch because it shoulda hang up, I got outta that game. Trap table and it was the usual players. I could beat any of em, but NOT on this equipment
 
Island Drive said:
I'm sure there are golfers that use a smaller cup size, or maybe an insert to make it tougher.
Public is what it is.
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This is not true. Occasionally you used to see tiny cups on practice putting greens but those have faded away completely. Pros do not practice in conditions that are unlike the real thing.
 
Same table all three locations.

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When I arrived last Sunday at the hall, I found this had been put on the floor, one of the tables from the recent US Open that had been delivered. So I took the opportunity to play on the setup the WNT is using and evaluate it.

The pockets are stupid tight, actually measuring 3 15/16”. The extending of the sub rails to reduce the pocket opening actually shortens the depth of the shelf quite a bit. So while the opening is tight, balls jaw less than they do on Diamond standard 4 1/2” pockets that have a deeper shelf. It reduces cheating the pocket so you have to play differently as it reduces position options, but it’s quite playable, but not as enjoyable to play 9 ball on. It’s fabulous for one pocket though.

One of the ugliest tables I’ve seen out of Diamond though, funky gray color reminds me of those cheap Rasson tables the WNT uses in a lot of their events. I don’t like the CPBA cloth as much as Simonis either, it’s a little quicker like Simonis 760 and I really had to rein in my stroke. The players here are already lobbying for a cloth change to get rid of the grey. It even had the little markers for their magic rack to rack the 9 on the spot.

I’ve watched some of the house bangers give it a go, all excited about it being one of the tables from the Open. Their interest wanes fast as they can’t pocket well on it.

As I said above it’s great for one pocket, and while playable for 9 ball, not nearly as enjoyable.
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straightline said:
Players get their game to where they can just step on the gas and drive.
I have no such concerns. Stick, balls, pockets - all constant; even cloth to a certain extent.
What's the problem? Smaller is better; further, required of anyone puts out a player shingle.

The real issues are real estate, landlords, over pop, the usual.
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Pockets too tight are the speed limit, physics wins every time, the tighter the Pockets the ability to pocket balls is diminished, I understand it's more difficult with tight pockets but pro's don't have a problem with that, that's why there are so many safety battles, I would rather see how they decide on shot or safe.
 
GideonF said:
The key to me is that WNT events are played with new cloth and balls. 4” pockets with new cloth is way different than worn cloth and dirty balls.

So a pool hall puts in super tight pockets and for 2 weeks it’s cool. Then the table gets worn and even great players aren’t running out.
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Yep 4" with fresh cloth might as well be 5" on balls near rails. Yes they are only 4" when shooting from the center but even then they slip and slide a little.
 
SSP said:
IMHO I think there has to be a balance and it's not all pocket size, the angle of the facings make a huge difference, I don't want to see pockets that swallow the balls even when you're way off but not so tight that every game turns into a safety battle, two balls should not fit in the pocket, I love the strategy and risk elements of the game, 4 1/4" pockets that have facings that don't allow big errors to go is the best of both worlds, it forces the player to gamble on making the shot or playing the safety which is now a little harder to do because you have to play better position on your safety, watching how different players choose to play those shots is interesting to me, when you take those elements away even a player a little above a novice knows the safety is almost always the best choice, I don't think we would ever have seen the Z shot in competition with the pockets of today......
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The Z shot was a Hail Mary.

Hitting the ball was one thing...making it was a FLUKE.
 
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