More and more I can tell a good stroke from the sound. When you hear that perfect timing of the strike of the cue, the sound of the ball in the pocket, and the roll out, it makes that tuning fork go off in your loins, to quote Tin Cup.
I did not think to get those pics. Yours look pretty representative, though.
However, I had no qualms about scratching my cue when cueing over the pockets like . . . some other tables.
I feel like Predator took the early feedback on pocket flush-ness to heart, and may even be a little sensitive about it (their emphasis). :)
The 20 or so tables I played on had no pocket issues.
The ball-return mechanism is also ultra-quick and very near silent. I'm a big advocate of...
I notice players doing that when they're leaning too far over the table to make a normal stance. Like Bob mentioned, more contact points for better stability if there's nothing in the way.
I spent 30-something hours on Predator Apex tables last week. They are far more satisfying to play on than the Diamonds I use in two leagues every week. Banks are natural, requiring no "Diamond compensation" to hit the pocket because the rails are correct. You can make sharp cuts to the...