8-ft vs 9-ft tables

G

gwvavases

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi, everyone. New participant here. Looking for some advice on what to do and what not to do.

I'm 49. Used to shoot quite a bit when I was a teenager. Gambled a lot. Never played in tournaments. (Weren't any.) Joined the Navy at 17, got married a couple of years later, had kids, stayed in the Navy for 20, and didn't shoot pool hardly at all until just a few months ago. 32 years! Sometimes 5 or more years would go by without even picking up a stick. Moved into a new house last year that had a good room for a table -- but only an 8-ft table. I bought a new Brunswick 8-footer a few months ago. Started playing, mostly by myself, maybe a hour a day 4 or 5 days a week.

Entered my first 9-ball tournament last week at a large Sacramento pool room. First time that I played on a 9-ft table in more than 30 years. Surprised myself and won third place against a field that included what I heard were some pretty decent players.

Those 9-ft tables are SOOOOO much different than my 8-ft table. That extra foot makes it play a lot different. And the cloths are a lot slicker. The pockets seem tiny compared to what I have on my 8-ft table. They actually are a lot smaller. I'm not sure of the size, but two balls can't sit side-by-side in the jaws of the pocket, like they can on my table. On my own table, I don't need to be nearly as accurate. It was like trying to thread a needle on those 9-ftrs.

Since I finished decently in that tournament last week, I'm thinking about playing in more tournaments. Want to practice effectively. It feels like it's almost a hindrance to play on my 8-ft table now, since it doesn't require the discipline to shoot as accurately. But then I read on these boards about people playing in tournaments on 7-ft bar tables. (I haven't played on one of those in quite a few years either.)

What I'm wondering is whether you guys have experienced similar things and whether you have any suggestions to help me practice effectively on my own table so that my game on 9-ft tables improves.

Or should I just sell my table and start hangin out in pool rooms again!?
 
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Sell it.......add a room big enough for a 9 footer! lol I know exactlly what you mean. It really helps to play on the 9 footers.....because that extra foot is a BIG FOOT! I ruined my game by playing on bar boxes.....and then doing like you did. I would go months without playing.....then 3 or 4 months! When I would get on a 9 foot table I felt like I was on a par 3! As for what you said about the guys on here jumping from bar boxes to 9 footers....................Some of them could play on the floor! They play good everywhere. There are differences in games geared for certain tables. Some guys have good carom skills and can break balls up good. And gives them an advantage on the 7 footers cause the balls are usually cramed together. Then other guys have great speed control or shoot real straight...and play better on the 9 footers. But it all goes back to what you play on all the time. If you practice more and get used to playing on the 9' tables.....the overwelming feeling goes away eventually. But then again jussss me Opinon!
 
Thanks, PTM -- you're probably a good one to answer something I've been wondering about.

The pockets on my 8-ft table are much wider than the pockets on a regulation 9-ft table. Close to 5 inches at the widest point.

Is there some (cheap, easy) modification possible to make them smaller? That would at least force me to shoot more accurately.

And I guess I have a related question about the rails. I'm sure my rails are just fine for what they were designed for (a home table for someone who only plays once in a while), but they don't seem to have the super-ball-like bounce that the rails on the regulation 9-ftrs have. Can the rails be replaced with livelier rails, and perhaps a little longer to make the pockets tighter? I'm sure that a talented poot-table mech could do it, but is it a normal thing to have done (and therefore cost-effective)?
 
2 options!...........Somebody makes pocket inserts. Makes the pockets smaller with a leather shaped horseshoe that fits inside the pocket. I am not a fan of these, plus they were kinda expensive if I remember......like 120 for a set. Other option..........If you know a reputable mechanic that can replace rubber on rails.......get him to check out the rubber and make sure it is still in good shape. Over time.....some rubber goes bad and losses it's elasticity. And doesn't bouce good.......it is kinda rare for this to happen, but it does. If the rubber is good you can get him to add a shim ( facer ) to each rail end.........it isn't cheap for this. It isn't too bad for the facers........but replacing the rubber can cost alittle. And like I said reputable mechanic..........because some guys will say...OH YEAH, the rubber is bad! Just to get the job. BTW? what kinda table?
 
Just a suggestion - Mueller's (www.poolndarts.com) carries pocket reducers - $34.95 for a set of 6. These are easy to remove and install and made of soft cushion rubber - if you don't center the shot, it'll come out.

They won't give you the extra foot of table, but they'll definently tighten your pockets enough to improve your concentration, and at the price they're worth a try, IMO.

HTH,
Walt in VA
 
Walt & PTM -- Thanks for your replies. I'm sure my rails are what they're supposed to be. It's a new (less than a year old) Brunswick table. Not their top of the line, but pretty decent. I forget the model name. Cost was about $3,000. I believed the old sales guy when he told me that the only real difference between this $3,000 table and the other Brunswick tables he had up to $10,000 or more was the ornate moldings and such.

Been wondering: it seems to me that it makes sense for the rails on an 8 ft table to be a little less lively than rails on a 9 ft table coz there's less surface area for balls to travel, and if the rails are TOO lively for the size of the table, they would jump off too much. Any truth to that?

Also, Walt, I ordered the set of pocket reducers you mentioned. Says they'll fit any table. I appreciate that lead. I never would have thought about it otherwise. I hope they work okay!
 
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