About those Chinese 8-ball tables

DJ14.1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
How do those pockets play? Are they snooker-tight or a little easier?

Table 9'??
 
How do those pockets play? Are they snooker-tight or a little easier?

Table 9'??
9ft. with flat-nose snooker style cushions and TIGHT(not as small as snooker,tho) rounded snooker style pockets. Been watching the stream? They're BRUTAL.
 
Heard commentators mention it, adding the felt had to be changed earlier as a result, so I assume it means they use a razor to the felt to ensure there are no "impurities" and even. You're the pro, so maybe they were mistaken.
 
Heard commentators mention it, adding the felt had to be changed earlier as a result, so I assume it means they use a razor to the felt to ensure there are no "impurities" and even. You're the pro, so maybe they were mistaken.
Ah, those crafty Chinese. Maybe they have a little electric "felt mower" to smooth it out.;)
 
:D

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Ah, those crafty Chinese. Maybe they have a little electric "felt mower" to smooth it out.;)
 
What does "shaved felt" mean?

The British cloth makers use that term.....don't know how they do it, though.
I have played on heavy napped cloths in clubs over there...horrible stuff.
......40 and 42 oz. cloth...your arm gets tired.

The coths in the world championships have all been shaved....
...one of the reasons they run so many centuries now.

But I still hate directional nap.....worsted is the way to go.
 
9ft. with flat-nose snooker style cushions and TIGHT(not as small as snooker,tho) rounded snooker style pockets. Been watching the stream? They're BRUTAL.

Is the ball to pocket ratio tighter than for snooker, though? I was under the impression that pockets were opened up for 2 1/4 inch balls, but the ratio was the same or tighter.

I'd love to try it.
 
Is the ball to pocket ratio tighter than for snooker, though? I was under the impression that pockets were opened up for 2 1/4 inch balls, but the ratio was the same or tighter.

I'd love to try it.
What you're asking is WAY above my pay-grade. Try emailing JOY or STAR for that. Good luck.
 
Is the ball to pocket ratio tighter than for snooker, though? I was under the impression that pockets were opened up for 2 1/4 inch balls, but the ratio was the same or tighter.

I'd love to try it.

I believe Gareth Potts has some video on Youtube explaining the tables and demonstrating it. Youtube it !
 
Is the ball to pocket ratio tighter than for snooker, though? I was under the impression that pockets were opened up for 2 1/4 inch balls, but the ratio was the same or tighter.

I'd love to try it.

I've been told the pockets are 3.5 inches...like regulation snooker.
'course, unlike how the pool world judges a pocket...that is 3.5 is at the fall.

I'll know soon enough....we are getting one at our room.
 
Thanks guys! This video answers the question nicely,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Fs5M9Imw4

As PT109 suggests, it's the same pocket size as a snooker table (though probably tighter than most club tables) while using a traditional 2 1/4 inch ball. Although I do feel that the larger balls may provide more room for error than smaller balls, the tighter ball to pocket ratio probably nullifies that and makes for a very difficult game.
 
Thanks guys! This video answers the question nicely,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Fs5M9Imw4

As PT109 suggests, it's the same pocket size as a snooker table (though probably tighter than most club tables) while using a traditional 2 1/4 inch ball. Although I do feel that the larger balls may provide more room for error than smaller balls, the tighter ball to pocket ratio probably nullifies that and makes for a very difficult game.

Snooker tables are typically 3.125/3.25 inches at the top end (i.e. pro or match tables at a club).

There are some 3.375 -3.625 tables, but these Chinese tables are unlikely to have smaller pockets (however as you state of course the balls are bigger so I'm not suggesting its easier to pot a ball than on a snooker table, merely pointing out the pocket sizes probably aren't smaller.
 
Thanks guys! This video answers the question nicely,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Fs5M9Imw4

As PT109 suggests, it's the same pocket size as a snooker table (though probably tighter than most club tables) while using a traditional 2 1/4 inch ball. Although I do feel that the larger balls may provide more room for error than smaller balls, the tighter ball to pocket ratio probably nullifies that and makes for a very difficult game.
Wow!! That's freakin' snug folks. At one of the rooms here in Tulsa they have a GC4 w/ 3&7/8" pockets that is plenty tight. Those Ch.8b tables are REALLY tight.
 
Watching this Joy Tables Chinese 8 Ball WC I have the impression that the pockets have been turned into a hybrid between the snooker style rounded corners and the western style straight corners. Maybe it's the TV angles but for some reason the angles of the pockets don't look as tough as in previous years and the shelf appears to be much shallower which would make the tables play easier.
 
Watching this Joy Tables Chinese 8 Ball WC I have the impression that the pockets have been turned into a hybrid between the snooker style rounded corners and the western style straight corners. Maybe it's the TV angles but for some reason the angles of the pockets don't look as tough as in previous years and the shelf appears to be much shallower which would make the tables play easier.

This match they're using Star tables. I think the Joy tables do have deeper shelves. I can't be sure about that, having never seen either in person. Think the difference between a GC and a Diamond.
 
Watching this Joy Tables Chinese 8 Ball WC I have the impression that the pockets have been turned into a hybrid between the snooker style rounded corners and the western style straight corners. Maybe it's the TV angles but for some reason the angles of the pockets don't look as tough as in previous years and the shelf appears to be much shallower which would make the tables play easier.

From a few you-are-the-tube vids I would call them a 9 ft English(International) Snooker table.

IMHO - the pockets on English tables are sort of a cross between a Pool table and an American
Snooker table. Much less rounded than our Snooker tables.

Dale
 
i tried to buy one from Garreth Potts sponsor with no luck

getting info on these tables has been very tough, I spent several weeks trying to source one putting in a good 15-20 hrs of my time

i recently became aware of a room across the country that bought some so I may call em up but I suspect I'll be going through several levels of middleman with the associated price premium to finally get one so I'm in no rush

the ball/pocket size ratio is insane just not quite as tight as russian billiards

you can essentially buy a 9ft snooker or even up to 12 ft table for the same result minus a slight difference in rail height

chinese 8 ball tables and snooker tables give you the benefit of being able to practice potting using snooker balls too on the same cloth and rounded corners as snooker players

wierd though that alot of the chinese players don't transition well to american pool tables, meanwhile uk 8 ball players on 6 and 7 ft bar boxes seem to transfer nicely to chinese 8 ball,
 
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