how do you adjust to humid weather? I'm a fairly good player (50% winner playing 9 ball ghost) yesterday I went to my local pool hall, it was really humid outside & inside (even though the pool hall is air conditioned) I was missing some shots that I would otherwise make. jarring balls in the pocket & such. I also looked around at some of the better players in the room. they were also missing alot. I was talking with another good player & he told me that when it is humid & raining out he just doesnt play pool. this cant be the solution to this problem. any suggestions?
adjustments for humid weather?
- Thread starter seven
- Start date
Donald A. Purdy said:I went out last Friday night. It was raining and humid in the pool hall. I will tell ya one thing, I will never leave home to play without a glove again. I don't usually play with one!
Don P.
I went yesterday. It was so hot and humid. Not sure if that made me miss shots but I had to keep putting chalk on my hands. Then, just after I quit shooting, all of the lights went out , and these guys were still shooting the 8. Funniest thing...Good idea about the glove, though don, think I might have one around here somewhere.
Laura
the room was air conditioned. it wasnt a sticky shaft problem. it was very smooth. I heard that humidity, room temperature, and such, effect the throw & friction on cut shots. it also effects how rails play. but I just dont know how to adjust to this. maybe this effect is not as pronounced on wide pockets. I play on double & triple shimmed tables, where this is less margin for error. anyone else encountered this problem?
Pockets shrink considerably on a humid day. If a ball is laying near the rail, you have to hit it perfectly and then some if you put any kind of stroke on it. I tend to roll shots more with minimal english, playing natural routes instead of forcing anything.
The cushions also react strange. Seems bouncier on some shots and dead on others. I also can't draw the cueball with any kind of accuracy; usually whitey comes up short. The rails seem to grab inside english better than outside, but I get alot more throw and skids at the same time.
Bottom line: humid days = frustrating pool sessions in general.
-Roger
The cushions also react strange. Seems bouncier on some shots and dead on others. I also can't draw the cueball with any kind of accuracy; usually whitey comes up short. The rails seem to grab inside english better than outside, but I get alot more throw and skids at the same time.
Bottom line: humid days = frustrating pool sessions in general.
-Roger
High humidity means more moisture will be in the cloth. This increases friction.
Hence bank shots will tend to come back at a slightly shorter angle.
Balls won't run as far.
Draw shots will lose more backspin before they reach the ball and roll back less after impact.
Pockets play tighter for the same reason banks come off at a shorter angle.
As the ball's surfaces are slightly moist, they will pick up more chalk and dust and be prone to more kicks (cling/skid).
Playing is far less fun under humid conditions!
Hence bank shots will tend to come back at a slightly shorter angle.
Balls won't run as far.
Draw shots will lose more backspin before they reach the ball and roll back less after impact.
Pockets play tighter for the same reason banks come off at a shorter angle.
As the ball's surfaces are slightly moist, they will pick up more chalk and dust and be prone to more kicks (cling/skid).
Playing is far less fun under humid conditions!
buddha162 & colin...thanks for your replies. very informative. hmmm. what you say is opposite of what I thought "As the ball's surfaces are slightly moist, they will pick up more chalk and dust and be prone to more kicks (cling/skid). " I thought that since the balls were moist, they would throw less because of less friction. but what you say makes complete sense. 
Two friends of mine are pool hall junkies tell me when it gets past midnight, they apply more english or hit the ball thinner.
Moisture on Balls
Well if you put some spit on two planted balls, this does reduce friction considerably, so one might imagine moisture would tend to decrease friction.
Though I have never noticed this is humid conditions. I think there is usually enough dust on the cloth that a slighly more moist surface picks up a coating of dust particles.
If the cloth were perfectly clean, we may see less less grip at ball's surfaces. Also, if the table is actually wet, such as it is on some outdoor tables I have played on, we see very little friction when the balls collide. However, trying to put side on a wet ball is a nightmare.
seven said:buddha162 & colin...thanks for your replies. very informative. hmmm. what you say is opposite of what I thought "As the ball's surfaces are slightly moist, they will pick up more chalk and dust and be prone to more kicks (cling/skid). " I thought that since the balls were moist, they would throw less because of less friction. but what you say makes complete sense.
Well if you put some spit on two planted balls, this does reduce friction considerably, so one might imagine moisture would tend to decrease friction.
Though I have never noticed this is humid conditions. I think there is usually enough dust on the cloth that a slighly more moist surface picks up a coating of dust particles.
If the cloth were perfectly clean, we may see less less grip at ball's surfaces. Also, if the table is actually wet, such as it is on some outdoor tables I have played on, we see very little friction when the balls collide. However, trying to put side on a wet ball is a nightmare.