Archer's View on Diamond tables

tryhonesty07

tryhonesty07

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was watching the 2010 DCC 14.1 challenge tonight and specifically Johnny Archers 146 ball run. What ended the run appeared to be a ball skidding, which resulted in him missing a shot in the side pocket. After this, he starting talking about the shot.... then says "thats why these are the worst tables ever built" and goes on to say something about Gold Crowns that I was unable to hear. This is the first time I've ever heard a top pro dog Diamond like that. Just thought I would share.
 
I could very well be wrong (not the first time), but I can't see how the table could be the cause of ball skid and if it were it would be on the very bottom of the list. I would say that dirty balls, dirty cloth, fuzz and humidity would cause a skid miles before a table would.
 
Have not seen that but I do agree with Archer on the skidding. I have never seen anywhere close to the number of balls skid on any other table like I have seen take place on a diamond. It is not even close, you will get 10 times+ the number of skids on a diamond.
 
Celtic said:
Have not seen that but I do agree with Archer on the skidding. I have never seen anywhere close to the number of balls skid on any other table like I have seen take place on a diamond. It is not even close, you will get 10 times+ the number of skids on a diamond.
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Why is that?
 
If Johnny says that after 146 balls I have to believe he's not just making excuses but has a theory that is worth examining.
 
I'm really confused as how this could possibly be true... but, I have a diamond at home, and balls skid a lot on it.
Makes no sense that it could be the table, though.
Don't balls skid because they're dirty?
 
My understanding is that skidding occurs usually because some foreign substance (chalk, dirt, etc.) at the point of contact of the two balls causes the two balls to "lock up" so to speak. This usually results in a shot that appears to have been hit too full.

If it happens on Diamonds more often the other tables, particularly GC's, I'm thinking perhaps the reason is the marks put on the balls by the dyed leather pockets.
 
I think it was Sigel that said always use at least a 1/4 tip of english on all cut shots and the OB will never skid :thumbup:
 
Main Event said:
I think it was Sigel that said always use at least a 1/4 tip of english on all cut shots and the OB will never skid :thumbup:
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I was in the room watching Archer's run from close up, and it looked to me that he put a little outside english on all his cut shots.
 
Main event, my mentor told me Segal said the same thing. If only my mentor would have specified that when the cue ball is near the rail or you are jacked up or shooting a long shot etc then dont bother putting the English on unless imperative for shape then I would have won more money.
 
I've always liked Gold Crown more than Diamonds, but lately I see most major events and tournament has Diamonds, that doesn't mean they are better, but I just think that diamonds offer best deals to the tournament directors, in terms of money - they do so to obviously promote their product, Hence Gold Crown already known as a solid tables, but Diamonds were new couple of years ago, thus they really do need big promotion to be known as well as GC.

My 2 cents.
 
gunzby said:
I could very well be wrong (not the first time), but I can't see how the table could be the cause of ball skid and if it were it would be on the very bottom of the list. I would say that dirty balls, dirty cloth, fuzz and humidity would cause a skid miles before a table would.
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I was there and we cleaned the balls before every new player took their attempts. He was using my centennials that I had brought down to the Derby and they had been polished up with Brillianize. The tables were kept very clean, too. We would take damp rags and wipe them down constantly.

Not sure what caused the "skid".
 
Corey Deuel said on a TAR DVD that skids are caused as the result of static electricity between the balls. He said there was some test done by a European group with that finding; also, during the test they used clean balls with no chalk, etc. on them.

Don't know if it is true, but it would be interesting to find out.
 
dmgwalsh said:
I was there and we cleaned the balls before every new player took their attempts. He was using my centennials that I had brought down to the Derby and they had been polished up with Brillianize. The tables were kept very clean, too. We would take damp rags and wipe them down constantly.

Not sure what caused the "skid".
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Dennis, it must have been that damn static electricity. Few people understand or know of this phenomenon. Static electricity is transferred from the carpet to the cloth. It is made worse by the players walking on it, and ultimately effects the balls. Toss in those European players showing up and playing in wool sweaters, and you have a big problem on your hands. This is especially true on Diamond tables, which are highly conductive and not well grounded. Over the years, this has caused me to miss thousands of shots - shots that shoulda went.

:killingme:

The older I get, the more pride I take in my creativity for blaming everything but myself.

;)

If you're not dead on, a Diamond will exploit that or any other weakness quicker than any other table - and Diamonds don't discriminate. They care if your name is Efren, Corey, Earl, Shane, or Johnny - if you don't bear down on every shot, you'll pay for it.
 
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