Bad bar tables make me want to quit pool

[00john]

i own a gold crown w 4 1/2 inch pockets. most of the competitive pool is played on 7 foot diamonds in my area. lots of big table players get owned on the 7 ft diamonds.

 

[Dunnn51]

Sometimes I do

I draw a line somewhere. The felt doesn't have to be Simonis, the balls don't have to be well-polished, etc., but to earn my hard-earned money these bar owners need to to actually put a little bit of care into the equipment. I refuse to play on a table where I can't get into a proper stance on one side because of a wall or table. The game needs to be respected.

I do have a preference for the big tables. You need to look at the differences of the 2 places.
1- the bar tables are usually leased to the bar by a vending Co. The poolhaul owns their tables.

2- The bar owner because of #1 could care less about the maintenance on the tables. To them they are a means of supplemental food&beverage sales. (I know of 1 place that moves their BB's weekly in order to make room for dance classes).
Those tables at the pool-haul are the owners bread&butter. Ppl come to play pool and pool only on those tables.

3- For reason #2, the pool-haul owner (if he is smart) is going to re-cushion/re-felt every so-often. If he doesn't he faces the possibility of losing paying customers.
For the Bar owner,... his BB's would fall into rule #1 for bar tables.

I know of a bar that makes their BB table a great big table for all their social functions. (Right on the felt, not even a table cloth.)

I played 2 new tables at a new place that opened up with a league player awhile back. This place had 1 table with a distinctive "curl" to any rolling ball along ANY long-rail. (Curled everywhere toward the center of the table! )
the other table had extra "spongy" rails. Upon testing: It played OVER A DIAMOND long. (Most tables play within 1/2 diamond either long or short)

Would I play on these tables ?? Sure !,.......... for banger fun As a money table ??
NOT A CHANCE !! :frown:
(what does an in-accurate table prove?)

I play a few bars where the tables are nice. The rails are good, the felt is ok (its often 300 cloth), and the balls are never clean. I don't need perfect, but I do need "playable." :wink:

 

[JC]

I can take just about anything equipment wise except........The huge cue ball. I would rather not play than shoot with one of those. Just not fun, win lose or draw.

JC

 

[yelvis111]

Think about it.....a 9' table has 27' of rails and 27.75" of pocket openings (space) while a 7' table only has 21' of rails with 29.5" of pocket openings.............that translates into a 9' table having 8.6% pocket opening area (2 long & 2 short rails) whereas a 7' table furnishes 11.7% pocket opening area of its 4 rails. The pockets on a 7' table, especially the side pockets, are huge in comparison to a standard 9' table....

Not for nothing and no offense intended, but this is a fallacious argument. The fact that the pocket openings are larger relative to the rail length doesn't make it any easier to pocket the balls. The absolute size of the pockets is the only thing that matters.

Think of target shooting with a rifle. If you're shooting at a quarter-sized target at a 100 feet, does it make it any easier if it's marked on a square foot backing versus a square yard backing?

All other things being equal (balls, cloth, rails, etc...), the only thing that makes shooting on a barbox easier than a 9 footer is the shorter shot lengths. Making a 2 foot shot is easier than making a 4 foot shot is easier than making a 6 foot shot. I realize this analysis breaks down when you are considering a 2 inch shot versus a 10 inch shot so save it I also realize that having 40% less surface area on a barbox presents its own unique challenges regarding clusters and getting shape in tight spaces.

Much respect,

Taek