Can we examine room/table size in a different way?

A

Althair

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello Players, Installers, Experts, etc.

I've recently moved into the home I plan to live in for the next twenty or thirty years and the designated "Pool Room" is a bit small in terms of width for a 9' table, or even an 8' table in some opinions. Length is not a problem. The room is 13' 2" Wide. Now I know the standard answers have been reviewed time and time again here, so I am not asking for 57 + 57 + 50 = 164" = 13' 8" without even allowing for any back-swing. CAN WE EXAMINE THE ISSUE FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE?

1) Which would do greater harm to my game development: Practicing on an 8 foot table or having to play some shots at home with a slightly shorter quality cue?

2) How often does one really need to shoot a shot that is close to directly perpendicular to the side of the table with a level or near level cue?

3) One of my first instructors, who had been NY State Women's Champion many years ago (for whatever that is worth) taught me that when the object ball is snug to the cushion, you only want to stroke back an inch or two anyway, even on long shots. So, how often is there a reason to stroke back more than that, say 5" or so?

4) Members here appear to speak of playing some shots with a shorter cue as if they were being asked to walk the plank with a iron weight strapped to their ankle. How do these same members feel about owning an 8 foot table? Which is worse?

I am sincerely asking for help here. I have a room and I'm getting a table. So while I am at it, which would you suggest, less expensive table but new, or more expensive table but used and properly installed, re-felted, etc.--given the same budget? But back to the main issue, I am getting a table and always wanted a 9' but now discover that technically I only have enough width for a 7' which is absolutely out of the question. I am thinking I'd rather have the 9 footer I always wanted, get a few nice short cues, and try to learn not to leave my cue ball against the cushion! But would that be insane when an 8 footer would be much closer to the proper fit--and even then would still involve some use of shorter cues?

In life and in pool we strive for the ideal--but life involves compromises too. What do you think?
 
When I was growing up we played on my Uncle's snooker table, the room was big enough to fit the table for any shot except for a wet bar on the left hand corner of the break end. It became part of the strategy when we played, made the game more interesting in my opinion. We called it getting bar hooked.
 
I have found that the distance required is not only for the length of cue but also for your stance. Do a trial or test. Place a chair the distance away from a table and see if your stance is affected by it.

Also perform many shots with no obstructions behind you and have someone mark the distance to get a feel of how much space you need. To take it a step further do the same using a stubby and see how much space you need.

🎱
 
Played at a friends house that was a 9 foot table crammed in to a small space... I absolutely hated playing there. Needed a short cue on lots of shots, which of course does not help you much.

Felt like I was playing pool in closet... took the fun out of it for me. Of course, you can watch an episode of Seinfeld when George's dad bought a table for a bedroom, it was the "place to be" episode ;) Once Kramer began shooting with the Maestro's small baton, he was running from everywhere :)
 
A 48 inch cue gives a minimum of 6 inches for the back swing on a 9 ft. table.
54" + 50" + 54" = 158 " aka 13' 2"

Personally, I would prefer the 9 ft table and using a shorter cue when necessary rather than go to a smaller table.

If you are shooting across the table, you don't need a power stroke.
You are much more likely to need a more delicate shot.
And how do you shoot a more delicate shot?
You shorten the grip on the cue.
Or use a shorter cue. :D
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Played at a friends house that was a 9 foot table crammed in to a small space... I absolutely hated playing there. Needed a short cue on lots of shots, which of course does not help you much.

Felt like I was playing pool in closet... took the fun out of it for me. Of course, you can watch an episode of Seinfeld when George's dad bought a table for a bedroom, it was the "place to be" episode ;) Once Kramer began shooting with the Maestro's small baton, he was running from everywhere :)
Click to expand...

As a pool player, that episode was hilarious. From all the obstacles to playing with their pants off ... lol. Then when the Maestro gets in front of the orchestra with his broken baton. Funny stuff. :rotflmao:
 
Nine ... corner said:
As a pool player, that episode was hilarious. From all the obstacles to playing with their pants off ... lol. Then when the Maestro gets in front of the orchestra with his broken baton. Funny stuff. :rotflmao:
Click to expand...

I rarely laugh audibly at the boob tube, but that episode made me do so.
 
Get a 7' Diamond w/ 4 3/8" pockets.

I concur with an earlier poster.....big table in a small room sucks......instead just get a seven (7) ft. Diamond table and make sure the pockets are tight.....use 4 3/8" pockets.......if you can control the cue ball well on that table, you'll do better than messing with tight space pool playing......IMO.

Matt B.
 
You will seem to always be shooting with the wall in the way, even if happens 5% of the time. You'll think it's 90%.

I'd get a 7 footer if that is what the space allows. A friend of mine has a GC in a smallish space, he does not like playing on it, and my son would rather play on our 8 footer that has ample space than go over his house which is only 10 minutes away and we are welcome there anytime.
 
"Can we examine room/table size in a different way? "
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NO!

But seriously, IMHO if you are serious enough about pool that you strongly
prefer a 9' table, you will be disappointed EVERY time you play.

YMMV - but I wouldn't expect it.

Dale
 
Recently, after getting lessons from Lee Brett, he instructs to take a step back when transiting around the table. He calls it outside of the box-where all the decision making is made. Then as part of pre shot routine, you step forward into the box and into the line of the shot. To have five feet of room around the entire table is ideal to practice this, and it opens up the game to a whole new vantage point.

If you have a fixed room area get a smaller table. The space is more important than you might realize.
 
Althair said:
Hello Players, Installers, Experts, etc.

I've recently moved into the home I plan to live in for the next twenty or thirty years and the designated "Pool Room" is a bit small in terms of width for a 9' table, or even an 8' table in some opinions. Length is not a problem. The room is 13' 2" Wide. Now I know the standard answers have been reviewed time and time again here, so I am not asking for 57 + 57 + 50 = 164" = 13' 8" without even allowing for any back-swing. CAN WE EXAMINE THE ISSUE FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE?

1) Which would do greater harm to my game development: Practicing on an 8 foot table or having to play some shots at home with a slightly shorter quality cue?

2) How often does one really need to shoot a shot that is close to directly perpendicular to the side of the table with a level or near level cue?

3) One of my first instructors, who had been NY State Women's Champion many years ago (for whatever that is worth) taught me that when the object ball is snug to the cushion, you only want to stroke back an inch or two anyway, even on long shots. So, how often is there a reason to stroke back more than that, say 5" or so?

4) Members here appear to speak of playing some shots with a shorter cue as if they were being asked to walk the plank with a iron weight strapped to their ankle. How do these same members feel about owning an 8 foot table? Which is worse?

I am sincerely asking for help here. I have a room and I'm getting a table. So while I am at it, which would you suggest, less expensive table but new, or more expensive table but used and properly installed, re-felted, etc.--given the same budget? But back to the main issue, I am getting a table and always wanted a 9' but now discover that technically I only have enough width for a 7' which is absolutely out of the question. I am thinking I'd rather have the 9 footer I always wanted, get a few nice short cues, and try to learn not to leave my cue ball against the cushion! But would that be insane when an 8 footer would be much closer to the proper fit--and even then would still involve some use of shorter cues?

In life and in pool we strive for the ideal--but life involves compromises too. What do you think?
Click to expand...
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=370663&highlight=Room+size

See what my dilemma was and the actual results.
 
Althair said:
Hello Players, Installers, Experts, etc.

I've recently moved into the home I plan to live in for the next twenty or thirty years and the designated "Pool Room" is a bit small in terms of width for a 9' table, or even an 8' table in some opinions. Length is not a problem. The room is 13' 2" Wide. Now I know the standard answers have been reviewed time and time again here, so I am not asking for 57 + 57 + 50 = 164" = 13' 8" without even allowing for any back-swing. CAN WE EXAMINE THE ISSUE FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE?

1) Which would do greater harm to my game development: Practicing on an 8 foot table or having to play some shots at home with a slightly shorter quality cue?

2) How often does one really need to shoot a shot that is close to directly perpendicular to the side of the table with a level or near level cue?

3) One of my first instructors, who had been NY State Women's Champion many years ago (for whatever that is worth) taught me that when the object ball is snug to the cushion, you only want to stroke back an inch or two anyway, even on long shots. So, how often is there a reason to stroke back more than that, say 5" or so?

4) Members here appear to speak of playing some shots with a shorter cue as if they were being asked to walk the plank with a iron weight strapped to their ankle. How do these same members feel about owning an 8 foot table? Which is worse?

I am sincerely asking for help here. I have a room and I'm getting a table. So while I am at it, which would you suggest, less expensive table but new, or more expensive table but used and properly installed, re-felted, etc.--given the same budget? But back to the main issue, I am getting a table and always wanted a 9' but now discover that technically I only have enough width for a 7' which is absolutely out of the question. I am thinking I'd rather have the 9 footer I always wanted, get a few nice short cues, and try to learn not to leave my cue ball against the cushion! But would that be insane when an 8 footer would be much closer to the proper fit--and even then would still involve some use of shorter cues?

In life and in pool we strive for the ideal--but life involves compromises too. What do you think?
Click to expand...

Get you a nine footer and put one side dead next to the wall -
If you decide to move a wall or build a room you will already have a good table-
Not bad to play and practice.Practice breaks too just change ends-


bill
 
i disagree with those saying a 9 footer won't work.

because i Have a 9' Gold Crown II in a room only 13' exactly wide, 2" less room than you have. i'm using a Trouble Shooter 48" cue in it, and could easily have gone with their 52" instead (btw, that's the short cue you want, it's balanced way better than the others, although it comes with a POS tip that you'll need to replace). the 48" is a little annoying, but not bad, and the 52 would be great.

for me, the fact that i have to use the short cue if i'm shooting absolutely perpendicular to the rail and within 3" has made me a Far better player. i used to be sloppy about leaving the cue ball too close to the rail, just lazy. and that sucked for the next shot, of course, both for accuracy and for being able to move the cue ball around.

now that i'm ultra conscious of that, i seldom leave the cue ball on the rail, and my game is much better for it. so much so that i just don't need the short cue very much. my position play is much tighter.

so again, you've got 2" more space than i do, so Definitely go for the 9 footer, you'll love it!
 
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Most people don't grip a regular cue at the end, so actual difference between it and a shorter cue is significantly less than the numbers might lead you to conclude.
 
IMO you should get the 7 ft table. Although the temptation of having a 9 ft table is hard to pass up, I really think your enjoyment would be diminished if you had to change cues for some near cushion shots. I also think it might subconsciously cause you to play various shots differently to avoid the rails, which could hamper your game. But that's just my opinion. I wanted to add a 12 ft snooker table to my rec room, but I came up 4 inches short in width. We have decided to go with a 10 ft table instead.
 
Id say that depends on what your local pool room has and where you plan on competing. If your local pool room is full of 7ft tables than I would probably say get a 7ft table.
 
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