Determining acceptable level of cushion response...??

J

Jagr Fan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
What is the most effective "test" or means of evaluating the acceptable liveliness of the cushions.
Other than a visual check for cracking or separation from the sub-rail, there should be a practical,
tangible means of evaluating a table's cushion liveliness.
At one point, it was suggested to me by a well-respected table mechanic that a certain number of
cushions struck (head rail<<>>foot rail) and (side cushion<<>>side cushion) by shooting the cue ball
with a firm stroke from the spot...anyone have another or alternate process...??
 
I think your respected mechanic is absolutely correct. Just count the travel up and down and around the table.

I have seen a calibrated ramp used to roll a cue ball, but not really needed in my opinion. There are a few variables involved as well that have to be accounted for, like type and age of cloth, humidity and condition of the balls, and of course cushion brands differ greatly. Just hit a few rails and compare to your local pool room. If you have doubts just post a video and let us all evaluate the cushion response.
 
Is it touching a rail 5 times when you throw it into one long rail along the cloth as hard as you can? Back and forth below a side pocket should be 5 minimum touches to a long rail - not scientific- just an estimate on rubber condition.
 
Jagr Fan said:
What is the most effective "test" or means of evaluating the acceptable liveliness of the cushions.
Other than a visual check for cracking or separation from the sub-rail, there should be a practical,
tangible means of evaluating a table's cushion liveliness.
At one point, it was suggested to me by a well-respected table mechanic that a certain number of
cushions struck (head rail<<>>foot rail) and (side cushion<<>>side cushion) by shooting the cue ball
with a firm stroke from the spot...anyone have another or alternate process...??
Click to expand...
I believe it's something in the BCA regs that wiith a firm stroke, the cue ball should be able to hit the head/foot rail four times.

I just had my cushions and cloth redone, and before i struggled to get 3.5 bounces, but now have no problem with 4.5.
 
Jagr Fan said:
What is the most effective "test" or means of evaluating the acceptable liveliness of the cushions.
Other than a visual check for cracking or separation from the sub-rail, there should be a practical,
tangible means of evaluating a table's cushion liveliness.
At one point, it was suggested to me by a well-respected table mechanic that a certain number of
cushions struck (head rail<<>>foot rail) and (side cushion<<>>side cushion) by shooting the cue ball
with a firm stroke from the spot...anyone have another or alternate process...??
Click to expand...
Rubber being up to par, this is still subject to the condition of the cloth.
 
A standard test is "lengths" which is to shoot straight up and down the middle of the table. A perfect lag would be two lengths. I think that it used to be possible to get five lengths on many tables, but today there are few where I can do that. I think it's not just me. Five lengths means that you hit the far end cushion three times.
 
Bob Jewett said:
A standard test is "lengths" which is to shoot straight up and down the middle of the table. A perfect lag would be two lengths. I think that it used to be possible to get five lengths on many tables, but today there are few where I can do that. I think it's not just me. Five lengths means that you hit the far end cushion three times.
Click to expand...
My GCI which has modified sub-rails to fit current cushion profiles, Artemis cushions (they are 8 years old but have not noticeably slowed down) , and Simonis 860 always goes 4 1/2- 4 3/4 table lengths. When it plays fast in winter with heat on it will typically go 4 3/4 - 5 table lengths.
 
By contrast.... Where I used to play there were 12-foot snooker tables with napped/fuzzy cloth which was relatively slow. When it was humid, it was possible to get six lengths without the ball jumping much. It is all in how much each cushion contact kills the cue ball. On direct hits into the cushion such as the tests above, the cue ball loses about half its speed and 75% of its energy on each cushion impact. If the cushion is sticky, that can decrease a lot.

I have heard of snooker tables where it was possible to get nine lengths. Presumably that was with sticky cushions and worn, smooth cloth. Snooker rubber is an entirely different profile from pool rubber to the extent that pool players might not even recognize it as cushion rubber if they saw a loose section of it.
 
gerryf said:
I can't remember if this is where i got it, but

...from BCA Equipment Specifications
The speed of the table cushions should be such that placement of a ball on the head spot,
shooting through the foot spot, using center ball english, with a level cue and firm stroke,
the ball must travel a minimum of 4 to 4 ½ lengths of the table without jumping.
Click to expand...
I assume there is a difference between a firm stroke and a maximum speed stroke? Saying firm stroke is just too subjective, in my opinion.
 
Jagr Fan said:
What is the most effective "test" or means of evaluating the acceptable liveliness of the cushions.
Other than a visual check for cracking or separation from the sub-rail, there should be a practical,
tangible means of evaluating a table's cushion liveliness.
At one point, it was suggested to me by a well-respected table mechanic that a certain number of
cushions struck (head rail<<>>foot rail) and (side cushion<<>>side cushion) by shooting the cue ball
with a firm stroke from the spot...anyone have another or alternate process...??
Click to expand...

Find a table that is know to "play good". Build or buy a ramp for the cueball to roll down on. Place the ramp say at middle of the table, roll the ball off it without pushing it, measure how far it bounces. Maybe do that on a few other tables that "play good". Now you have a standard of "good" speed of the rails and cloth.

One issue is that here the speed of the cloth is also a factor. Slow rails with fast cloth can get you the same result as a medium setup of both of those, or vice versa.
 
There’s a tool to measure this. I don’t know what it’s called but there’s a table dealer here in houston that measures them and if they’re not good he replaces before sale
 
ChrisinNC said:
I assume there is a difference between a firm stroke and a maximum speed stroke? Saying firm stroke is just too subjective, in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Yeah I agree, and it also says "a minimum of 4 to 4 1/2 lengths". Why not just say a minimum of 4 lengths? Or if they mean a range of 4 to 4 1/2 lengths say that.
 
gerryf said:
Yeah I agree, and it also says "a minimum of 4 to 4 1/2 lengths". Why not just say a minimum of 4 lengths? Or if they mean a range of 4 to 4 1/2 lengths say that.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I can get 4 table lengths on a “firm” stroke, and 5-1/2 table lengths on a “maximum break speed” stroke - big difference between those two definitions in how many table lengths I can get.
 
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