Do pockets that rattle help or hurt the game, overall?

D

derangedhermit

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
Most rattle could be removed by making the pocket angles 45 degrees or so.

It seems to me that pockets that rattle mainly add a degree of randomness to a game I'd rather see based more on skill. In place of wider mouths and narrower throats in pockets, if the mouth was the same narrower width of as the tighter throat, balls would either kick out away from the pocket or go in, instead of rattling.

Mainly this comes up for me when I'd like to either make a shot or make sure I don't leave it hanging in the pocket. Then I hit it in that in-between zone where it rattles. Game over.

Are there reasons that having pockets that rattle balls are good for the game?
 
Not sure I understand, but an errant shot will always rattle regardless of the pocket cut, it's just that easier pockets don't require as much accuracy. It's not random though, I work very hard to ensure every ball goes clean into the pocket. If it wobbles before it goes in, I know I need to bear down a little harder or make sure I don't get sloppy with my basics.

That said, I'm on the fence about uber tough pockets. I prefer 4.5 inch pockets if the cloth is clean and well kept, otherwise 4.75 inches if the table isn't in good condition. It takes a lot of skill though to run out on incredibly tight tables, but in games like 9 ball I don't see the benefit in tables that cause very good players to miss on the 7, 8 or 9 ball. However tight pockets playing Rotation would make a little more sense.

They are good for practice though, but not everyday. I believe you need to practice on what you compete on.
 
derangedhermit said:
Most rattle could be removed by making the pocket angles 45 degrees or so.

It seems to me that pockets that rattle mainly add a degree of randomness to a game I'd rather see based more on skill. In place of wider mouths and narrower throats in pockets, if the mouth was the same narrower width of as the tighter throat, balls would either kick out away from the pocket or go in, instead of rattling.

Mainly this comes up for me when I'd like to either make a shot or make sure I don't leave it hanging in the pocket. Then I hit it in that in-between zone where it rattles. Game over.

Are there reasons that having pockets that rattle balls are good for the game?
Click to expand...


I do understand what you are saying about how pockets are cut wider in the front and become more narrow towards where they drop. Sometimes this done by a person who doesn't really understand how to make pockets tighter and sometimes the angle is built into the table but not at the extreme you are talking about. Another thing that effects how balls take to a pocket is the depth or distance of the pockets facing to the actually drop. I seems to me that the farther this distance the better you must hit the ball.

I also would say that when you encounter a table that was either made or modified and plays the way have you explained above it should be just a matter of adjustment along with good pocket speed. On tables that have deep facings or abnormal pocket angles you just can not hit the ball as hard and it will also help to spin the just little to help pocket it.

These tables kinda play like a Snooker table with 2 1/4 inch balls, while they can be good for practice because it will help you learn how to aim and pocket balls in tight pockets that is about all the benefit you will get

Hope this helps
 
Last edited:
Rattling pockets.

derangedhermit said:
Most rattle could be removed by making the pocket angles 45 degrees or so.

It seems to me that pockets that rattle mainly add a degree of randomness to a game I'd rather see based more on skill. In place of wider mouths and narrower throats in pockets, if the mouth was the same narrower width of as the tighter throat, balls would either kick out away from the pocket or go in, instead of rattling.

Mainly this comes up for me when I'd like to either make a shot or make sure I don't leave it hanging in the pocket. Then I hit it in that in-between zone where it rattles. Game over.

Are there reasons that having pockets that rattle balls are good for the game?
Click to expand...

I usually avoid the tightest table in the room but I understand some people think it improves your aiming and it's somewhat true. Seems like I have to change up my speed and aggression and play more careful. Some of that is good but seems to hold back my best game. I do like a tight table playing one pocket as it is easier to dig balls out of opponents hole. I don't play great one pocket and struggle with POWER one pocket. Trying to be more aggressive but that's a struggle in one hole. Little more slow rolling for me which goes well with tighter pockets. IMO tight table is not much of a factor in one hole as in other games.
 
If I'm playing on a tight pocket table and the pockets are configured correctly, I will still expect my share of rattles. I accept that as part of the game on that type of table and look at it as a challenge to be overcome.

However, I have a problem with a table that's not considered to be tight, yet it has pockets that rattle. I consider those tables to be trick tables and try to avoid them like the plague until the pockets get fixed. The game is difficult enough without adding the frustration of problem pockets that throw balls back at you due to no fault of your own.
 
Last edited:
What are the legal or acceptable specs (angle, width, shelf, etc.) for pockets (side and corner)?

We re-covered my commercial table and just tried to match the angles that had been on it previously. While the pocket width itself, for the corners, are somewhat generous....somewhere between 4.5" - 4.75"....it's a ball-rattlin' sonuvagun. Everyone who plays on it swears that it's a "tough table".

I've never measured the angles and would love to see a pic of where to correctly measure for all of these dimensions.
 
Tight pockets

Now I've heard both sides of this

1) Guys that say playing on the tough table with tight pockets limits their game and takes away from their playing.

2) Guys that get on these tables every chance they get because they say it makes them focus harder, shoot more accurately and pocket balls cleaner.

Now in my opinion the players who say #1 are the players who are not actively trying to get better, players who have poor speed controld and or stroke and shoot too hard. They tried this table and they decided they cant adjust their game so they'll avoid it.

I heard someone say you can't pocket a ball with any sort of speed with running down the rail... well I tell them I saw shawn putnam shooting with alot of speed and pocketing it cleanly on the same table. So they argue and say they're not Putnam, but I argue back and say shoot more accurately and you'll pocket the ball cleanly.


I personally like playing on tough tables. I have to bear down and not make any mistakes. I cannot get careless or I will miss. Sure enough, I tend to play better on these tables.

So to answer the original question - I thing tougher pockets help the game overall.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'd like to clear up that I'm not asking about tight pockets per se. It's the rattling shots that leave a ball in the pocket when that was the one thing I did not want to have happen. It would actually be better if the pocket (mouth, between the points) was tighter, since if I catch a point the ball will kick away. It's the pocket with a wider mouth and narrower throat (and maybe deeper shelf) that makes it hard to reduce the possibility of leaving a ball hanging.

So I might hit the OB hard enough to move half the table away from the pocket if I miss a 3-foot cut down the rail - but on most tables, you can find a range of contact area *inside the point* where the OB rattles in the throat, instead of kicking out or dropping.

Is there some practical reason that pockets are made to rattle instead of kick a ball out? Do you ever teach people to rattle a ball on purpose?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top