Do tight pockets make you stroke differently?

JB Cases

JB Cases

www.jbcases.com
Silver Member
Playing some on a triple shimmed gold crown. Myself and all the other average players here stroke differently on this table. Almost a punchy scared stroke.

IMAG1479.jpg


IMAG1477.jpg


IMAG1478.jpg


IMAG1479.jpg



www.jbcases.com
 
Last edited:
HElls yeah! Though your description is a bit more family-friendly than mine.

I say it a butthole-puckered stroke! Scared to death.
 
I always focus on a smooth and fluid stroke, and when cheating the pocket(although you usually don't have much to cheat), precision and focus are paramount. I think it pushes me to a more pure precise style of play and away from being sloppy or lackadaisical, which makes me play better.
 
I don't know if my stroke changes but certainly my approach to the game does.

Which is personally why I have always questioned the value of playing on such equiptment at all.
 
I don't know about stroking differently but I play more pocket speed, until I get used to it. Once I'm use to it I let it hang out.

I just tightened my valley table from stock to about 4.25" pockets and I got use to it, about 2 hours. Now I want to get a bigger table because this one plays to easy... Story of my life, always looking to upgrade...


best,

Justin
 
RRfireblade said:
I don't know if my stroke changes but certainly my approach to the game does.

Which is personally why I have always questioned the value of playing on such equiptment at all.
Click to expand...

We agree about tight tables...I think they even hurt your game.
They create negative and un-adventurous methods of playing.
I've won a fair amount playing snooker on trap tables.....
...but I've never played on one for pleasure or practice.

Many of the younger snooker pros today warm up on pool tables....
...to free their stroke.
 
pt109 said:
We agree about tight tables...I think they even hurt your game.
They create negative and un-adventurous methods of playing.
I've won a fair amount playing snooker on trap tables.....
...but I've never played on one for pleasure or practice.

Many of the younger snooker pros today warm up on pool tables....
...to free their stroke.
Click to expand...
I disagree for the same reason as mentioned below. Mine are 4.25 also.

breakshot said:
I always focus on a smooth and fluid stroke, and when cheating the pocket(although you usually don't have much to cheat), precision and focus are paramount. I think it pushes me to a more pure precise style of play and away from being sloppy or lackadaisical, which makes me play better.
Click to expand...
 
Txstang1 said:
I disagree for the same reason as mentioned below. Mine are 4.25 also.
Click to expand...

Not sure your (ahh, I now see you are not the barbox poster with the Bar Box) 4.25" box counts, sorry to say.

We had a table near me that had stupid tight pockets and you could just bunt a ball to the other end of the table- short or long, on rail or not- if you wanted to play safe.

Every ball had to be slow-rolled and you had to play big angles. There was no 'letting your stroke out', period.
 
Last edited:
Black-Balled said:
Not sure your (ahh, I now see you are not the barbox poster with the Bar Box) 4.25" box counts, sorry to say.

We had a table near me that had stupid tight pockets and you could just bunt a ball to the other end of the table- short or long, on rail or not- if you wanted to play safe.

Every ball had to be slow-rolled and you had to play big angles. There was no 'letting your stroke out', period.
Click to expand...

What do you mean, 4.25 not tight enough to count ?
 
I dont stroke any different, but I do concentrate more. The only time I change my stroke is on a table that has been newly recovered and is still sliding.
 
Tight pockets SHOULD NOT make you stroke differently, what they do is to eliminate the margin for error, thus doubling or trippling the precisiioni required.

Tight pockets also remove most of the rail first entries into the corner pockets--that is you have to roll the ball at the pocket opening.
 
Simple answer- no.

And, if you narrow the pocket opening, and don't extend the shelf, you just made the pocket easier because there will be less shelf available for the ball to hang up on.
 
Neil said:
Simple answer- no.

And, if you narrow the pocket opening, and don't extend the shelf, you just made the pocket easier because there will be less shelf available for the ball to hang up on.
Click to expand...

I wondered about that. We have a shimmed gold crown in OKC which has smaller pockets than the Diamonds where I normally play and they always seemed looser to me even though the opening was obviously smaller.

My opinion on stroke changing due to pocket size. No. Your stroke changes due to your perception that more accuracy is required. This should tell you that you are aiming "too big" while playing on bigger pockets.

Aim small, miss small.

Ken
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top