Does shooting on a 7ft table hurt?

CaptainJR

CaptainJR

Shiver me timbers.
Silver Member
I'm trying to make a decision about if I'm continuing to play in a bar league. There are other factors involved but my question here is do you folks think shooting on a 7ft table hurts my 9ft table game? I'm sure it is better than not shooting at all so I do spend time on my 7ft table at home. (not enough room for bigger) Being that the time I have to play away from home is limited, how important is it to spend that time on a 9ft table rather than spending that time at league night playing 4 games on a 7ft table.

I know this sounds like a simple decision, but there are other factors like, my best friend plays on the team. I have fun socializing on league night. I'm the best they have so I get to be a hero once a week. On the other hand, the table we play on sucks big time. Our team captain and I don't see eye to eye. Other than my best friend the rest of the team never practice.

I hate to disappoint my friend but I think I'm done with league.
 
CaptainJR said:
I'm trying to make a decision about if I'm continuing to play in a bar league. There are other factors involved but my question here is do you folks think shooting on a 7ft table hurts my 9ft table game? I'm sure it is better than not shooting at all so I do spend time on my 7ft table at home. (not enough room for bigger) Being that the time I have to play away from home is limited, how important is it to spend that time on a 9ft table rather than spending that time at league night playing 4 games on a 7ft table.

I know this sounds like a simple decision, but there are other factors like, my best friend plays on the team. I have fun socializing on league night. I'm the best they have so I get to be a hero once a week. On the other hand, the table we play on sucks big time. Our team captain and I don't see eye to eye. Other than my best friend the rest of the team never practice.

I hate to disappoint my friend but I think I'm done with league.
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depends on what you're trying to accomplish as far as poolplaying goes.

VAP
 
CaptainJR said:
I'm trying to make a decision about if I'm continuing to play in a bar league. There are other factors involved but my question here is do you folks think shooting on a 7ft table hurts my 9ft table game? I'm sure it is better than not shooting at all so I do spend time on my 7ft table at home. (not enough room for bigger) Being that the time I have to play away from home is limited, how important is it to spend that time on a 9ft table rather than spending that time at league night playing 4 games on a 7ft table.

I know this sounds like a simple decision, but there are other factors like, my best friend plays on the team. I have fun socializing on league night. I'm the best they have so I get to be a hero once a week. On the other hand, the table we play on sucks big time. Our team captain and I don't see eye to eye. Other than my best friend the rest of the team never practice.

I hate to disappoint my friend but I think I'm done with league.
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I too am getting the craps of league play. Two nights a week at 3-5 hours per night just to play 4 games. I'm into pool to play pool not sit around drinking and socializing on league night. I am only going to play 1 league night this year and try to play more tournaments.
 
As long as I am on ANY table, I'm fine. If I'm at the NCO club playing my Chief for beers, on a 7 footer it's fun. If I am at home practicing, it's fun. If I am at a pool hall gambling on a 9 footer it's fun.

I have absolutely no plans of going pro or becoming a world traveling gambler on pool. I play it, because I love the GAME. I think that gets lost on here, it's only a game, have fun.

Jim
 
CaptainJR said:
I'm trying to make a decision about if I'm continuing to play in a bar league. There are other factors involved but my question here is do you folks think shooting on a 7ft table hurts my 9ft table game?...


I hate to disappoint my friend but I think I'm done with league.
Click to expand...
Is it leagues or the 7' table that you're asking about? It sounds like you should either find a league on 9' tables (like in house pool hall leagues), or quit league altogether.

And no, I don't think playing on a 7' table hurts your overall game, if you're a serious student of the game.

Fred
 
Fred Agnir said:
Is it leagues or the 7' table that you're asking about? It sounds like you should either find a league on 9' tables (like in house pool hall leagues), or quit league altogether.

And no, I don't think playing on a 7' table hurts your overall game, if you're a serious student of the game.

Fred
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I have to agree with Fred on this one... It's probably NOT the 7' table that's hurting your game! I had to make this tough decision this year also... I chose to get out of the leagues and into the tourneys. It's done wonders for my playing, concentration and focus. In the bars, the 4 games you may play don't seem to have much consequence. At the tourneys, 4 games can be the difference between glory and defeat. Also, spending 5 hours drinking to play 4 games is a WASTE OF TIME!!! Unless, of course, you're an alcoholic :p
 
CaptainJR said:
I'm trying to make a decision about if I'm continuing to play in a bar league. There are other factors involved but my question here is do you folks think shooting on a 7ft table hurts my 9ft table game? I'm sure it is better than not shooting at all so I do spend time on my 7ft table at home. (not enough room for bigger) Being that the time I have to play away from home is limited, how important is it to spend that time on a 9ft table rather than spending that time at league night playing 4 games on a 7ft table.

I know this sounds like a simple decision, but there are other factors like, my best friend plays on the team. I have fun socializing on league night. I'm the best they have so I get to be a hero once a week. On the other hand, the table we play on sucks big time. Our team captain and I don't see eye to eye. Other than my best friend the rest of the team never practice.

I hate to disappoint my friend but I think I'm done with league.
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You might want to start a new team with you and your best friend. I don't like leagues myself. I've played in them just so I could get in to the tournaments. Spending all night to play 4 or 5 games boarded me.

Maybe you and your friend can try gambling once or twice a week instead of league. Play scotch doubles or regular doubles. I'm sure you can find a bunch of other guys that will play you cheap and you get to play a lot more and you get rid of the other 3 guys that you don't get along with. Most of the action I get at Fiddlestix's is doubles action and win or lose we have a lot more fun than playing in league.

I find it way easier to switch from a 9 footer to a 7 footer than it is the 7 footer to a 9 footer. If I have a tournament on the bar boxes coming up I will practice as much as I can on a 9 footer so when the tournament starts even the long shots look easy. I feel you should play on a 9 footer as much as you can, but I feel playing at your house on the 7 footer is better than not playing at all.
 
Fred Agnir said:
Is it leagues or the 7' table that you're asking about? It sounds like you should either find a league on 9' tables (like in house pool hall leagues), or quit league altogether.
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YAY! I can't wait for you to build the pool halls in WV so I can find one of dem der 9 foot table leages!!!!
 
jhendri2 said:
As long as I am on ANY table, I'm fine. If I'm at the NCO club playing my Chief for beers, on a 7 footer it's fun. If I am at home practicing, it's fun. If I am at a pool hall gambling on a 9 footer it's fun.

I have absolutely no plans of going pro or becoming a world traveling gambler on pool. I play it, because I love the GAME. I think that gets lost on here, it's only a game, have fun.

Jim
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Jim...What a great attitude! I'm in total agreement with you on this issue. Good players must know how to adapt to ALL playing conditions, including table size, cloth conditions, rail conditions, and humidity. The better players can adapt very quickly to whatever they are playing on that day! As far as Captain JR's question...I think it boils down to what Fred and Cheese_ball said. It's more about whether you want to play with those people, than whether or not it physically affects your game.

Scott Lee
 
CaptainJR said:
I'm trying to make a decision about if I'm continuing to play in a bar league. There are other factors involved but my question here is do you folks think shooting on a 7ft table hurts my 9ft table game? I'm sure it is better than not shooting at all so I do spend time on my 7ft table at home. (not enough room for bigger) Being that the time I have to play away from home is limited, how important is it to spend that time on a 9ft table rather than spending that time at league night playing 4 games on a 7ft table.

I know this sounds like a simple decision, but there are other factors like, my best friend plays on the team. I have fun socializing on league night. I'm the best they have so I get to be a hero once a week. On the other hand, the table we play on sucks big time. Our team captain and I don't see eye to eye. Other than my best friend the rest of the team never practice.

I hate to disappoint my friend but I think I'm done with league.
Click to expand...

This is the same really tough decision that I had to make last season. You basically have to ask yourself "what am I trying to accomplish and what will make me happy?".

In my case, I was on an APA team that was a lot of fun, but had too many 5's (me being one of them). I showed up for all the matches, but only played 7 games. Most of the time I would just sit there and get drunk with my teammates. Although this was fun for a while, it quickly became boring and expensive. Also, the league was on Wednesday's and I usually wouldn't get out of the bar until 1-2am.

After the season was over, I had to really think about the questions above. I knew that I wanted to improve my game and that wasting my time watching two 3's go at it was not the way. At the same time however, I didn't want to quit on my teammates and friends. Then, I realized that my team would probably have a better chance if they replaced me with a lower ranked player. When I was on the team our lineup was two 6's, four 5's, one 4, and one 3. After thinking about this for a while and with some convincing from Jude (thanks Jude! :)) I decided to join the team 9-ball league at Amsterdam Billiards and quit my APA team.

Man, am I glad that I did. I'm getting my ass kicked every week, but my game has been improving a lot since I joined. Even when I'm not playing, I'm usually watching players that are a lot better than I am or I'll grab a practice table. Playing on the 9ft tables doesn't hurt either.

To recap, are you happy with your game the way that it is, or do you want to improve? If you want to improve, it doesn't sound like your bar league gives you as much of an opportunity. Is there another more competitive league in your area that shoots on the 9ft tables? If there is, join that one with your best friend. I hope my story helps with your decision.
 
amc4 said:
If I have a tournament on the bar boxes coming up I will practice as much as I can on a 9 footer so when the tournament starts even the long shots look easy.
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Not me. If I have a tournament on bar boxes, I spend as much time on bar boxes as I can. The last player standing on bar box tournaments in my area are always going to be the better bar box player.

Fred <~~~ doesn't think it's about making long shots
 
CaptJR,

I've found that the size of the pockets has more impact on my game than the size of the table. I play on considerably more bar tables (leagues) and consider myself a fairly strong barbox player. If I'm practicing for a league tournament (barboxes), I go to my local room and play on the double shimmed 9'er. When the tournament comes around, the barboxes and those big pockets look like buckets. It's worked for me so far.

The double shimmed 9'er has become a regular pre-tournament practice table for me in general. Knowing I have to hit the center of the hole has really forced to me to bear down and concentrate and my game has shown the improvement. The physical size of the table has never really bothered me much either way.

Unless the equipment is really bad, I feel that hitting balls is good for you on any size table.
 
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Fred Agnir said:
Not me. If I have a tournament on bar boxes, I spend as much time on bar boxes as I can. The last player standing on bar box tournaments in my area are always going to be the better bar box player.

Fred <~~~ doesn't think it's about making long shots
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I believe what your saying is true but I play on the bar boxes a lot anyway so I know how they are playing. Right before a tournament I'll play on table 14 at Fiddelstix's which is a pro cut diamond 9 footer. By the time I move from this tight 9 footer to a bar box I feel as if I can't miss. I do this also if I got a game on a bar box after work and don't have that much time to practice. I feel 15 to 20 mins on table 14 gives me way more confidence than just going over and playing 15 or 20 mins on a bar box.
 
Avast ya scurvy Captain..! I found out there is a big difference in going from a 7 foot or 8 foot table to a 9 footer. You have to be more accurate on the long shots on a 9 footer. Also the Rock will play differently on a larger table, compared to the smaller one on the long shots. Now...go walk that plank :D :cool:
 
landshark77 said:
YAY! I can't wait for you to build the pool halls in WV so I can find one of dem der 9 foot table leages!!!!
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Does anyone really live in WV?
Nah I thought not.
 
I will have to say this....I played at my pool taqbles at school which were 7 footers and I got so used to it and ran out almost every time that I lost my eye for the long shots on the 9 footers...it took me a whole week and drills alter to get my eye back.... the 7 ft. tables deceive you every ball will go in....even sloppy, it amazed me and I lost my drive for the "dead center" shot
 
amc4 said:
I believe what your saying is true but I play on the bar boxes a lot anyway so I know how they are playing. Right before a tournament I'll play on table 14 at Fiddelstix's which is a pro cut diamond 9 footer. By the time I move from this tight 9 footer to a bar box I feel as if I can't miss. I do this also if I got a game on a bar box after work and don't have that much time to practice. I feel 15 to 20 mins on table 14 gives me way more confidence than just going over and playing 15 or 20 mins on a bar box.
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There are two different issues, imo, practicing and warming up. I agree with you that warming up on the 9-footer is good. At least I think it's good for me. If I let my stroke out for a while on a tighter 9-foot table, I feel a little more comfortable on a bar box.

I have a suspicion of why that's true for me. I think that sometimes when I'm not "in stroke" the problem is --brace yourself-- I'm not really aiming. Oh, if you watched me you'd see me going through the motions of my pre shot routine, etc. But I think I'm not *really* aiming. If I warm up on a bar table, and I'm not really aiming, I can often get away with it and not even notice for a while. But If I warm up on the tighter table, it forces me to emphasize that step while I'm getting in the groove. I aim better. I get lower, etc. And I carry that over to the bar box.

mike page
fargo
 
I gave my friend the bad news last night. He surprised me just a little when he said he saw this coming. One thing he saw for sure was my disgust with the table we use.

One of the main reasons I've made this decision is how much I get to play at league. 4 games, that's it. Maybe a few balls before the match, but if I want to play more after the match it gets to late. There is a handicap 9 ball tournament every Thursday night that I can play instead. They let you practice for an hour before it starts for free. I'm not wild about handicap tournaments but I should still be able to play a lot more than 4 games.

He laughed a little when I told him one of the things I'll miss most. We always sit together and argue how the current shooter should play the current rack. We've come to know that there is not way we could play scotch doubles cause we rarely see a layout the same way. I'm going to start another thread about this.

So, there was my decision. I guess I can join back up if I miss it to much.
 
mikepage said:
I think that sometimes when I'm not "in stroke" the problem is --brace yourself-- I'm not really aiming. But I think I'm not *really* aiming. If I warm up on a bar table, and I'm not really aiming, I can often get away with it and not even notice for a while. I aim better.

mike page
fargo
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My, my my...when you end up getting to the bottom line of what it really takes to shoot good pool...even the naysayers, theoreticians, stroke addicts, geometricians, Ph.D's, and science geeks all come to the same conclusion with players in the know eventually...(although for some it's only in their weakest moment)...and that is you CAN NOT make a ball if you aren't AIMING properly to begin with.

You will never escape from this post...don't even attempt deleting it. :D :D LOL
 
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