Drop pocket vs. gully... what is your preference and why?

S

Southport Lanes

Member
I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a 9' Gold Crown VI (non-tournament).

I grew up playing on a 9' Brunswick VIP with a gully system. Most of my league play in Chicago has been 8' or 9' tables with drop pockets. I always preferred the gully system - though to be honest I can't really say I have a strong reason for it other than convenience and the fact that every now and then you have a drop pocket game where you have too many balls in one pocket and have to shift some.

So what do people think? Is there any reason for preferring one over the other?
 
Definitely prefer drop pockets. Especially when they have big buckets under the table (small opening, big pocket). I mostly love the sound of balls plopping into buckets, but i have found in rotation games the balls come out of the gully in order so you need to manually mix them up. I know, I'm lazy...
 
Interesting question. The tables I grew up playing on were drop pocket GC’s, don’t know what model. My home table was a drop pocket and the table at the rec hall where I now live is drop pocket.

All of my league and tournament play is on gully tables. Sometimes at the pool halls I find myself reaching to the pocket for the cue ball after a scratch, or for a spot ball, just out of habit. It’s almost automatic but it does get some strange looks from other players every now and then. No problem my receding grey hairline explains a lot, lol.

Even though it is easier on the ole legs these days with a gully table, to me there is just something about the sound of a ball going into a ‘real’ pocket that just seems natural.

That was the long way to go for a simple answer, oh well. Drop Pocket would be my choice.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Unrelated question: does your forum name refer to Southport Lanes in Chicago (on Southport Ave.)?
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Yes. I was one of the partners.

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Gully 100%. I have a 9’ GC IV and I can’t stand drop pockets .. clearing balls when pockets get full, the clicking ball on ball sound when you make a shot, walking around the table collecting balls every time you rack .. nope .. sucks! I can practice 3000 stroke drill into corner pocket without ever having to walk away from the ball box
 
tim913 said:
Gully 100%. I have a 9’ GC IV and I can’t stand drop pockets .. clearing balls when pockets get full, the clicking ball on ball sound when you make a shot, walking around the table collecting balls every time you rack .. nope .. sucks! I can practice 3000 stroke drill into corner pocket without ever having to walk away from the ball box
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They should be able to hold 15 balls. There's enough room there.
 
Southport Lanes said:
I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a 9' Gold Crown VI (non-tournament).

I grew up playing on a 9' Brunswick VIP with a gully system. Most of my league play in Chicago has been 8' or 9' tables with drop pockets. I always preferred the gully system - though to be honest I can't really say I have a strong reason for it other than convenience and the fact that every now and then you have a drop pocket game where you have too many balls in one pocket and have to shift some.

So what do people think? Is there any reason for preferring one over the other?
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Always liked gully system. I hate gathering the balls out of each pocket before I rack.

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tim913 said:
Gully 100%. I have a 9’ GC IV and I can’t stand drop pockets .. clearing balls when pockets get full, the clicking ball on ball sound when you make a shot, walking around the table collecting balls every time you rack .. nope .. sucks! I can practice 3000 stroke drill into corner pocket without ever having to walk away from the ball box
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Practice sessions when you want to pull all the balls out is the only advantage to a gully system. I prefer to practice shooting into different pockets and the gully system just sucks for that. I also hate bending over squeezing my hands in the trey pulling out balls.

I’m all in for drop pockets.
 
If too much walking is why one doesn't like drops they need to get in shape. ;) I don't mind returns for 9b/8b but they suck for playing one pocket.
 
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