Effect of Tight Pockets

Paul Schofield

Paul Schofield

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Tight pockets cause:
1. Players to miss more often
2. Players to play safe more often

Here is my question: Does "missing shots" increase participation and does "safe play" increase viewership?
 
playing safe

I find it frustrating when opponents resent my playing safe. I can't bear to give away the game to placate them.
 
i like them for 1P only.

to aswere your question it depends on the game. in short rack banks you have to shoot at your hole, so you miss more.

in one pocket you play a tighter game ie play safe more.

in 9,10 ball it could be a little of both.


In other words Tight pockets have/or create different situations that cant be answered as a true/false, or A or B logic tree type of answere-its just not a suitable question of one answere. The answere rests solely on the game, and even the player(Shane who shoots so straight might go for a shot I wouldnt because he is the favorite to make it), thus the answere is in the middle.


Mr.Schofield, I owe you and email. Please forgive me for the delay. I have been very busy the past couple weeks/I had visitors for almost 3 weeks and a pile of biz that was time sensitive stuff. I will email you this week for sure, I have not forgot.

Sincerly Eric P :)


PS if my gramer is poor its because i;m dead tired.
 
paul schofield said:
tight pockets cause:
1. Players to miss more often
2. Players to play safe more often

here is my question: Does "missing shots" increase participation and does "safe play" increase viewership?
Click to expand...

You need to differentiate the type of player that you are referring to.

Bangers or pros?? More in the mddle??

Your questions need to be more defined.
 
poolhustler said:
You need to differentiate the type of player that you are referring to.

Bangers or pros?? More in the mddle??

Your questions need to be more defined.
Click to expand...

Should the goal be one pocket size for all tables, all players, and all games? It is simple enough. Golf has a universal hole size. Golf is very successful. Should we take a lesson? My question is purposely simple.
 
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"Tight Pockets" allow the better player to win. Period! They play safe when needed, and pocket balls cleanly. I prefer tight pockets. I know I played well if I win on one, and I know I got beat by someone who can play if I lose.

Also, so many people complain about "tight pockets". The center of the pocket is the same size on every pocket!
 
I used to like tight pockets, and long slate, but I think it takes a lot of finese to consistently sink balls on those. It favors a slow poke, high angle shooter.

Guys with a stroke, have to duck too much, because accurate power causes the ball not to go in.

I like leather pockets and just over two ball width, with a short enough slate that power shots coming back off the leather stay down. Sorry, I don't have a number for that.

At the bar, I would like it a little looser.
 
Paul Schofield said:
Tight pockets cause:
1. Players to miss more often
2. Players to play safe more often

Here is my question: Does "missing shots" increase participation and does "safe play" increase viewership?
Click to expand...

Hmmmmm....looks like a glass half empty view above....I prefer the glass half full approach.

Tight pockets cause:

1. Players to become better shotmakers.
2. Players to play better/tighter patterns and shape
 
Paul Schofield said:
Tight pockets cause:
1. Players to miss more often
2. Players to play safe more often

Here is my question: Does "missing shots" increase participation and does "safe play" increase viewership?
Click to expand...

those two are your choices working on the assumption that you'll never get better at pocketing balls
 
Tight Pockets

I like tight pockets, they will make you play the proper angle to make the ball, and for getting shape, as opposed to loose pockets I find my self just playing shape angle's in the general area to make the ball and for setting up shape for the next ball. ( in other words, tight pocket's keep you on your toe's, more aware of what your doing!)


David Harcrow
 
It all depends on your customer base, If your catering to "players" you would want tight pockets, If your catering to bangers you would want easier pockets so they will make more balls and will play longer.
 
If you keep making the pockets tighter you will eventually end up with a billiard table. I don't think that would be good for pool as that game is not too popular.

Pool tables need a little variety. If every table were the same I think it would be boring. Golf has different courses. Baseball has different outfield layouts and the ground crew changes the field conditions from day to day to help the home team. Even NASCAR realizes that all tracks cannot be the same as watching something that keeps going in a circle gets old fast. Bowling changes the oil patterns.

Different cloths, cushions, pocket angles, pocket shelves, and etc do make the game more challenging for the serious player. Lower level players or the casual spectator don't realize or appreciate the differences in table conditions.

Maybe some one should have a pro tournament on a snooker table using 2 1/4 inch balls and see how that works out.
 
I believe you should practice on whatever you play your matches on. If you play your matches on tight pockets, practice on tight pockets.

There are certain shots I avoid or play differently on tight pockets as opposed to loose pockets.
 
Paul Schofield said:
Tight pockets cause:
1. Players to miss more often
2. Players to play safe more often

Here is my question: Does "missing shots" increase participation and does "safe play" increase viewership?
Click to expand...

I think your basic premise on ! & 2 is incorrect , but they've already been addressed . I'm only going to deal with
". . .does safe play increase viewership?"
Sadly , we will never know , because most television coverage I have seen edits out the safety play . Have you ever noticed that you can be watching a match on E_P_ (not naming any names) and the players will be tied at two racks each , and when you come back from commercial , one player will be three racks ahead ? They edit out safety play - they consider running out racks to be more exciting .
 
TheBook said:
If you keep making the pockets tighter you will eventually end up with a billiard table. I don't think that would be good for pool as that game is not too popular.

Pool tables need a little variety. If every table were the same I think it would be boring. Golf has different courses. Baseball has different outfield layouts and the ground crew changes the field conditions from day to day to help the home team. Even NASCAR realizes that all tracks cannot be the same as watching something that keeps going in a circle gets old fast. Bowling changes the oil patterns.

Different cloths, cushions, pocket angles, pocket shelves, and etc do make the game more challenging for the serious player. Lower level players or the casual spectator don't realize or appreciate the differences in table conditions.

Maybe some one should have a pro tournament on a snooker table using 2 1/4 inch balls and see how that works out.
Click to expand...

Good thinking. I think along those same lines but slightly different. As golf has different courses and there are different baseball parks, basic to the games is the size of the hole and the distances in the infield. Those universal and basic dimensions define the games. This has proven to be just fine. Similarly, we have 7', 8', and 9' tables which is fine. If we wanted to make the games more challenging, wouldn't it make more sense to go to a 10' or even 12' table. If the pockets are tightened down, is it still the game we know? Do the tight pockets alter the game?

I am not asking if everyone likes tight pockets or if it makes better players. My question is much different. I am speaking to pool's popularity. I will try again.

Does "missing shots" increase participation and does "safe play" increase viewership?
 
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ridinda9 said:
I think your basic premise on ! & 2 is incorrect , but they've already been addressed . I'm only going to deal with
". . .does safe play increase viewership?"
Sadly , we will never know , because most television coverage I have seen edits out the safety play . Have you ever noticed that you can be watching a match on E_P_ (not naming any names) and the players will be tied at two racks each , and when you come back from commercial , one player will be three racks ahead ? They edit out safety play - they consider running out racks to be more exciting .
Click to expand...

Ironic that they are taking the "express" out of Texas.:)
 
Paul Schofield said:
Should the goal be one pocket size for all tables, all players, and all games? It is simple enough. Golf has a universal hole size. Golf is very successful. Should we take a lesson? My question is purposely simple.
Click to expand...

In that case, my answer is no. For pool to survive at different levels, I feel that it needs to be played on "easy" tables for beginners and on 'tight" tables for more advanced players.
 
Paul Schofield said:
Does "missing shots" increase participation and does "safe play" increase viewership?
Click to expand...

It does with me. I no longer watch matches played on bucket tables.

In a match I watched live at the Bicylcle Club in 2004, the finals matches (Deuel and Basovich) were played on "TV" tables that were not used during the tournament. They were set up just for the broadcast and the corner pockets measured over 5" - what a joke!

Chris
 
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