IMO, pocket reducers are a poor choice. The pockets will play terrible. Unless you plan on attempting a 14.1 high run, I'd think twice about the 5"/5.5" decision. It seems 4.5"/5" is today's "standard" for a pool table. The psychological aspect of going from large pockets to tighter pockets is real so wouldn't it be better to practice on conditions that are similar to those you'd be competing on? Is the real reason what you stated or are you not interested in the time it will take to do the work and the cost involved?Much of what I need to practice has nothing to do with pocket width. Tightening the pockets would be counter productive for this. I already have pocket speed control and strive for clean shots in the center of the pocket never touching the pocket cushion anyway.
Now if/when the day comes that I want to tighten the pockets for practice I can 3D print pocket reducers for those practice sessions. I have a high end dual independent print head 3D printer so I can print the reducer with a rubber lining.
Cost is no object. I'm not a tournament player and never going to be a tournament player. I could change my mind on tightening the pockets I'll have to speak with RKC but for now I'm fine with 5 and 5.5. There are some other modifications I'd like to have done to the rails.IMO, pocket reducers are a poor choice. The pockets will play terrible. Unless you plan on attempting a 14.1 high run, I'd think twice about the 5"/5.5" decision. It seems 4.5"/5" is today's "standard" for a pool table. The psychological aspect of going from large pockets to tighter pockets is real so wouldn't it be better to practice on conditions that are similar to those you'd be competing on? Is the real reason what you stated or are you not interested in the time it will take to do the work and the cost involved?
Any design you can imagine as you have complete 3D control over the shape and angles accurate to a few thousands of an inch in all dimensions. With dual independent print heads you can 3D print with 2 types of filaments simultaneously. Nylon/rubber, ABS/rubber. NOT a substitute for regular play imo. It's not going to play like a table with properly reduced pockets. But to narrow a pocket temporarily specifically for practicing sure.What would a 3d printed pocket reducer look like? I like that idea.
Can’t remember what it’s called but are you now going to have someone drag a slab of granite across it before the cloth goes down?
If your fingers were bleeding, you were installing it rightYes I did manage to rub the skin off my knuckles stretching the cloth arrgh! Especially on the final end stretch which required cussing, sweating it kept popping loose. After applying some more glue it was MUCH easier, held like it was TIG welded then.
I also put some wax paper between the folded back cloth while I applied the glue to the cloth just in case any soaked through.
Thankfully both hands have scabbed over now. (face palm)If your fingers were bleeding, you were installing it right
Alright, now you're just showing offTested a cloth skirt for the side pocket, not happening. The underlayment is both set back and tapered back and away from the vertical surface of the slate. Time for CAD and the 3D printer to get in the game. I have some Ultimaker black TPU 95A thermoplastic polyurethane filament, tough and flexible like rubber. I'm off to print one of these...
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Go tighter! At least 4.5"/5". If you leave it at 5"/5.5", you're gonna be hurting if you go to an event and they are using Diamonds or tighter equipment.