Hardtimes players. How tight are the pockets?

IamCalvin06

IamCalvin06

Yang "The Son of Pool"
Silver Member
I remember when i visited Hardtimes for the first time back in 2001. A friend of mine took me over to the "players" side of the room. I remember the pockets being tight but lately when i watch the POV pool streams i hear of tables being 3 7/8"?

That's extremely tight! I play on a GC that has 4inch pockets and that's the tightest that i've played on.

Are all the tables like that on the tournament side or is it just the tables on the end that you see in the streams. table 1 and 6 i believe?
 
IamCalvin06 said:
I remember when i visited Hardtimes for the first time back in 2001. A friend of mine took me over to the "players" side of the room. I remember the pockets being tight but lately when i watch the POV pool streams i hear of tables being 3 7/8"?

That's extremely tight! I play on a GC that has 4inch pockets and that's the tightest that i've played on.

Are all the tables like that on the tournament side or is it just the tables on the end that you see in the streams. table 1 and 6 i believe?
Click to expand...

Just the first two are super tight. I thought they were around 4"
 
What about the other tables? The diamond table doesn't look as tight but that could just be from viewing online streams. Six however looks extra tight.
 
IamCalvin06 said:
What about the other tables? The diamond table doesn't look as tight but that could just be from viewing online streams. Six however looks extra tight.
Click to expand...

Most of the tables are at least 4 1/4 I would estimate.
 
IamCalvin06 said:
What about the other tables? The diamond table doesn't look as tight but that could just be from viewing online streams. Six however looks extra tight.
Click to expand...

I believe the Diamond has standard pro cut pockets, so it isn't as tight as the prior table 1, which is currently table 2 or table 6.
 
These tables should be taken out of play during a tournament if there are enough other tables set up the same as each other to satisfy the needs of the event.

I have watched quite a few streams on these tables where it becomes more about the equipment than the players. Who really wants to play a while on the other tables, get in a groove and then switch to the tight one three slots or so up the A side?

The truth is 4 and a quarter is plenty tight for competitive play at any level including pro. Anything smaller than that is set up for someone's ego, not for the game.

JC
 
JC said:
These tables should be taken out of play during a tournament if there are enough other tables set up the same as each other to satisfy the needs of the event.

I have watched quite a few streams on these tables where it becomes more about the equipment than the players. Who really wants to play a while on the other tables, get in a groove and then switch to the tight one three slots or so up the A side?

The truth is 4 and a quarter is plenty tight for competitive play at any level including pro. Anything smaller than that is set up for someone's ego, not for the game.

JC
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I am a proponent of tight pockets but I agree with you. For tournaments, 4 1/4 are fine.

Hard Times for many years didn't use the sub 4" tables in the local tournaments. In the often humid environment, they play even tighter and pockets that tight change the game. Then they stream you on those things! Glad they moved them.
 
Hard Times Sacramento

All eight tables in the tournament room at Hard Times Sacramento are close to 2 & 6 at Hard Times Bellflower, and several tables in the main room are exactly the same as the tournament room.

Ernesto does the tables at both rooms and they are similar. Many players in the field for the 2nd Mezz West tournament up here were from SoCal and maybe some of them can give their opinion.

They are great for one pocket but brutal for 9/10 ball. Not many break and runs on this equipment.
 
The tables in the Tournament Room at Hard Times Sacramento are the meanest tables I've ever played on. Not only are they tight, but if you're hitting a ball down the rail you better be damn sure you hit it perfect or it will spit it right out. Borderline unfair pockets after Ernesto changed the cut angle on the pocket facings.
 
JC said:
These tables should be taken out of play during a tournament if there are enough other tables set up the same as each other to satisfy the needs of the event.

I have watched quite a few streams on these tables where it becomes more about the equipment than the players. Who really wants to play a while on the other tables, get in a groove and then switch to the tight one three slots or so up the A side?

The truth is 4 and a quarter is plenty tight for competitive play at any level including pro. Anything smaller than that is set up for someone's ego, not for the game.

JC
Click to expand...

For smaller tournaments, tables 3,4,5 & 8,9,10 are used. They all play similar with the same pocket size. For larger tournament's all of the tables must be utilized. But the tight tables still play nice, just demand more focus. I'd actually prefer to play on one of them over the tables on the non-tournament side.
 
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Delete. Wrong room

Freddie <~~~ in Bellflower right... now
 
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Oscar sent me this message via FB:


4inches on Tables 2 and 6, 7
The rest in tournament room are 4.25
 
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