help - pockets leaving marks on balls

jingle

jingle

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a new set of leather drop pockets on my table and they seem to be leaving black smudges on the balls. I think this is only happening on very hard shots when the balls hit the back of the pocket. The marks will come off with ball polish, but it's kind of a pain to constantly clean the balls.

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Is there anything I can do to the pocket to prevent it, or do I just have to wait until the pockets are broken in?
 
jingle said:
I have a new set of leather drop pockets on my table and they seem to be leaving black smudges on the balls. I think this is only happening on very hard shots when the balls hit the back of the pocket. The marks will come off with ball polish, but it's kind of a pain to constantly clean the balls.

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Is there anything I can do to the pocket to prevent it, or do I just have to wait until the pockets are broken in?
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What kind of table?

Glen
 
I have a Kim Steel table that has plastic pockets (I guess) and they leave smudges as well. It is a pain in the butt. I find myself wiping smudges everytime I rack.
 
metallicane said:
I have a Kim Steel table that has plastic pockets (I guess) and they leave smudges as well. It is a pain in the butt. I find myself wiping smudges everytime I rack.
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My old antique (broken in) pockets never left a mark. I'm just hoping to speed up, or sidestep, the break-in process on the new pockets.
 
Craig Fales said:
Rub mink oil or saddle soap into the leather inside the pockets where the balls contact.
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I thought about trying this, but was afraid it would leave an oily residue on the balls. Have you tried this before, with success? Any residue?
 
You can also cut a section from an extra piece of felt and gluestic it to the back of the pocket. Works well.:wink: Easily removed & cleaned if needed too.
 
Ball marks

I got rid of my old plastic/rubber pockets for that very reason -- lots of ballmarks. The new pockets come from Wisconsin, are solid leather insert pockets, and they leave no marks whatsoever.

Better yet, the sound of these pockets is vastly superior to the old.
 
I have a fairly old Bruswick with drop leather pockets. I also found that the rivet in the webbing would chip the balls. I wrapped a cotton ball and tape around it.

To stop the black smugs is easy. Don't shoot so hard.
 
Black smudges on the balls are common with Diamond Pro Am-s (can't comment on the Pros... maybe they do it too)... and like Craig Fales, I periodically apply a small amount of mink oil on the inside face of my pockets and it keeps the black marks in check.
 
I have dyed leather drop pockets on my Olhausen and I get lots and lots of marks on the balls.

Just get a 1/2 damp & 1/2 dry bath towel. The dye comes right off with a little moisture. Then you can quickly buff the balls dry. Very easy.

One other thing you can do, which will make the process easier, is after every rack, clean one ball starting with the 1-ball. Eventually, you will get to the 15-ball.

This way no ball goes more then 15 racks without being cleaned and you don't have to stop for very long to do it. Just make it part of racking the balls.
 
9BallPaul said:
I got rid of my old plastic/rubber pockets for that very reason -- lots of ballmarks. The new pockets come from Wisconsin, are solid leather insert pockets, and they leave no marks whatsoever.

Better yet, the sound of these pockets is vastly superior to the old.
Click to expand...

Wisconsin...Home of McDermott, Schon, Viking, Good pockets, beer, and cheese...I guess we can give California the cheese thing since they are so die hard about trying to beat us.
 
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