How big are the pockets?

PoolBum

PoolBum

Ace in the side.
Silver Member
Recently I had the chance to actually measure the size of the pockets in my home poolroom. I'm curious as to how they compare to the pocket sizes on the tables the pros play on in major tournaments.

Does anyone know the pocket sizes at the U.S. Open 9-ball or any other major tournaments?
 
PoolBum said:
Recently I had the chance to actually measure the size of the pockets in my home poolroom. I'm curious as to how they compare to the pocket sizes on the tables the pros play on in major tournaments.

Does anyone know the pocket sizes at the U.S. Open 9-ball or any other major tournaments?
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I seem to remember hearing that the US Open pockets were 4.25 inches. The World Championship moved to 4.50 inches a couple of years ago. Most pool rooms have pockets measuring at 4.75 to 5.00 inches.
 
PoolBum said:
They are 3 7/8"
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I'm sure some folks won't believe this but that is the pocket size at House of Billiards in Santa Monica. The pros don't have to fade that kind of brutal action on the tour. They usually shoot at 4.5" buckets.
 
anything smaller than 4.5 takes away well hit shots that should fall...

Going smaller, for the most part, is kind of like guys who play ten ball cause its harder but can't run out 9 ball /shrug

4.5 is pretty tight and you have to be a pretty good shotmaker to get out. 3.75 iis ridiculous... I'd rather see a bigger table introduced to make the game harder than smaller pockets...


Anyways, my table is 4.5 with one pocket being 4.375 (ya, you know why :)) and most pool halls have 4.75. Its pretty standard. I'm talking real tables (50x100) and not the toys you see in bars ;)
 
8ballEinstein said:
I'm sure some folks won't believe this but that is the pocket size at House of Billiards in Santa Monica. The pros don't have to fade that kind of brutal action on the tour. They usually shoot at 4.5" buckets.
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Blame it on Ernesto. He's sick. :)
 
jay helfert said:
Blame it on Ernesto. He's sick. :)
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Oh so true. I'm sure he was snickering all the way out the door after setting up those tables. One sick dude that Ernesto. But, ya gotta love him.
 
cincyman said:
us open uses the standard diamond pro cut---which is 4 9/16.
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And, being pro-cut, any comparison based solely on inches is only telling a small part of the story...Them pro-cuts is mean!
 
anything smaller than 4.5 takes away well hit shots that should fall...

Going smaller, for the most part, is kind of like guys who play ten ball cause its harder but can't run out 9 ball /shrug

4.5 is pretty tight and you have to be a pretty good shotmaker to get out. 3.75 iis ridiculous... I'd rather see a bigger table introduced to make the game harder than smaller pockets...


Anyways, my table is 4.5 with one pocket being 4.375 (ya, you know why ) and most pool halls have 4.75. Its pretty standard. I'm talking real tables (50x100) and not the toys you see in bars
__________________
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well said.
 
I'm sure some folks won't believe this but that is the pocket size at House of Billiards in Santa Monica. The pros don't have to fade that kind of brutal action on the tour. They usually shoot at 4.5" buckets.

Blame it on Ernesto. He's sick.
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Ernesto set up the tables at Hollywood Billiards for their Viking tournament several months ago and left them all at 4.5 inches. I thought their business would suffer, but it doesn't seem to matter to the bangers. I guess they don't notice when their shotmaking percentage drops from 20 to 15.

pj
chgo
 
PoolBum said:
They are 3 7/8"
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Exactly where should the measurement be taken? At the very inside of the pocket (end of the pocket shelf) or at the begining of the pocket opening (where the rails begin to point towards the pocket), or somewhere in between? Depending on where you take it, you can get 0.5'' or more of difference in measurment.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Ernesto set up the tables at Hollywood Billiards for their Viking tournament several months ago and left them all at 4.5 inches. I thought their business would suffer, but it doesn't seem to matter to the bangers. I guess they don't notice when their shotmaking percentage drops from 20 to 15.

pj
chgo
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Very true. The tables are challenging enough for professional competition but 99% of their business is bangers. I've seen very few serious players in that room. I've never measured the pockets there but I thought they were 4" wide. They sure feel like it anyway.
 
jsp said:
Exactly where should the measurement be taken? At the very inside of the pocket (end of the pocket shelf) or at the begining of the pocket opening (where the rails begin to point towards the pocket), or somewhere in between? Depending on where you take it, you can get 0.5'' or more of difference in measurment.
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The measurement is taken at the "beginning of the pocket opening (where the rails begin to point towards the pocket)" as you referred to it.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Ernesto set up the tables at Hollywood Billiards for their Viking tournament several months ago and left them all at 4.5 inches. I thought their business would suffer, but it doesn't seem to matter to the bangers. I guess they don't notice when their shotmaking percentage drops from 20 to 15.

pj
chgo
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If I'm not mistaken I think the front tables at Hollywood Billiards are tighter than 4.5".
 
8ballEinstein said:
Very true. The tables are challenging enough for professional competition but 99% of their business is bangers. I've seen very few serious players in that room. I've never measured the pockets there but I thought they were 4" wide. They sure feel like it anyway.
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Hollywood is 4", give or take an eighth. I like their tables.

If Ernesto cuts the rails, the balls drop if they hit within the point, so they play easier than a poorly cut pocket. You can fire a ball down the rail and it won't spit out if it's within the point. That's my test for a pocket.

Ernesto did my table at home (4" corners, German rubber) so I am used to it. It took a year of so to completely adjust to a tight table. Buckets make your game sloppy. Many players hit poor shots that still drop on buckets. They don't realize how poor their fine aim is until they get on a tight table.

The trend is to go to tight pockets. I think 4" corners are fine but 4.5" sides are just brutal. His side pockets are the most difficult in pool.

Chris
 
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