How do you play a table with deep pockets?

gunzby

gunzby

My light saber is LD
Silver Member
I just started playing APA again after about a 10 year layoff. When I started back I only played once a week during the league and because of the way I work I can only play 4 weeks on and 4 off. Because of this when I'd rattle the corners it didn't really get to me.

Well I finally got sick of losing and started practicing again. Still I would rattle those corners and the pockets are over 2 balls wide which frustrated me because I kept thinking my aim is off by just a hair over and over again. To make matters worse anywhere else I play I don't rattle them at all and usually produce quite a few break and runs which made me brainstorm. Was it the lighting? Was it the felt? (the tables there are a light blue and fairly worn) Or was it just my nerves.

Last night I played and was talking to some people about my problem and noticed that the pockets are set pretty deep off the rail and they aren't straight....kinda misshapen actually. At least now I know it's not really me (I always blame myself first) and I can adjust my shot configuration for the 8-ball league to take those shots last.

How would you shoot a table like that to maximize your shots? Would say a ball on the right rail going to the right corner be shot with left spin to maximize a turn once it gets to the corner?

I can literally hug the rail all the way down and still rattle it by shooting slow. I've also talked to quite a few people so I know it's not me.
 
All you can really do is hit them straight. There's no trick to playing tighter/deeper pockets.

Play the table every day, and you'll start thinking the pockets on other tables are too shallow.
 
Koopa said:
All you can really do is hit them straight. There's no trick to playing tighter/deeper pockets.

Play the table every day, and you'll start thinking the pockets on other tables are too shallow.
Click to expand...

Well you are definately right about that because when I play other tables I rarely if ever rattle a pocket. When I say these are deep I mean they are deep. It wouldn't be so bad if the rail corners were straight.

It's tough because my tables pockets are much tighter than that and I have no problems. It is incredibly frustrating to play those tables because even a straight shot can rattle. The only thing I like about it is that it has improved my aim even more than when I played on a championship table at a joint I used to go to which had corners that held a ball and a half.
 
gunzby said:
I just started playing APA again after about a 10 year layoff. When I started back I only played once a week during the league and because of the way I work I can only play 4 weeks on and 4 off. Because of this when I'd rattle the corners it didn't really get to me.

Well I finally got sick of losing and started practicing again. Still I would rattle those corners and the pockets are over 2 balls wide which frustrated me because I kept thinking my aim is off by just a hair over and over again. To make matters worse anywhere else I play I don't rattle them at all and usually produce quite a few break and runs which made me brainstorm. Was it the lighting? Was it the felt? (the tables there are a light blue and fairly worn) Or was it just my nerves.

Last night I played and was talking to some people about my problem and noticed that the pockets are set pretty deep off the rail and they aren't straight....kinda misshapen actually. At least now I know it's not really me (I always blame myself first) and I can adjust my shot configuration for the 8-ball league to take those shots last.

How would you shoot a table like that to maximize your shots? Would say a ball on the right rail going to the right corner be shot with left spin to maximize a turn once it gets to the corner?

I can literally hug the rail all the way down and still rattle it by shooting slow. I've also talked to quite a few people so I know it's not me.
Click to expand...

Don't be content with balls grazing the rail on the way in.

Professionals and top amatures will pocket just about every shot cleanly, unless they get a bit lazy. If a ball wobbles a bit before it falls, instead of being simply content with making the ball, look at it as warning to concentrate more.
 
The Table

gunzby said:
I just started playing APA again after about a 10 year layoff. When I started back I only played once a week during the league and because of the way I work I can only play 4 weeks on and 4 off. Because of this when I'd rattle the corners it didn't really get to me.

Well I finally got sick of losing and started practicing again. Still I would rattle those corners and the pockets are over 2 balls wide which frustrated me because I kept thinking my aim is off by just a hair over and over again. To make matters worse anywhere else I play I don't rattle them at all and usually produce quite a few break and runs which made me brainstorm. Was it the lighting? Was it the felt? (the tables there are a light blue and fairly worn) Or was it just my nerves.

Last night I played and was talking to some people about my problem and noticed that the pockets are set pretty deep off the rail and they aren't straight....kinda misshapen actually. At least now I know it's not really me (I always blame myself first) and I can adjust my shot configuration for the 8-ball league to take those shots last.

How would you shoot a table like that to maximize your shots? Would say a ball on the right rail going to the right corner be shot with left spin to maximize a turn once it gets to the corner?

I can literally hug the rail all the way down and still rattle it by shooting slow. I've also talked to quite a few people so I know it's not me.
Click to expand...

If everywhere had top notch table mechanics, pool would be more fun! LOL.

Unfortunately most of us only have felt applicators.

Even Diamond tables are only great until some hack mechanic gets hold of them.

Ray
 
Cameron Smith said:
Don't be content with balls grazing the rail on the way in.

Professionals and top amatures will pocket just about every shot cleanly, unless they get a bit lazy. If a ball wobbles a bit before it falls, instead of being simply content with making the ball, look at it as warning to concentrate more.
Click to expand...

That's what I was talking about when hugging the rail. If I make a rail shot that bounces I consider it a very sloppy shot. When I shoot an open pocket and I'm aiming at the center and it hits a side of the pocket it consider it slop. This is why when this happened to me at this pool haul I instantly blamed myself, but couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.
 
Bigtruck said:
If everywhere had top notch table mechanics, pool would be more fun! LOL.

Unfortunately most of us only have felt applicators.

Even Diamond tables are only great until some hack mechanic gets hold of them.

Ray
Click to expand...

True
The tables are in a dire need of recovering. They're incredibly thin, have threadbare parts and some pock marks. I would rather play on a great table at another hall near me, but I must conquer these tables before I am satisfied. Hhhmmmm maybe that's why that place is always busy while the one I go to is fairly slow.
 
Thanx for the replies. I just realized how tough it can be to give an opinion when you don't see the tables and you can't see me shooting these shots.
 
On tables with deep slate or "splayed" pocket openings, you must hit center pocket on the straighter in shots and deeper into the pocket on off angle shots. The speed that you hit the shot is more critical on this type of table. You can not fire balls in and expect them to drop. They must be hit clean.
 
Gotta agree about the table mechanic. If the pocket openings aren't cut right, they won't rebound right. Also worn out facings, or multiple shims will have this effect.
 
Bigtruck said:
If everywhere had top notch table mechanics, pool would be more fun! LOL.

Unfortunately most of us only have felt applicators.


Ray
Click to expand...


no truer words can be said about that, man how people can go to work, suck so bad at their jobs and not care, is beyond me. What happened to careing??? honest to God, I cant stand it anymore, I read a article about Hersheys Chocklate and how they dont use cocoa beans much anymore, i noticed it was like wax the past couple years, now I know why. I wil find that article. I refuse to accept medocrity-thats why i broke my foot this week, i got these junk cabinents delivered I hate them so I kicked them-ouch, they are in the garbage, I could have bought a few Bushkas with the $$$ I lost on them.
 
gunzby said:
Last night I played and was talking to some people about my problem and noticed that the pockets are set pretty deep off the rail and they aren't straight....kinda misshapen actually.

..........

I can literally hug the rail all the way down and still rattle it by shooting slow.
Click to expand...

Yeah, lame table.

The deep pocket thing imo tends to favor a softer, more pocket speed style. It's a trade off though because you become vulnerable to other imperfections such as the level of the table and condition of the cloth.

It seems like these weird tables always have some local regular who plays lights out on them. See how hard he is hitting them and maybe work from there.

Good Luck! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top