How to adjust for playing conditions?

J

Jason Robichaud

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Curiosity and frustration is driving this post regarding playing conditions. The area I live is seeing a tremendous pool resurgence with great prize money. Unfortunately for me, the conditions are not great. Lags scratching, dead rails, otherrolls on tables etc. My game is night and day difference between good tables - vs - bad tables.

I put many hours practicing on a home table with perfect conditions and this elevated my game and confidence when competing. Highest runs: 8 pack in 9 ball, 12 pack during tournament with winner break format in 8 ball, and a 142 in snooker. All ability pretty much goes wayside on the first bad roll as I doubt the table on every shot. Thought process after roll... watch this soft safety shot roll out and miss the OB - or - watch this kick/bank shot hit a dead rail and miss. From the first bad roll noticed, I talk myself out of the tournament by focusing on every bad roll.

Anyone find the secret ingredient for adjusting or struggle with conditions?
 
Jason Robichaud said:
Curiosity and frustration is driving this post regarding playing conditions. The area I live is seeing a tremendous pool resurgence with great prize money. Unfortunately for me, the conditions are not great. Lags scratching, dead rails, otherrolls on tables etc. My game is night and day difference between good tables - vs - bad tables.

I put many hours practicing on a home table with perfect conditions and this elevated my game and confidence when competing. Highest runs: 8 pack in 9 ball, 12 pack during tournament with winner break format in 8 ball, and a 142 in snooker. All ability pretty much goes wayside on the first bad roll as I doubt the table on every shot. Thought process after roll... watch this soft safety shot roll out and miss the OB - or - watch this kick/bank shot hit a dead rail and miss. From the first bad roll noticed, I talk myself out of the tournament by focusing on every bad roll.

Anyone find the secret ingredient for adjusting or struggle with conditions?
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I would recommend getting out of the house more (not being sarcastic here) and get more time on other equipment. Also, take a few minutes on new to you equipment and check rail rebound, table rolls, etc. before each match.

Best of Luck,
Keith
 
Keith E. said:
I would recommend getting out of the house more (not being sarcastic here) and get more time on other equipment. Also, take a few minutes on new to you equipment and check rail rebound, table rolls, etc. before each match.

Best of Luck,
Keith
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Good advice. Unfortunately its a long drive to nearest pool room. I am thinking about buying a table for poor conditions.
 
I wish i had a home table, but i have access to three 9 foot Brunswick tables for free, when i go practice i play on the crappiest table of the three for a few reasons.The one i mainly play on has a slow nap cloth and shimmed pockets and have a few dead rails, when the other strong players show up they just jump on that table with me and we just shoot for hours non stop without even thinking on playing on the better tables.

We play 9 ball and one pocket, but when i play alone i play the 10 ball ghost and straight pool. I also go to other places places to play as well, but the interesting thing i been noticing is when i play on a better condition table with faster cloth i play with a ton of finesse which is making me play a lot stronger.

Anyways,back to your post, playing on perfect condition tables is good and all, but not every place has those conditions, one place i play tournaments in have slow crappy tables and another place i play tournaments at have better tables. Right now i am starting to play just as strong on both table conditions, the other day i ran a three pack on slow table then later that night i ran a two pack at another place on a faster table.

I know you said the distance is an issue, but next time you go to play somewhere else spend time on a crappy table. And one very important thing to remember, if you do choose to start playing/practicing on bad tables do not get discouraged because the head games will come out, things like, well on my table i make that shot and win, those are things you need to over come on a crappy table.

As i ust to say in the Army, adapt and overcome.
 
The key to playing on bad equipment is to pay attention to what the table is doing so that you can use that to your advantage. If a table leans a certain way when shooting that direction hit it softer or harder to compensate for the roll. Dead rails are fun when needing shape knowing the ball will not rebound like it should and the cue ball stays right next to the rail for shape. Not wanting to bore you but learning what a table is doing at any place is called adapting. That is one thing you can count on from all the top players is there ability to no and understand what a table plays like and use that to there advantage.
 
dbrown said:
The key to playing on bad equipment is to pay attention to what the table is doing so that you can use that to your advantage. If a table leans a certain way when shooting that direction hit it softer or harder to compensate for the roll. Dead rails are fun when needing shape knowing the ball will not rebound like it should and the cue ball stays right next to the rail for shape. Not wanting to bore you but learning what a table is doing at any place is called adapting. That is one thing you can count on from all the top players is there ability to no and understand what a table plays like and use that to there advantage.
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Yes, one of the biggest things you can do on a bad table is to hit the ball a little firmer to counter the drift in the table.
 
Sounds like you quite a player. Most problems appear to be between the ears. Other then that stunning the ball so you can hit every shot with a stroke to avoid roll off and playing patterns that allow you to avoid the rails as much as possible would be all I can think of.
 
It's good you have a home table. I would suggest getting various cue balls to practice with. Perfect conditions and a cue ball that you can make dance when practicing. Then you get to the bar tables with a mud ball.
 
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