I'm at a practice table disadvantage.

[CaptainJR]

Another thread was talking about limited time to practice. Being an involved father of a 14 year old daughter, I'm also limited in the amount of time I can allot to my practice. I mentioned this because I'm particularly limited in the amount of time I can go to the pool hall. As far as practicing at home I have another limiting factor that I thought I'd start a new thread on.

My basement is small! Two years ago my furnace, that was in the center of the basement, went bad. They came to estimate the cost of a new one and I said, "I want it over there. This is where my Pool table is going to be." My wife later ask me how much the furnace was going to cost. I said, "About $5,000.00" after figuring to myself, $2,000.00 for the furnace plus $3,000.00 for the pool table. I thought that was pretty funny. She didn't laugh as much as I did.

Anyway, the biggest table I could fit was 3.5' by 7', bar size. I got a new Brunswick. It has standard pockets as opposed to bar table pockets, which I like about it. Any suggestions on what or how I could practice that would make it more like practicing on a standard 4.5' by 9' table. If I'm working on a specific shot I try to adjust the shot to what it would be like on a nine footer, but that is about the extent of what I've been able to come up with.

 

[drivermaker]

Anyway, the biggest table I could fit was 3.5' by 7', bar size. I got a new Brunswick. It has standard pockets as opposed to bar table pockets, which I like about it. Any suggestions on what or how I could practice that would make it more like practicing on a standard 4.5' by 9' table.

Dear Captain...there are two things that I can think of doing. First, have Tenille go out and cut some more records in order that you can pull in some money to extend that basement out for a 9 footer.
Or, go to your eye doctor and get a perscrption change on your lenses to make everything look further away so you think you're shooting a longer shot than it really is. Hope that helps...glad I could be of service.

 

[sjm]

Another thread was talking about limited time to practice. Being an involved father of a 14 year old daughter, I'm also limited in the amount of time I can allot to my practice. I mentioned this because I'm particularly limited in the amount of time I can go to the pool hall. As far as practicing at home I have another limiting factor that I thought I'd start a new thread on.

My basement is small! Two years ago my furnace, that was in the center of the basement, went bad. They came to estimate the cost of a new one and I said, "I want it over there. This is where my Pool table is going to be." My wife later ask me how much the furnace was going to cost. I said, "About $5,000.00" after figuring to myself, $2,000.00 for the furnace plus $3,000.00 for the pool table. I thought that was pretty funny. She didn't laugh as much as I did.

Anyway, the biggest table I could fit was 3.5' by 7', bar size. I got a new Brunswick. It has standard pockets as opposed to bar table pockets, which I like about it. Any suggestions on what or how I could practice that would make it more like practicing on a standard 4.5' by 9' table. If I'm working on a specific shot I try to adjust the shot to what it would be like on a nine footer, but that is about the extent of what I've been able to come up with.

I think the real answer here, Captain, is that you must not allow this one table to be your only practice table. Practice on a 3 1/2 by 7 might well allow you to keep your fundamentals, and to a lesser extent, your speed control, in decent working order, but won't be enough to keep you sharp enough to compete on a 4 1/2 by 9. To sum, I would strongly recommend that some of your solo practices be on a 4 1/2 by 9 at your local poolroom.

 

[TATE]

It can actually hurt your game practicing on equipment vastly different from what you compete on.

I don't know if this is possible, but you might consider selling your house and buying one that has room for a full-size pool table.

When we were looking for our current house (12 years ago) , we had two requirements: 1) A swimming pool for my wife and 2) a room big enough for a 9' pool table for me. My wife became incredibly supportive of that idea, and refused several homes that didn't have room for a pool table, even though I told her I wasn't fixated on the idea.

Surprisingly, there are a lot of houses out there that really can't take a pool table, much less a 9 footer.

It may sound ridiculous, to move for that reason. But I tell you, you will be a lot happier having room for the table, maybe a bar, your cues, etc.

I spend so much time on my pool table, I wouldn't know what to do without it. It's become an important part of our home.

Chris

 

[Rickw]

Captain,

I practiced on a 3 1/2 by 7 Valley bar table for years. What I did was use this table for my stroke, i.e., I practiced masse shots, jump shots and my basic stroke. I didn't work so much on trying to make balls because the table is remarkably different than a 4 1/2 by 9. For example, an angle that works on the small table won't necessarily work on the bigger table so you don't want to get too focused in on the aim. When I wanted to practice making balls, I went to my local pool hall. Good luck!

 

[CaptainJR]

Thank you all for the replies. I sure wish I could fit the 9 footer, a new house is not in the cards any time soon. I'm getting old anyway, maybe I should stick to the 7 foot table. In 10 years I might still be able to see 7 foot away. If I stick the cue ball in one corner and the object ball in the middle of the table, I can still practice fairly long straight-in shot.

Thanks again