Is it 'normal' for the cue ball to jump off the rail on an 8' valley (or any table) when shot at reasonably normal speeds?

[Sheldon]

What about wrapping cloth around to the bottom of the slate, wont that cause the slate to sit high in the cabinet causing the rails to be too low??

Nope. The rails sit flush to the top side of the slate. (on the cloth)
The slate sitting lower will not affect rail height unless it goes so low that the rail bolt holes keep the rails from sitting flush. If you don't wrap the cloth under, you might have to shim the slate up to keep the tops of the rails from being below the formica.

 

[TrxR]

Nope. The rails sit flush to the top side of the slate. (on the cloth)
The slate sitting lower will not affect rail height unless it goes so low that the rail bolt holes keep the rails from sitting flush. If you don't wrap the cloth under, you might have to shim the slate up to keep the tops of the rails from being below the formica.

I seem to remember seeing somewhere that you sometimes have to shim the slate up even with the cloth wrapped under the slate on some tables.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... What is the best way to measure the height of the cushion nose? ...

There are special rail-height gauges that are like a 3x5 card with a small notch cut at the correct height. Here's a fancier one.

 

[Sheldon]

I seem to remember seeing somewhere that you sometimes have to shim the slate up even with the cloth wrapped under the slate on some tables.

Glen talks about that in his Valley video.

For me, It depends on the cabinet. If it's sagged in the middle, you'll run out of room to get the rail bolts in near the side pocket if you try and correct it. I place a higher priority on getting the slate level since most people I work for want faster cloth than Glen uses.

 

[4scarecrow]

Nose height is wrong or ball size is wrong for the nose height.

 

[fastone371]

There are special rail-height gauges that are like a 3x5 card with a small notch cut at the correct height. Here's a fancier one.

View attachment 756308

I am guessing that one does not find these at the corner hardware store. The one above looks like a custom cushion height gauge.

 

[iusedtoberich]

This actually looks like a good project for a 3d printer.

Maybe even a round ball with a flat base and graduations on the circumference to see the actual contact point of the rail to the ball. That could show differences when cushions are tilted (red vs blue diamond for example).

 

[ideologist]

I complained about poor maintenance on a venue's 8' Valleys. For example, a table length kick shot at just above pocket speed for a ball in front of an end pocket. Would you expect that the cue ball would 'hop' very noticeably off the rail? Our league operator says that's the way Valleys have always played. Is that true?

Some lazy ass sat on the cushion and it is warped downward now. Try pulling up on the nose of a jumpy spot and then check it out again