I had the same problem with RC pockets on four tables that I made for a commercial room that uses furniture style tables. Needless to say we had to find a solution as on occaision there are some serious games played there. In fact, I know of one hill hill set when to the horror and amazement of the shooter, the corner pocket spit the nine back back out onto the playfield!!! At first I hoped that the pockets would become flexible with use as these tables are played 16 hours a day. The problem was the inner leather liner was occaisionally-as in critical shot of the game-acting like a trampoline and was sewn so that it tilted slighlty upward. We tried hand stretching them, re-stapling them, loading them up with balls, etc., etc. Finally, I took the pockets off all four tables, placed them upside down on a plastic garbage bag, and saturated them with a product called Lexol. Lexol is a leather conditioner that unlike saddlesoap or oily conditioners does not leave long term residues or stain the cloth and muck up the balls. You can find it at feed stores or saddle and tack stores. It comes in a spray bottle or a one liter bottle without the spray nozzle. We bought the one liters for $14.49 here in New Mexico. You have to really load the stuff on the pocket, let in soak in for an hour or so and then really wet it up again a couple of times. This makes the pocket soft enough to hand stretch the inner liner so that it is not tilted upward and is not so springy. Then use a dry rag to wipe off the excess if it needs it. At first the pocket tops will feel a little waxy but it goes away. With this method and the added softening effect of the balls pummeling the back of the pocket they have quit trampolining back onto table. I think the pockets may even last longer now because the leather netting is really soft and flexible. If you're thinking that you could get away with just spraying them without taking them off the table we tried that too. Take them off. Hope this helps. KR
