Mapping out tables

[Chilifide]

When warming up on a table what do you do to find out how the table is playing? I usually shoot a few balls, to get the speed down, then do some 1, and 2, rail kicks and then some 3 rail kicks that return to the corner (for the corner 5 diamond system) so that I can get out of safeties. I also do this when warming up for league, much to the annoyance of some of my teammates, of course if anyone needs a coach they expect me to tell them exactly where to hit the rail. Does anyone know what kind of system pro's use for this?

 

[beetle]

When warming up on a table what do you do to find out how the table is playing? I usually shoot a few balls, to get the speed down, then do some 1, and 2, rail kicks and then some 3 rail kicks that return to the corner (for the corner 5 diamond system) so that I can get out of safeties. I also do this when warming up for league, much to the annoyance of some of my teammates, of course if anyone needs a coach they expect me to tell them exactly where to hit the rail. Does anyone know what kind of system pro's use for this?

One thing that is important are some slow rolled shots along each rail. Try balls that are touching the rail and about 1/4 and 1/2 inch off the rail. You need to know if there are any table irregularities, and this is where they often are. Also, try slow angled shots from points along the headstring and footstring into each side pocket. You will see if there are any irregularities as the ball passes over the slate seams. Then try hard shots at various angles into the corner pockets to see if the jaws of the pocket tend to jar the ball or aid it in falling in. You will learn the true table pocket speed this way.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

When warming up on a table what do you do to find out how the table is playing? I usually shoot a few balls, to get the speed down, then do some 1, and 2, rail kicks and then some 3 rail kicks that return to the corner (for the corner 5 diamond system) so that I can get out of safeties. I also do this when warming up for league, much to the annoyance of some of my teammates, of course if anyone needs a coach they expect me to tell them exactly where to hit the rail. Does anyone know what kind of system pro's use for this?

One that you should always keep in mind (though I don't know how much you can do about it) is checking where the pieces of slate meet. If the table hasn't been reclothed in a while, there's a decent chance the pieces will become unlevel. If you see/feel this, you'll know to check the rolls for all three segments of the table. That lean toward the door you found may only work within the footside 1/3. It might lean away from the door on the top 1/3.

Also, you're gonna have that cue-ball hopping around all over the place every time it crosses a raised crease. If you feel you'll need to power the ball often in your match, you should weigh out the probability that it may affect your style and see if it's worth asking to have the match moved to another table.

 

[Walter N.]

What I do is.

I hit the cueball up and down the table until I can get it to stop on the kitchen line, after that I tell myself that I now know the speed of the table, so just play for position. Works every time.