Matchroom events pocket size
- Thread starter zkzkzk
- Start date
Plot thickens.
where did you hear this?
I believe it was a podcast interview. I can't remember which one though.
My understanding, based on information gleaned from Emily interviews, is that any Matchroom points event will be on pockets between 4.0” and 4.5”, determined by the promoter’s ability to provide pocket size. Matchroom open events will be on 4.25” pockets and Matchroom invitation events will be on 4.0” pockets.
I think there is a Matchroom push to be more standardized in 2023. Having Matchroom points events that are promoted by entities other than Matchroom creates some difficulties for uniformity throughout.
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I think there is a Matchroom push to be more standardized in 2023. Having Matchroom points events that are promoted by entities other than Matchroom creates some difficulties for uniformity throughout.
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I think Emily addresses it in a Loose Pool podcast back in January or February of 2022.
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They are killing the ability of the lower tier of pros to be competitive, there are quite a few players around the 750 Fargo rating that miss on the 4" pockets. 4.25 would be ideal unless the goal is to only have the top 20 players world wide ever finish in the top 8.
I still think the best way to raise the skill bar in pool is to get rid of jump cue use in pro events and keep the pocket size a more normal size where it does not take ungodly skill to make a ball and play position at the same time over several rails. 4.5 may be a tad too large, but 4" is too unforgiving.
I still think the best way to raise the skill bar in pool is to get rid of jump cue use in pro events and keep the pocket size a more normal size where it does not take ungodly skill to make a ball and play position at the same time over several rails. 4.5 may be a tad too large, but 4" is too unforgiving.
Players from 675ish and up won't be bothered by tighter pockets. What is a problem is poolrooms that tighten all their tables to these specs. The place i play at has 10 nice GC4's and all are too tight for recreational players. Have a couple for the better players and leave rest at 4.5"(or bigger) for your normal rec. crowd.
L.S. Dennis
Well-known member
Agreed and along with the jump cues, the JUMP SHOT should also be gotten rid of as well.
Not a big fan of the short cue but the jump shot has always been allowed. Both the shot and the cues are here to stay so might as well just deal with it.
I’m not sure that pockets should be made easier to accommodate lower tier pros and amateurs. These guys are getting crushed by the top players anyways so it doesn’t really change anything.
Even those ratings are missing way more on tighter pockets, I have watches some matches with lower rated pros in the mid 700s and you can tell by where they hit that the aiming at the small hole is what caused it. They just don't play on tight pockets all the time so the training and muscle memory aims just a few mm off, which is enough to miss.
I have been to pool halls that have a bunch of tight tables, and they are not fun, but that really won't make a difference for the pro event setups that use setup arenas in hotels and such.
It will change things enough were they can still have a better chance vs having everything stacked against them. Not only do you have to fade guys not missing for 5 racks, now when you are at the table you have to get past shooting into tiny pockets as well. I don't think that should be the case where the setup of the event is built to accommodate the top 20 in the world vs say top 50 or even 100. It would be like the NBA saying "the best players are dunking too easy, let's raise the net another 6 inches", sure that will stop those guys a bit, but it will really really stop the tier of players under the top ones even more from playing as good as they can.
Since the top players will still very likely be on top with tighter pockets or larger pockets, all that smaller pockets do is shrink the size of the player base that can compete. With more normal size pockets for pool we could see some other players get deeper in the field instead of making it so we see the same few players in the top 8 or top 16.
yea but the 4 inchers are for an invited group of elite players that have qualified for those events. the open events have 4.25
L.S. Dennis
Well-known member
I understand it and am resigned to it unfortunately. However I’m not sure about it always being a part of nineball. Earl pretty much introduced it in 1983 at the Caesar’s Tahoe event when he stunned the crowd with one against the ”Miz”.Prior to that I don’t remember one being used, and I go back roughly 60 years in pool.
Pocket shims thicken..........
A lot of standard breaks have the CB in the air most of the way from the cue tip to the head ball. {you can see this in the cloth wear after the tournament is completed.}
Should this also be outlawed ?
Seems to me if CB leaves the bed of the table even a 1/100 of an inch it should be considered a jump shot. {This is basically the same analysis as the double hit.}
If not then you are only discussing how high off the table CB is allowed to go before becoming a foul.
Very true. Put a quarter a few inches in front of a cue ball and jack up very slightly. You'll hop right over it with very little elevation.
No chance will they outlaw jump cues, jump shots can be creative and crowd pleasing. It adds another element to the game which the average person can appreciate.