MR 9 Ball Pocket Specs US Open 2024

[Island Drive]

Hopefully pro/PGA type 9 ball will have ''strict'' regulations to manage the table settings.
One would think the 6x12 Pro Snooker events have very strict requirements.

 

[The_JV]

Not my experience. May happen on a deep shelved table but on a gold crown at 4.5, they play like buckets with 3/8 facings, rare to have one rattle.

By the way, I don't think the facing that thick could be soft enough. In the room I play most at they have standard gc pockets, close to 5". They play tougher than my 4.5 gc at home in a lot of ways.

Thick facings don't make pockets play like buckets. The facing angles and shelf depth are the two factors. However the facing angle is meant to direct the OB into the throat. Too much give bend (excessive thickness) the miter opens and causes rattles.

 

[dendweller]

Thick facings don't make pockets play like buckets. The facing angles and shelf depth are the two factors. However the facing angle is meant to direct the OB into the throat. Too much give bend (excessive thickness) the miter opens and causes rattles.

I've had two different configurations of shimming, one triple shimmed 1/8 inch, one 50 durometer 3/8 inch facings. Both made the pockets play easier because they just didn't play as lively. So we've had different experiences with differently facings.
In my experience, thicker facing give less than an 1/8 inch facing on the rail end and deaden the pocket.

 

[dendweller]

Thick facings don't make pockets play like buckets. The facing angles and shelf depth are the two factors. However the facing angle is meant to direct the OB into the throat. Too much give bend (excessive thickness) the miter opens and causes rattles.

If you were close by I'd ask you over to check it out.

 

[dendweller]

Thick facings don't make pockets play like buckets. The facing angles and shelf depth are the two factors. However the facing angle is meant to direct the OB into the throat. Too much give bend (excessive thickness) the miter opens and causes rattles.

Here's a question, what do you think the durometer is for a super speed rail. How about the average facing.
Add to rating for a rail, it's got the hollow portion against the rail making it play softer than a solid rail.
Which do you think will play softer?

 

[Tennesseejoe]

This could best be discussed in the 'Talk To A Mechanic' forum...much more data available.

 

[Sheldon]

I’m following the principle. What is the story in terms of how pocket sizes are determined for an event like US Open? Are they getting rails of variable sizes and then using a standard facing? Or are they getting rails of a standard size and getting an abnormal facing? What facing sizes are they likely using to make 4.5, 4.25, 4.125 or 4” pockets? Well, it sounds like 5/16” facings for 4” pockets. But I’m just uncertain on what the common components are to make common dimensions.

I couldn't say for sure. Ideally, they manufacture sets of rails with standard facings that end up at the desired pocket size. I believe this is what is done.
My biggest gripe about thicker facings is that it can mess with your bank shots that need to be very close to the pocket. It will also make shots off of the point react differently. It's not really something I do, but it does come up.

 

[Island Drive]

This could best be discussed in the 'Talk To A Mechanic' forum...much more data available.

Don't tell Zar ... mornin'

 

[garczar]

Don't tell Zar ... mornin'

Grow up old man. You worry about meaningless shit and then post stuff the CIA couldn't de-cipher.

 

[Island Drive]

It's 'my old school second city humor, was having a good day, and since John Beluschi family grew up in the town next to ours, it's kinda how I roll in life, I'll do my best to never direct humor in your direction. Sorry....
Was just making sure your around in a good way, as often your posts cut ''to the chase''.
Thx for the clarity of the moment.
Have a great 4th of July.
Boom Booooom....

 

[Poolmanis]

That's actually the problem. Thick facings, or "double/triple shimmed" as some like to coin it. Make the facings too soft the OB tends to bounce back and forth and not directed into the throat of the pocket.

Actually it is opposite. Harder facings make that happen what you describe there. "double/triple shimmed" are 2 normal rubber facings glued to one. That combo is usually harder than one rubber same thickness. I had double shimmed pockets on my table and I changed those same thickness one piece rubber that was way softer than 2 thin ones in one. It have exactly same pocket size now than with double shims(10.7 cm). Now table won´t rattle good shoot balls anymore.
So if one plans to use shims to tighten the table get thick but softer rubber. That makes it play better.

 

[Poolmanis]

My biggest gripe about thicker facings is that it can mess with your bank shots that need to be very close to the pocket. It will also make shots off of the point react differently. It's not really something I do, but it does come up.

That is why subrails need to be extended if want tighten pockets properly!
Thats a big job and rail rubbers need to be replaced too. One thing. Replaced rail rubber is never so good as factory made..

 

[The_JV]

Here's a question, what do you think the durometer is for a super speed rail. How about the average facing.
Add to rating for a rail, it's got the hollow portion against the rail making it play softer than a solid rail.
Which do you think will play softer?

No clue, I don't have a durometer to make such a test. I do know that the 3/16" facing rubber I bought from McMasterCarr had a rating of 60A. That value was at the suggestion of RKC. It's going back a bit now, but I'm fairly sure he told that it matched the SuperSpeed rubber, so the action off the points would be consistent with the rest of the rail.

After playing around rebuilding my rails and clothing them. I'd say that 60A rubber was pretty close to SuperSpeed compression characteristics.

 

[The_JV]

Actually it is opposite. Harder facings make that happen what you describe there. "double/triple shimmed" are 2 normal rubber facings glued to one. That combo is usually harder than one rubber same thickness.

If you think about the physics of how a ball collides with a facing and then the subsequent compression of hard vs soft facings. That doesn't seem to make sense. A harder facing would maintain its shape and direct the ball inward. Whereas a softer facing would compress, deform the facing open and reject the ball.

Between you and Dendweller, I clearly have this spin around in my head and I'm missing something.

 

[dendweller]

No clue, I don't have a durometer to make such a test. I do know that the 3/16" facing rubber I bought from McMasterCarr had a rating of 60A. That value was at the suggestion of RKC. It's going back a bit now, but I'm fairly sure he told that it matched the SuperSpeed rubber, so the action off the points would be consistent with the rest of the rail.

After playing around rebuilding my rails and clothing them. I'd say that 60A rubber was pretty close to SuperSpeed compression characteristics.

I had an olhausen, outside of the 145 angles the rails also had thin soft facings. Replacing with a thicker harder facing stopped the rattles.

Here's a post from realkingCobra saying to switch out the 1/8th soft facings with 3/16 60 durometer to fix 90% of the rattle problem.

Olhausen rattle, is this a good fix?

I've been doing research on the forum and online and would like to hear if I'm on the right track. I have an Olhausen and I'm sick of cleanly hit balls over a medium pace rattling out of the pocket. It makes the game less fun as properly hit object balls in which your CB ends up with perfect...

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