New cloth and tapped table vs old cloth and bad rack?

[mjantti]

I've been playing 14.1 all my life on old cloths with bad and loose racks. I wonder how much I'm giving weight considering high runs to players who are constantly practising on a new cloth and a tapped table? Been watching a few videos here and I'm jealous how players get the whole rack wide open with a medium speed break shot with their perfect table and new cloth while with a similar speed and angle I get 3-6 balls out of the stack each time.

From my experience the effect shot selection -wise playing on an old cloth and bad rack:

-I always have to make sure I get enough angle on the break shot.
-I have to (must!) make sure the cueball path to the rack and how not to get stuck there
-I have to play position for certain ball/balls from the rack on a break shot
-I can't bust the whole rack open because it's impossible even with the thinnest angle and shooting as hard as I can
-I'm always going through the rack planning the for the next secondary break shot + insurance ball and cannot focus on patterns to clear up for the key and break ball until the very end of the rack.
-I rarely get an easy roadmap to the break ball with intelligent patterns - a straight pool cosmo
-I can't get sloppy, if you have all balls wide open every time, you can get away with more situations with bad position play

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Poolmanis]

Yea. I feel you bro.
I was just shooting last night straight pool. I was thinking exactly same thoughts. Old cloth now start to be okay because I SPENT some time perfecting break shots steep angles. Add there really gay pocket cut and voila.. Recipe for frustration when trying make big runs..
I feel I should go try another billiard bar pro cut diamonds to get new record done.. But they have even worse cloth..

 

[Poolmanis]

One more thing to add.
We got this new ball polisher machine and it really helps.

Clean/polished balls overcome or helps nicely with those obstacles you mentioned Buddy.
Sticky balls not good!

 

[Straightpool_99]

..............

 

[stevekur1]

Ussually when i practice i use Highly cleaned Aramith's on a freshly cleaned table and my Delta 13 rack.

I wish i can use that same combination of things when i play in a league match, all is the same with the exception of the Delta 13 rack.

Such a huge difference when i use the Delta 13 over the plastic house racks.

the outlines for the racks were drawn with the plastic racks this is why we use them for the league.

-Steve

 

[alstl]

Ussually when i practice i use Highly cleaned Aramith's on a freshly cleaned table and my Delta 13 rack.

I wish i can use that same combination of things when i play in a league match, all is the same with the exception of the Delta 13 rack.

Such a huge difference when i use the Delta 13 over the plastic house racks.

the outlines for the racks were drawn with the plastic racks this is why we use them for the league.

-Steve

What do you use to clean the balls? I've always used soap and water which probably isn't the best.

 

[stevekur1]

What do you use to clean the balls? I've always used soap and water which probably isn't the best.

I am not sure of the cleaner/polisher they use at Bayshore Billiards. they do use the Ball-Star machine.

they have 2 different mixtures they use for the Pool Balls and 3 Cushion Balls.

the 3 Cushion guys are very particular on what's used.


either way, whatever stuff they use is amazing. the balls glow when they come out of the machine. and they seem to hold the shine for the entire session.


I will see what i can find out the next time i am there over the weekend, and pop the answer into this thread.

-Steve

 

[michael4]

I've been playing 14.1 all my life on old cloths with bad and loose racks. I wonder how much I'm giving weight considering high runs to players who are constantly practising on a new cloth and a tapped table?
Any thoughts on this?

my thoughts....

1. I feel you, my home table conditions are poor, a couple dead/loose rails (bolts stripped). The room is too small making a mini cue necessary on some shots and the balls are probably 30 years old and never been cleaned once.

2) like you, if I really hated the conditions I play on, I could spend some money and change it.

3) of course you are giving "weight" to people with nice tables, but on the other hand, tough practice conditions probably make you a better player....how do you play when you find yourself on quality equipment??