Just finishing up putting new cushions and cloth on the table. Double shimmed this time.. At the points I am at 3 7/8 corners and just under 5 inch sides.
Wondering what others have...
Wondering what others have...
Pocket envy...
- Thread starter Billiard Architect
- Start date
Others have gotten away from shimming, but instead have to replacing the cushions with longer ones to make the pockets smaller, but correct.
I think you'd be just the guy to do that.
Freddie <~~~ needs 6" pockets just to miss by a hair
I went back and forth on that and decided to do the double shim because that is how the one at chalkies is done. And I am getting tired of hustlefinger kicking my a$$ on that table. Hopefully I will finish tonight. Only have to bolt down the rails, put on the blinds and tack in the pocket leathers.
Fred I remember you had tight pockets on you table... Or am I just drunk?
9 ft Brunswick
5 inch corners
5 1/2 inch sides
Players always remark how easy it will be because they normally play on tables with smaller pockets.
After the first rack they find out that it isn't really that much easier because their CB control still is the same, kicks and banks are lacking along with their shot selection and patterns.
Too many players concentrate too much on practicing making balls into smaller pockets and don't spend the time that they should on CB control, patterns and etc.
Smaller pockets is required for the top pros in tournaments but most of us will never be there.
5 inch corners
5 1/2 inch sides
Players always remark how easy it will be because they normally play on tables with smaller pockets.
After the first rack they find out that it isn't really that much easier because their CB control still is the same, kicks and banks are lacking along with their shot selection and patterns.
Too many players concentrate too much on practicing making balls into smaller pockets and don't spend the time that they should on CB control, patterns and etc.
Smaller pockets is required for the top pros in tournaments but most of us will never be there.
.............
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My pockets
I have a nice 1980's Rebco 9' table it has the drop leather pockets that are big compared to a Diamond table and I think it also has a fairly shallow pocket shelf.
I have a pretty good game for a 65 year old amateur, at least for this little hick Alaskan town! But, I still miss more shots then I should and by no means are all the misses real tough shots. I think most of the misses are because of a lack of focus, a bad stroke and the end result is the inevitable lack of cue ball control.
I would some day like to have my table fitted for smaller pockets. Like 4.25 inch corners and 4.75 inch sides. Finding some one in Alaska to do that is the problem as the nearest table installers are 150 miles away in Anchorage.
I'm still not convinced that is going to make me a much better player though. I am convinced that better focus/concentration and a more accurate and consistent stroke will make me a better player as the end result is better cue ball control. Better cue ball control should mean easier shots!
I have a nice 1980's Rebco 9' table it has the drop leather pockets that are big compared to a Diamond table and I think it also has a fairly shallow pocket shelf.
I have a pretty good game for a 65 year old amateur, at least for this little hick Alaskan town! But, I still miss more shots then I should and by no means are all the misses real tough shots. I think most of the misses are because of a lack of focus, a bad stroke and the end result is the inevitable lack of cue ball control.
I would some day like to have my table fitted for smaller pockets. Like 4.25 inch corners and 4.75 inch sides. Finding some one in Alaska to do that is the problem as the nearest table installers are 150 miles away in Anchorage.
I'm still not convinced that is going to make me a much better player though. I am convinced that better focus/concentration and a more accurate and consistent stroke will make me a better player as the end result is better cue ball control. Better cue ball control should mean easier shots!
I double shimmed my home 7' table just to keep me honest. It didn't work. I'm still a cheater.
Worst thing about it was my ex wife convinced me to put gold cloth.
Freddie <~~~ owns the poor judgement
Although I mostly agree with you, I think 5" corners are too big for players. 4" are too tight for most players to have the whole position game going.9 ft Brunswick
5 inch corners
5 1/2 inch sides
Players always remark how easy it will be because they normally play on tables with smaller pockets.
After the first rack they find out that it isn't really that much easier because their CB control still is the same, kicks and banks are lacking along with their shot selection and patterns.
Too many players concentrate too much on practicing making balls into smaller pockets and don't spend the time that they should on CB control, patterns and etc.
Smaller pockets is required for the top pros in tournaments but most of us will never be there.
For one pocket, I think the tight pockets
are fine.
I had my sides and corners (mistakenly) shimmed and now my friends won't come over and play anymore.
It depends on what you're planning on using your table for, imho. The installer just assumed I wanted tighter corners, even after we had talked about not wanting those. Lesson: write down everything before starting.
Playing alone, but getting better at potting, so I got that goin' for me.
Jeff Livingston
It depends on what you're planning on using your table for, imho. The installer just assumed I wanted tighter corners, even after we had talked about not wanting those. Lesson: write down everything before starting.
Playing alone, but getting better at potting, so I got that goin' for me.
Jeff Livingston
I had my table recovered and was thinking about extending the rails and etc to make the pockets "tighter". Before hand I did a trial of adding shims to the pocket to stimulate what they would be. The problem with doing that was that the shelve decreased. The other issue was that the cost was going to be astronomical to do it correctly and then the table according to the difficultly or playability formula it didn't really change that much.
It came down to a monetary decision. I decided on focusing on CB control instead of selling my table and buying a new Diamond. I decided to recover what I had and focus on what I needed to do.
Moral is shimming or making the pockets tighter may not give the results you are after if the table wasn't designed for it
When I bought my table in 1973 it was according to the BCA standards.
As a side note they should have the pros today try to beat Mosconi's record in 14.1 on the table that was the standard in his day. Do you think that any could break it on a table that had the sloppy pockets?
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I had my table recovered and was thinking about extending the rails and etc to make the pockets "tighter". Before hand I did a trial of adding shims to the pocket to stimulate what they would be. The problem with doing that was that the shelve decreased. The other issue was that the cost was going to be astronomical to do it correctly and then the table according to the difficultly or playability formula it didn't really change that much.
It came down to a monetary decision. I decided on focusing on CB control instead of selling my table and buying a new Diamond. I decided to recover what I had and focus on what I needed to do.
Moral is shimming or making the pockets tighter may not give the results you are after if the table wasn't designed for it
When I bought my table in 1973 it was according to the BCA standards.
As a side note they should have the pros today try to beat Mosconi's record in 14.1 on the table that was the standard in his day. Do you think that any could break it on a table that had the sloppy pockets?
Absolutely I think it would be broken if there was enough monetary incentive and the tables were loosened up... The thing is the pros are playing better position already because of the tighter equipment/diamonds where getting out of line is even easier as you cannot cheat the pockets as much...
I don't change my patterns or loosen up my shape when I move to a table with buckets but I do find out that beating the ghost goes from a challenge to be being considerably easier...
I have a 9ft Brunswick Moderne in my basement and it has been in pieces since I brought it home... It has 5" pockets and I know from practice sessions on other 5" pocketed tables that my precision goes way out the window so I won't put it up until I can find a mechanic that can do the job and tighten the pockets properly... I even have diamond slates so the shelf will be right....
To me 4 3/8" is the preferred pocket size since it requires precision and still allows for the pockets to be cheated to play proper patterns and shot selections.....