Pocket Reducers ( do they damage your facings)

koolkatt58

koolkatt58

Registered
Hi to All:

I had a quick question I read somewhere that the Pro Pocket reducers in time would do some harm to your pocket or facings? I was thinking of getting a set not to leave them on all the time just to try a rack here and there with just the 4 corner pockets. Also I would maybe hit some balls here and there into a pocket or 2 to practice hitting center of the pocket. Can anyone that has a set give me their experience with them any or opinions. Thanks for your replies!!!!
 
I have them and use them for drills, and for playing ghost type games. I always take them off when I am done. I have not used them a huge amount, but in the time I have, I have not noticed any problems. I would love to hear from others who have used theirs more.

I would also like to hear from some of the mechanics if they have seen problems from them, as they would be more likely to see the actual damage if their is any.
 
I have a set but they dont fit my side pockets very well so I find myself not using them much. I used to use them A lot but not so much now.
 
koolkatt58 said:
Hi to All:

I had a quick question I read somewhere that the Pro Pocket reducers in time would do some harm to your pocket or facings? I was thinking of getting a set not to leave them on all the time just to try a rack here and there with just the 4 corner pockets. Also I would maybe hit some balls here and there into a pocket or 2 to practice hitting center of the pocket. Can anyone that has a set give me their experience with them any or opinions. Thanks for your replies!!!!
Click to expand...

koolkatt58:

Presumably, you're talking about the spring-loaded ones, that look like a giant safety pin with green triangular rubber blocks at the ends?

http://muellers.com/Practice-Pro-Pocket-Reducers,2321.html
images

If so, you *can* damage the cloth on the chiseled pocket facings if you remove them incorrectly. If you just grab the metal spring and pull upwards -- causing them to rub the pocket facings and spring violently outwards once they clear the pocket facings, yes, you take a chance of ripping or doing friction damage to the cloth on the pocket facings.

If instead, you grab the spring, compress it until the rubber blocks fully clear and no longer touch the pocket facings, lifting them gently outwards, you'll do no damage.

The problem is that everyone is in a rush. They just run around the table, grabbing the spring and pulling each one out of the pocket. Do that enough times, and yes, you will do damage to the pocket facings.

If, on the other hand, you're asking if the pocket reducers do damage by applying pressure to the pocket facings via the spring, the answer's no. Not unless there's already a loose shim, cloth, or staple there to begin with, that the rubber block "grabs" onto.

SUGGESTION: you might want to wrap some pool table cloth around those rubber blocks (e.g. some spare swatches of Simonis) so that you can minimize any "gripping" damage, as well as to make those rubber blocks more conducive to pocketing a ball. The rubber tends to grab the surface of the object ball, and even if the object ball slightly grazes the rubber on its way into the pocket, you'll tend to get a lot of bobbling/bounce-outs otherwise. Coat these with some Simonis, and you'll alleviate this problem.

Hope this helps!
-Sean
 
Good idea there Sean.

It would be kind of cool if they made some that were already covered in cloth, maybe even with a more rounded snooker like facing. Probably not much of a market for those, but they would be cool.
 
I've never had a problem. When taking them out you really shouldn't be yanking them out from the top in the first place. They're designed to slide under the edges of the cushions.
 
StraightPoolIU said:
I've never had a problem. When taking them out you really shouldn't be yanking them out from the top in the first place. They're designed to slide under the edges of the cushions.
Click to expand...

It never occurred to me that one could yank them...that Sean it a thinker.

On that topic, if you duct tape them to a golf club and slam them onto the top of the rail, they might damage that too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top