I've been playing with pocket reducers for a few weeks. At first it was quite difficult as I was not making as many shots as usual. This did a number on my confidence. Also my friend has been playing with the reducers on my table and same thing for him at first.
We both curse the reducers from time to time.
But after about a week of play, we both started making pockets again. We're almost back to our regular playing levels now while playing with the reducers.
My friend went out last night and played on a regular table. He said the pockets seemed huge and played much better than he has in the past. I've had a similar experience although it takes me a few months of practice for something to "sink in" usually. I've decided to permanently shim the pockets the next time I re-cloth the rails.
From my previous post on RSB...
I bought six of those pocket reducers, but was disappointed because once
installed, they did not have the same angle as the rail pocket openings.
Also it was almost impossible to cut a "frozen to the rail" ball into a
corner pocket and I almost had to shoot straight into the side pockets
(could not shoot at very much of an angle).
Basically I wanted to reduce the pocket openings, but be able to play all
normal shots - just with more difficulty.
So I decided to re-design the pocket reducers so they would have the same
angles as the rail pocket openings.
I went to the hardware store and looked all over. I found a round "rubber
like" sewer pipe coupling for 4 inch round sewer pipe. The rubber on the
coupling is 3/8 inch thick. It has screw clamps on both ends.
Anyway I took it home and removed the screw clamps, then cut the whole
thing in half with a knife. Then I was easily able to cut small pieces off
to act as the pocket reducers (with a utility knife) and drilled holes for
the spring ends to fit into. I faced the curved part toward the pocket
wall, and the spring forces it flat against the wall.
It works great! The table plays just like a regular table, except the
pockets are smaller. But you can shoot balls into the sides at an angle,
cut frozen balls into the corner pockets, etc. You could also glue a second
layer of this over the corner pocket reducers to make them smaller and
increase the difficulty, but I think the side pockets are at their limit
with just one thickness of these installed (to be able to shoot in balls at
an angle).
Picture...
(Old reducers are green, new are black.)
http://www.geocities.com/bill190nospam