Practice on a bad table

[MiscueBlues]

Am I hurting my game by practicing on a table with old really really slow cloth and an uneven surface?

 

[Tony_in_MD]

Ask any of the Philippinos that question.

Am I hurting my game by practicing on a table with old really really slow cloth and an uneven surface?

 

[FranCrimi]

Am I hurting my game by practicing on a table with old really really slow cloth and an uneven surface?

Basically, I think yes. But it also depends on how much you know and what you're practicing.

When you fail at a shot, do you know if the cause is the cloth or your stroke? Is it a little of both? How much of each? Should you keep trying or are you wasting your time with that particular shot on that table?

When you do figure out a particular shot, what happens when you take it to a normal playing table? How easy is it to make the adjustment?

 

[randyg]

Am I hurting my game by practicing on a table with old really really slow cloth and an uneven surface?

No, if you are practicing your stroke techniques.
Yes, if you are trying to pocket balls with a cue ball.

randyg

 

[BilliardsAbout]

Exactly right. You can develop a powerful draw stroke, for example, on a slow table. And I mean rolling the cue ball for eons when you switch to the fast table.

It's the "uneven" part that concerns me. Certain pool rooms don't "get it" until all their league players boycott them for a while--then they quickly seek to level theit pool tables.

 

[Donny Lutz]

Really bad table!

Exactly right. You can develop a powerful draw stroke, for example, on a slow table. And I mean rolling the cue ball for eons when you switch to the fast table.

It's the "uneven" part that concerns me. Certain pool rooms don't "get it" until all their league players boycott them for a while--then they quickly seek to level theit pool tables.

I house-sit for some friends when they're out of town. They have one of those 6' tables with the wooden "slate"...

It rolls so badly you can roll a ball down any side rail and it will drop in the side pocket!

Playing on this nasty equipment forces me to hit every shot crisply to avoid the rolls, and thus helps me with one of my faults...often opting for slow roll instead of stun.