Practice Table - Need some advice.

Pryme

Pryme

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I recently moved into a new place, they have two tables in the games room, when I hsd first seen them they looked like snooker tables, but I'm sure these are 10×5, I'm still new to the techincal side of pool and etc. I usually practice on this table, not to sure if the felt is old now, the tables look ancient, also they have pool balls but there smaller and I just use some old cue they had there, going to buy an actual cue soon.

I am having a hard time with these pockets, lots of my shots just double bounce in the pockets.

Questions

Should I get regular sized pool balls to practice with?
Does anyone know what kind of table this is?
Its hard to asses what the problem is, table? Cue? Balls? Skill ofcourse..lol or a mix of it all.

I knw theres a lot of experienced members on here, any advice, I've been playing most of my life but just recently have been more serious and want to reach the next level, I'm 24 btw, il try and get a video of me taking some shots might help judge.

Thanks.
 

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That is definitely a snooker table. I guess get some snooker balls and a snooker cue and pick up snooker. Not bad practice though.
 
I would not play snooker on this table. I would play regular pool, if it were me. As the table is big and the pockets are tight, you can get really good, really fast if you want to.
 
Alexplayspool said:
I would not play snooker on this table. I would play regular pool, if it were me. As the table is big and the pockets are tight, you can get really good, really fast if you want to.
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right, have a beginner play big balls-small pocket on a 10 footer and of course he won't get frustrated.
 
I thought it was a snooker table but I think snooker tables are a bit bigger, yeh I have been practicing stroke and pocketing drills on this table.
 
You've got a nice-looking 5x10 snooker table there. There is no problem with the pockets, they're just standard snooker-style pockets. Being rounded makes them tougher than regular pool pockets because they spit balls out and you have to hit the heart of the pocket to make the shots. Getting bigger-sized balls will just make pocketing balls much more difficult if not close to impossible.

I would take advantage of being able to play on a larger table as it will be great practice and if you can play well on it, you will have an easy time shooting on a regular 9 footer.
 
Thanks for the reply guys, yeh I'm sure getting regular sized pool balls would make it tougher.

What if I use a billiards cue? The cue I'm using right now is a snooker cue reslly old, tip isold but it was the only straight cue they have.

Yes I'm hoping to spend a lot of time in the future on the table working on my stroke and aiming, I find using english very tough, but I'm spending a lot of time learning and practicing, playing on this table would it effect my billiard game negatively? Because I do plan on playing billiards and competing soon as I am ready.
 
Just play on it how it is with the balls u got its only gonna make u better might make u mad at first but with time it will make u better
 
I think there are advantages and disadvantages with playing on a snooker table. I started out playing snooker when I was young and it got me shooting very straight and accurately because the shotmaking is much harder than on a pool table.

One thing is that because the pockets are very unforgiving and most snooker players tend to avoid sidespin whenever possible, so I didn't really learn how to use side english until I started playing on a pool table. That may have been a good thing though, as imo mastering center ball, top, and bottom should come first, anyway.

About the cue, I would stick with the snooker cue. It's possible to play with a regular pool cue, but the tip will be too big for the cue ball and would make it difficult to shoot spin shots.

Good luck and happy shooting!
 
Looks like an American snooker table, judging by the size of the pockets.
Regular snooker pockets would be smaller.
 
Pryme said:
Thanks for the reply guys, yeh I'm sure getting regular sized pool balls would make it tougher.

What if I use a billiards cue? The cue I'm using right now is a snooker cue reslly old, tip isold but it was the only straight cue they have.

Yes I'm hoping to spend a lot of time in the future on the table working on my stroke and aiming, I find using english very tough, but I'm spending a lot of time learning and practicing, playing on this table would it effect my billiard game negatively? Because I do plan on playing billiards and competing soon as I am ready.
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Are you sure those balls are small? 2.25" is standard, thdy look to be that size.

I would love to have access to a big snooker table.
 
I'd love to have access to tables like these in a place I lived, even though they are not pool tables.

They make 5x10 snooker tables, same way you have 3.5x7 pool tables.

If you are a "pool" player, you can do pretty well with getting a small diameter shaft for your regular cue (if you have one). I've used my son's 11.75mm shaft on a regular snooker table and it seemed to give me a decent aiming point on the smaller balls. Assuming those balls are under 2.25" standard size. If they are close that size, you can use a regular 13mm shaft or whatever size you like.

For ability to play on these, the rounded pockets do make it a bit tougher to make a ball in if you don't hit it center pocket, but that's good. If you learn on the tough equipment you'll have a much easier time going to a regular pool table than if you learned on a home table with 5"+ pockets that played easy and then went to a player's pool hall with 4.5" or smaller pockets.
 
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As others have said, it's fine to practice on. Just don't get discouraged if you practice shots down the rail. The rounded pockets mean that you have to hit the ball at pocket speed. There's a lot of positional play shots that come up on a pool table that you simply can't execute on a snooker table because you can't play down the rail with speed.
 
I would LOVE to have access to a table like that. It's difficult and will, over time, improve your aiming and ball pocketing ability. I currently play on a 9 footer with 3 7/8 pockets, which is pretty damn tough to play on; that table would be an even better challenge.

Enjoy it and get yourself a decent quality cue to play with. Nothing crazy expensive, but straight and feels good. Have fun!
 
Am I the only one that thinks those are some BIG snooker pockets? Look like 4.5" pockets.

As long as you can keep from getting frustrated, it's a GREAT practice table. If you feel yourself getting too frustrated, go practice somewhere else for a bit.
 
jhanso18 said:
Am I the only one that thinks those are some BIG snooker pockets? Look like 4.5" pockets.
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It's an American snooker table. Smaller table, bigger pockets, bigger balls.

Snooker table : American snooker table :: Diamond 9-footer : Valley bar box
 
jhanso18 said:
Am I the only one that thinks those are some BIG snooker pockets? Look like 4.5" pockets.

As long as you can keep from getting frustrated, it's a GREAT practice table. If you feel yourself getting too frustrated, go practice somewhere else for a bit.
Click to expand...

They do look pretty large, but someone else pointed out they were "American" snooker tables. Snooker For Dummies I guess LOL.
 
SpeedyPete84 said:
I would LOVE to have access to a table like that. It's difficult and will, over time, improve your aiming and ball pocketing ability. I currently play on a 9 footer with 3 7/8 pockets, which is pretty damn tough to play on; that table would be an even better challenge.

Enjoy it and get yourself a decent quality cue to play with. Nothing crazy expensive, but straight and feels good. Have fun!
Click to expand...

Barking4action might have on for sale still. PM him
 
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