Practice table size 9’ or 10’

[Smutzc]

I was in the same boat you are in about 1 year ago… curious if I should pull the trigger on a 10’ Diamond table. I had mixed answers on this exact forum, but I went ahead and pulled the trigger and got the 10 ft Diamond. Haven’t regretted it for even one second. Go ahead pull the trigger, you won’t be disappointed

 

[Bavafongoul]

If you can go bigger, do it. Remember that 10’ tables used to be pretty common in pool halls.
And make the pocket size on a 10’ table tight; 4 3/8” x 4 1/2” corner pockets & 5” side pockets.

Why do you think the Europeans field such strong teams…..play much snooker? 12’ tables are
absolutely fierce, plus smaller balls and rounded pockets….OMG. Get the 10’ & 9’ becomes easy.

 

[garczar]

If you can go bigger, do it. Remember that 10’ tables used to be pretty common in pool halls.
And make the pocket size on a 10’ table tight; 4 3/8” x 4 1/2” corner pockets & 5” side pockets.

Why do you think the Europeans field such strong teams…..play much snooker? 12’ tables are
absolutely fierce, plus smaller balls and rounded pockets….OMG. Get the 10’ & 9’ becomes easy.

European pool players don't play on 10ft or 12ft tables. All on 9ft. Only European pool on big tables is Russian Pyramid.

 

[Bavafongoul]

Well, I did not name specific countries but FYI, the United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)
and Northern Ireland that together make up the United Kingdom is almost universally considered part of Europe.

That was why I referred to a snooker background and mention of Europeans. The performance of the USA squad
in the Mosconi Cup is woefully short of the European squad. Play on bigger, tougher tables will improve your game.

 

[garczar]

Well, I did not name specific countries but FYI, the United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)
and Northern Ireland that together make up the United Kingdom is almost universally considered part of Europe.

That was why I referred to a snooker background and mention of Europeans. The performance of the USA squad
in the Mosconi Cup is woefully short of the European squad. Play on bigger, tougher tables will improve your game.

They play on 9ft pool tables. Mostly Dynamic which is a Chinese table sold by DynamicBilliard in Germany. Probably the most common table in Europe. BTW, i know exactly what makes up the UK. The top mainland Euros don't grow up playing snooker. A lot of the Brit players have backgrounds in English 8b which is played on a 3x6 table with snooker pockets and balls. The only big event in the world played on 10ft pool tables is the Bigfoot at DerbyCity. Thats it.

 

[lfigueroa]

Practice on what your going to be playing on.

It’s really that simple. All this pocket size, table size, remember what pocket you can cheat or not. Please……

How can practicing on something different and therefore needing to make adjustments to play your best be helpful?

Keep it simple

Best
Fatboy

No truer words can be spoken.

Practice on what you’re going to compete on. I see guys all the time practicing or getting lessons on a 9’ when they’re going to compete on a 7’. Silliness on the players part, malpractice on the instructor’s part.

Lou Figueroa

 

[iusedtoberich]

Not everyone has the ability to try out different tables before hand.

I'm guessing there isn't a GC or Diamond within 6 to 8 hours of here unless it's in someone's house and you probably won't find it.

I'm still curious why you think this about newer Diamond tables as you seem to be the one of the only one to say this. I'm not saying your wrong but would like to hear from others.

Imo, the diamonds, including the blue, bounce like pinball machines, and the angle off the cushion is much different. I base this on Blue diamonds I’ve personally spent a lot of time on in NJ, PA, GA, Indiana, and Mississipi.

Now, that said, sometimes they seem to play perfect. But in my experience those perfect ones are few and far between.

It’s a polarizing subject on this forum.

Edit to add: the reason to also try a Diamond with old cloth, is there is some speculation that when new, the tables bounce right, but when the cloth is worn, they bounce at the wrong angle.

 

[Bavafongoul]

How does a rail bounce at the wrong angle versus the correct angle and what would the correct angle be,
which obviously would vary with the shot being played? I know over time, the rubber can deteriorate and
lose resiliency but that wouldn’t generally apply with a Diamond table that tends to be newer than some
older Gold Crowns I’ve seen in lots of pool halls. I believe the height of the rails on a Diamond table can be
higher than the equator of the balls but I’m not certain if that’s a mechanical setup issue versus table design.
I know that banking balls on a Diamond 9’ table appears to play different than Olhause, Brunswick or Rebco.

 

[iusedtoberich]

How does a rail bounce at the wrong angle versus the correct angle and what would the correct angle be,
which obviously would vary with the shot being played? I know over time, the rubber can deteriorate and
lose resiliency but that wouldn’t generally apply with a Diamond table that tends to be newer than some
older Gold Crowns I’ve seen in lots of pool halls. I believe the height of the rails on a Diamond table can be
higher than the equator of the balls but I’m not certain if that’s a mechanical setup issue versus table design.
I know that banking balls on a Diamond 9’ table appears to play different than Olhause, Brunswick or Rebco.

It’s a polarizing subject, hashed over and over for 20 years now, and I don’t wish to debate it further in this thread.

All I’m saying to the OP is to try a Diamond with worn cloth before buying, since that brand is in his consideration. If he likes it, great. If not, he’ll know and can adjust his expectations accordingly.

 

[garczar]

How does a rail bounce at the wrong angle versus the correct angle and what would the correct angle be,
which obviously would vary with the shot being played? I know over time, the rubber can deteriorate and
lose resiliency but that wouldn’t generally apply with a Diamond table that tends to be newer than some
older Gold Crowns I’ve seen in lots of pool halls. I believe the height of the rails on a Diamond table can be
higher than the equator of the balls but I’m not certain if that’s a mechanical setup issue versus table design.
I know that banking balls on a Diamond 9’ table appears to play different than Olhause, Brunswick or Rebco.

Rail ht. on Diamonds is correct. I've measure a few just to be sure. Diamond rails are laminated butcher-block style and are stiffer than those on GC's. Diamond themselves told me this is one reason they play different. Personally i thing the difference is no big deal. Not enough to warrant all the complaining i hear from people that grew up on GC's. I did too but i have no issue with how D's play. Just another adjustment. The old Red's DID bank short for sure but the Blues, to me anyway, are fine.

 

[Boxcar]

I’m curious what y’all think about practicing or even owning a table a foot bigger than the one you actually play on. For example a 10’ practice table and actually play in the halls on a 9’ table. I know one big disadvantage is the change in speed control given actually playing tournaments ect on a 9’ table. Any thoughts? I’m seriouslily considering purchasing a 10’ table to practice at home on instead of a 9’ table.

How long have you been playing?

 

[Dwalk70]

Not everyone has the ability to try out different tables before hand.

I'm guessing there isn't a GC or Diamond within 6 to 8 hours of here unless it's in someone's house and you probably won't find it.

I'm still curious why you think this about newer Diamond tables as you seem to be the one of the only one to say this. I'm not saying your wrong but would like to hear from others.

He’s right about diamonds. The rails are aweful. Extremely inconsistent. Most people know that if you’ve played on diamonds a lot. I have played on one a significant amount of time over the last 6 months. I have actually grown to not like them all that much.

 

[Dwalk70]

How long have you been playing?

I was in the same boat you are in about 1 year ago… curious if I should pull the trigger on a 10’ Diamond table. I had mixed answers on this exact forum, but I went ahead and pulled the trigger and got the 10 ft Diamond. Haven’t regretted it for even one second. Go ahead pull the trigger, you won’t be disappointed

It’s not a diamond. It’s a olhausen

 

[Dwalk70]

I was in the same boat you are in about 1 year ago… curious if I should pull the trigger on a 10’ Diamond table. I had mixed answers on this exact forum, but I went ahead and pulled the trigger and got the 10 ft Diamond. Haven’t regretted it for even one second. Go ahead pull the trigger, you won’t be disappointed

It’s a olehausen

 

[Boxcar]

It’s not a diamond. It’s a olhausen

How long have you been playing?

 

[L I F D 1]

9'ft, that's serious pool.
leave the 10's and 12's for fun, that's what they are

 

[Dwalk70]

Honestly I feel like I’m growing out of a 9’ table. Meaning it’s getting quite easy to make balls and play position. Wondering if I should get a 10’ just for a greater challenge.

 

[MurrayNevada]

If 9’ tables are too easy it’s only a matter of time until the 10’ will also be too easy. See if Olhausen can make you a 12’ table with 3” pockets.

 

[Bavafongoul]

If 9’ tables are too easy it’s only a matter of time until the 10’ will also be too easy. See if Olhausen can make you a 12’ table with 3” pockets.

10’ tables will only become easier in the sense that you’ll struggle less and gradually improve.
But your proficiency will remain less than what you’d attain on a 9’ table, pockets being the same.

Just look at the world records attained, and how many less people did it, on 10’ tables that were
much more common before World War ll. Trying getting good at one pocket on a 10’ or bank pool.

The best test of one’s overall skills is straight pool. Just try shooting at a object ball frozen on the
foot rail from anywhere behind the kitchen or just banking it. Bigger is tougher and tougher is better.

 

[Nyquil]

If you can go bigger, do it. Remember that 10’ tables used to be pretty common in pool halls.
And make the pocket size on a 10’ table tight; 4 3/8” x 4 1/2” corner pockets & 5” side pockets.

Why do you think the Europeans field such strong teams…..play much snooker? 12’ tables are
absolutely fierce, plus smaller balls and rounded pockets….OMG. Get the 10’ & 9’ becomes easy.

I agree with this comment. As long as your space is adequate and it's within your budget. I have never heard someone complain their table is too big if the room size is large enough. I wouldn't go more narrow than the 4.5's on either a 9 or 10, but that's my preference. Pro's are just right imho.