Pro Pocket Size TOO Small for 9 Ball

[garczar]

To me pool halls definitely should not go to 4” pockets or even close. Those tables are playable on the WNT because (a) you have elite players playing; and (b) the balls and cloth are brand new. If you got Filler and Gorst to play on 4” pockets at your local pool hall with cloth with 6 months of play and dirty balls, the game would look like one pocket. I see some balls slide in on the WNT that wouldn’t go on the 4.5” Diamonds I play on with old cloth and balls.

Exactly. 4" Diamonds with brand new cloth is hard enough but give it a little wear and they won't make a ball. The downside to tight pockets in tour events is that all of a sudden JoePublicBallbanger has to have them and he can't make three balls into peach baskets.

 

[maha]

there will be less total runouts as with tighter pockets there will be more misses. and less good position.

and also more less attempts to run out with a safety shot taking place.

and tougher break rules.

 

[Trucker1989]

I don't agree with making the pockets extremely small (like 3.9 inches) but I wouldn't want them to go back to say, 5 inches either.

4 1/8 seems to be a sweet spot for pros, but I do think the Predator side pockets are too harsh.



Ko Ping Chung can hang with the 4 you mentioned

I don't disagree on KO

 

[Bavafongoul]

I’ve posted about pocket size a lot and what Iike. If you have a home pool table, put 5.5” corner pockets if you wanted.
It’s for your personal pleasure. You can put in 4.25” pockets. When it is your table, install as big or small as you prefer.

Personally, 5” CP seem too big but for so for some, maybe 4.75” is better suited instead of 4.5” for a home table. Pool
room operators have to decide what to offer. It seems 4.5” is becoming more common with so many Diamond tables
populating pool rooms. Sierra Billiards, where I mostly play, the 9’ tables are evenly split with 4.25” and 4.5” CP sizes.