Rails get faster when it rains?

[Flex]

Yesterday, playing on a 9 footer, dirty slow cloth, filthy balls, washerboard surface in certain parts of the cloth surface probably from chalk underneath it, etc., high humidity, guess what happened not infrequently? Cue ball goes airborne when really stroking a shot and it hit the rail. Pretty freakin' awesome, and very tough playing conditions.

Flex

 

[3kushn]

This will shed some light on the subject.

http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/1995-04.pdf

Water creates more friction according to this article. Toward the end it says "This may not make sense but have you ever licked your finger to turn a slippery page?"

This explaind the shorter angles off the rail.
The next question is Why is the bed cloth faster?

 

[realkingcobra]

So does anybody know why? I know the moisture in the cloth slows it down in humid conditions, and I know the balls seem to play a little stickier in the high humidity, but does anybody have a good explanation for the effect on the rails? Does the rubber absorbing water actually make it springier? Does it have to do with the cloth on the rails? I can't figure out why humidity would effect this.

-Andrew

Because the cloth gets sticky so to speak with the moisture in the air, the balls have a tendency to want to climb up on the point of the cushions...causing the balls to hop or bounce...theirfor causing them to come off the rails at an elevated angle instead of a natural angle. Draw english stops the cue ball from hopping, follow causes it to jump...because the balls no longer slide off the cushions...they are in fact trying to climb up the cushions...with humid traction so to speak. In the open playing surface...the balls play slower...because they can't slide as easy, because of the sticky surface...they have to roll from the start...which is like trying to play golf in wet grass.

Glen

 

[TX Poolnut]

When I was young, I taught myself to spin stuff on my fingers. When something is constantly sliding off my fingers, I have found that touching my finger to my tongue (adding moisture) helps create friction so that the object stays on my finger easier.

Moisture, to a degree, adds friction.