Recommeded pocket size?

[midnightpulp]

Gonna be having my table redone soon and I'm wondering what's a good size pocket for a home table.

Right now, they're too forgiving. I just played on one of the tightest tables in a local room here and would like to be prepared for such conditions. However, I'm under the belief that super tight pockets should only be employed if you can keep the rest of the table pristine, Pro tourney conditions. This table was anything but and magnified every mistake. If you hit the jaws, the ball bounced out.

A home table usually undergoes similar wear.

Any opinions?

 

[av84fun]

Gonna be having my table redone soon and I'm wondering what's a good size pocket for a home table.

Right now, they're too forgiving. I just played on one of the tightest tables in a local room here and would like to be prepared for such conditions. However, I'm under the belief that super tight pockets should only be employed if you can keep the rest of the table pristine, Pro tourney conditions. This table was anything but and magnified every mistake. If you hit the jaws, the ball bounced out.

A home table usually undergoes similar wear.

Any opinions?

Personally, I think that super-tight home table pockets can be over done.

The theory is that if you practice on super-tight pockets at home, then you can play great on tables with larger holes.

I think there is a point of diminishing returns to that theory. Clearly, such tight pockets will cause you to miss more often and I think that will have an impact on confidence. For sure, it gets you out of your rhythm.

IMHO, 4 1/2 pockets are plenty tight enough.

Regards,
Jim

 

[softshot]

AM I the only one who has noticed that you can make the pockets so small that no one can make a ball......but you still scratch just as often....

 

[midnightpulp]

Personally, I think that super-tight home table pockets can be over done.

The theory is that if you practice on super-tight pockets at home, then you can play great on tables with larger holes.

I think there is a point of diminishing returns to that theory. Clearly, such tight pockets will cause you to miss more often and I think that will have an impact on confidence. For sure, it gets you out of your rhythm.

IMHO, 4 1/2 pockets are plenty tight enough.

Regards,
Jim

Totally agree.

I became passive on that table tonight. Slow rolling everything, second guessing myself. You couldn't hit anything with speed. Even a Diamond pro cut won't spit a ball back out if you nip the jaws. I could easily see how that mentality could seep into one's overall game if they consistently played on such a table.

 

[midnightpulp]

Oh yeah. Are we talking one equal measurement from the mouth to the throat?

Most tables have a wider mouth. The table I played on tonight had 4.5 inch opening then funneled in dramatically to about 3.75 to 4 inches.

 

[Franky]

I suggest 4.5" at the points if you want a tight but reasonable experience. I have 4.25" and its not too tight, but you do have to be accurate. I played on some 5" buckets recently and I really had to shank a ball to miss.

Make sure that your table mechanic knows what he/she is doing and you'll be fine with whatever measurement you tell them to extend the rails to. If you're in Southern California, Ernesto and Oscar Dominguez do arguably the best work in the country...and they're super friendly too boot.

 

[I rack balls]

4.5, if they start to feel roomy redo it again..........

 

[midnightpulp]

I suggest 4.5" at the points if you want a tight but reasonable experience. I have 4.25" and its not too tight, but you do have to be accurate. I played on some 5" buckets recently and I really had to shank a ball to miss.

Make sure that your table mechanic knows what he/she is doing and you'll be fine with whatever measurement you tell them to extend the rails to. If you're in Southern California, Ernesto and Oscar Dominguez do arguably the best work in the country...and they're super friendly too boot.

I am in San Berdo and very familiar with Ernesto - SoCal legend. Grew up reading about him.

4.5 at the points and the throat?

A lot of the Diamonds I see on TV (Never played on one), the pocket measurement seems uniform, parallel: | | as opposed to \ /.

Yeah, buckets can make you lazy.

 

[MexPoolPlyr]

Hey Midnight, you'll like 4 1/4 with the straight cut pops uses. They play a nice medium for 1 hole, 9 ball, and friendly enough for some 14.1. He usually recommends 4" straight cut, but its not great for 14.1, more for 1 hole and 9 ball. Thats jmo tho, he can turn your table into a billiard table or make them buckets. As long as we get paid.

PM me if ya want our # or any q's. gnite, n merry xmas.

 

[Franky]

Calling these guys = happy table

Here's a pic of what their work looks like when you ask for 4.25" pockets

 

[JimS]

My Diamond has 4.5" pockets and they're plenty hard enough to present a challange and no room for nonchalantin. Have them set up, as much as possible, like a Diamond. Part of the challange with a Diamond Pro is the deep shelf and you may not be able to duplicate that.

 

[Masayoshi]

i was playing on this earlier today, makes everything else seem like buckets.

 

[Snapshot9]

I was

going to say 4 3/8", which is tight, but not too tight, especially to start off with, JMHO.

 

[mosconiac]

My old AMF had 4-1/2 pockets and they were just right. Tight enough to test your ability, but not so tight to make you change your game. If you go smaller you will begin to shy away from certain position shots...you'll be forced to start rolling most shots.

When you go to a easier table everyone will be shooting those position shots on you and your superior shot-making skills won't have as much value.

What is your current pocket size? This is an important part of the equation. You can't take 5" buckets down to 4-1/2" without some concession.

In the case of my old AMF I had to use 1/4" shims (for a total of 1/2" reduction). I bought them from AMF. They were not quite as lively as stacked 1/16" shims get. Anything above triple shims is ridiculous IMO.

FWIW, my Kim Steel has 4-5/8" pockets (as the rails are cut, no shimming) and its too easy IMO.

Let us know what you have now and we can recommend the best solution for you.

 

[Pete]

If you look on youtube there is a how to measure pockets. Very educational. He also talks about the depth of the shelf. I think he works for Diamond.

Hope this helps.

Pete

 

[Jaden]

Those are actually easier to rattle on...

Oh yeah. Are we talking one equal measurement from the mouth to the throat?

Most tables have a wider mouth. The table I played on tonight had 4.5 inch opening then funneled in dramatically to about 3.75 to 4 inches.

Most people aren't aware how much the cut of the pocket plays into its playability...

When the mouth is much wider than the drop, the angle of the cut is more likely to rebound into the opposing side of the mouth causing the ball to rattle. Straight cut 4.25" pockets are harder to rattle a ball on, (don't get me wrong though, it's easier to miss), than a wider mouth narrower drop 4.75" pocket....

There's really so much that has to do with rattling a ball that it's difficult to cart blanche say that this or that plays into the most...

You have the angle of the shot, the type of felt, the spin on the OB....The humidity... These aren't all things that can be compensated for accurately but they do have an effect...

 

[midnightpulp]

My old AMF had 4-1/2 pockets and they were just right. Tight enough to test your ability, but not so tight to make you change your game. If you go smaller you will begin to shy away from certain position shots...you'll be forced to start rolling most shots.

When you go to a easier table everyone will be shooting those position shots on you and your superior shot-making skills won't have as much value.

What is your current pocket size? This is an important part of the equation. You can't take 5" buckets down to 4-1/2" without some concession.

In the case of my old AMF I had to use 1/4" shims (for a total of 1/2" reduction). I bought them from AMF. They were not quite as lively as stacked 1/16" shims get. Anything above triple shims is ridiculous IMO.

FWIW, my Kim Steel has 4-5/8" pockets (as the rails are cut, no shimming) and its too easy IMO.

Let us know what you have now and we can recommend the best solution for you.

I have a 30 year old Bruns. Heirloom. The pockets are 5 in wide.

Yeah, I'm leaning toward 4 1/2. Playing on that table last night, I had to temper my aggressiveness.

 

[Robertduke]

AM I the only one who has noticed that you can make the pockets so small that no one can make a ball......but you still scratch just as often....

Hahaha thats great..

 

[Fatboy]

4.5 is what i like, at one room I play at they have some that are 4" and some that I belive are 3 7/8" or 3 15/16" they are just too tight,

I dont buy the theory that playing on super tight tables makes other tables easy, i talking about 9 ball specifiaclly. Reason is on a table with 4 3/4" pockets the game changes because now you can cheat the pocket by shooting into one side of the pocket. When you shoot into on side of the pocket that is a small target, if your a banger this wont matter but when you can play some big pockets just give you more options not just an easier target,

another reason I dont like suoer small pockets is you dont have as many chances to gret the rythem of running out, its more of a sinch the ball and take what the table gives you and sinch the next ball, i like the rythem and flow of easier pockets for 9ball,

i just play on Daimond tables now, they are all about the same so its cool

 

[buck15]

looks familier

i was playing on this earlier today, makes everything else seem like buckets.

that looks like my buddys table but a little looser. lol. i will measure it next time i am there. i usually play once or twice a week on it. it will break your spirit in about an hour or less. if you touch a rail going in, anywhere into a corner it will not got. i mean brush it. i have stayed down on shots and they have hit inside the jaws and not gone in. it will make all other tables look like bar tables but you can't have fun on it. maybe one pocket but when you start playing different because a straight in shot down the rail, you know won;t go so you play for a bank, it is not any help. jmo.