Regulation-Size Pockets Will Ruin My Game

the chicken

the chicken

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have this friend that refuses to play on tables with regulation-size pockets. He claims that playing on such a table will make him get sloppy, and he'll start to loose, when he shoots on a table with tight pockets.

Is his concern viable?

Ima thinking he doesn't want to shoot on a "regular" table because if he looses, it will make him look bad (at least in his own mind).

Shoot safe.

John
 
You don't get sloppy if you aim for the heart of the pocket everytime.
I know players who insist on playing on tight tables even though they can't run out on regular tables. Since they can't cheat the pocket very much and power and spin shots don't take well, they don't learn how to use different parts of the pocket to get position and end up with a more timid style of play with shotmaking being the main focus rather than positioning.
Also good player should have more of an advantage playing on a regular table because they can run out more easily, whereas a lower level player will makes mistakes and get out of line regardless of the pocket size.
 
People who play on tight pockets all the time rarely learn to open up their stroke. Overly tight pockets will hurt your practice more so than help it. In my opinion.
 
Ahhh... he only thinks he needs tighter pockets. Let him show you how to run 50 balls in straight pool on big pockets.
 
I think people make way too big a deal out of the pocket size/cut. Usually an excuse for bad play, me thinks. You'd think every league team in my area played on gaffe tables, as much as you hear about the pockets at each location.
 
the chicken said:
I have this friend that refuses to play on tables with regulation-size pockets. He claims that playing on such a table will make him get sloppy, and he'll start to loose, when he shoots on a table with tight pockets.

Is his concern viable?

Ima thinking he doesn't want to shoot on a "regular" table because if he looses, it will make him look bad (at least in his own mind).

Shoot safe.

John
Click to expand...

you can practice on tight pockets, but most places have "regulation" pockets, so when is your friend playing?? diamonds are tougher but they are not easy to find in your average poolhall/bar.
 
victorl said:
You don't get sloppy if you aim for the heart of the pocket everytime.
I know players who insist on playing on tight tables even though they can't run out on regular tables. Since they can't cheat the pocket very much and power and spin shots don't take well, they don't learn how to use different parts of the pocket to get position and end up with a more timid style of play with shotmaking being the main focus rather than positioning.
Also good player should have more of an advantage playing on a regular table because they can run out more easily, whereas a lower level player will makes mistakes and get out of line regardless of the pocket size.
Click to expand...

Bingo! No pocket is tight or loose if the object ball rolls in through the center. Cheating the pocket is a valid part of the game.
 
doesn't matter much what you practice on

What gets you in trouble is when you practice on a table that plays differently than you compete on without staying in tune on the tables you compete on too. It isn't just a matter of aiming center pocket, after awhile your pattern play and everything about your game changes to what works best on the tables you play on. Even playing exactly the same tables in Dallas that I played in New Orleans required a pretty considerable adjustment, they played far differently.

Practice on bucket pockets or tiny pockets, it all helps. Back it up with staying tuned on the tables that count though.

Hu
 
ShootingArts said:
What gets you in trouble is when you practice on a table that plays differently than you compete on without staying in tune on the tables you compete on too. It isn't just a matter of aiming center pocket, after awhile your pattern play and everything about your game changes to what works best on the tables you play on. Even playing exactly the same tables in Dallas that I played in New Orleans required a pretty considerable adjustment, they played far differently.

Practice on bucket pockets or tiny pockets, it all helps. Back it up with staying tuned on the tables that count though.

Hu
Click to expand...

Spot on Hu....as per normal.
My nine foot Diamond at home has Procut pockets(4.5"), the table I play on at work (yes there is a table in our lunch room) has buckets. I practice on the Diamond and play on the bucket table and I must completely change my mind set for the eight footer I shoot on at work. I have gotten good at switching and that transfers when moving to a seven footer. When I played Joey A at Buffalo's that was the first time I had played on a short track in ten years and I did not embarrass myself (too much).
 
Ask the Philippinos!!

98% of the tables in the Philippines have buckets and they come here and run out on everything in site! Why, because the tables that they grow up on allows them to feel confident about their ball pocketing and position play.

The pocket argument seems to be an American thing, none of my friends from over seas seem to care and they all run out when they get here.
 
ShootingArts said:
What gets you in trouble is when you practice on a table that plays differently than you compete on without staying in tune on the tables you compete on too. It isn't just a matter of aiming center pocket, after awhile your pattern play and everything about your game changes to what works best on the tables you play on. Even playing exactly the same tables in Dallas that I played in New Orleans required a pretty considerable adjustment, they played far differently.

Practice on bucket pockets or tiny pockets, it all helps. Back it up with staying tuned on the tables that count though.

Hu
Click to expand...

Best advice, here! If you want to be competitive, play on them all. Big pockets, tight pockets, Diamonds, Gold Crowns, and yes (gasp!) even Bar Box from time to time...even the dreaded Valley Cougar or Dynamo. If you like to gamble, you better be adept at playing with old, dirty balls too. Seen many a man insist on new clean balls and fresh fast cloth when they practice, then they get owned on the usual worn out stuff because their shots throw all over the place and they're not used to really stroking shots to get whitey to do what it needs to.

I used to play pretty regular with a guy that insisted on playing with his own Measle ball. Played pretty good with it, too, but if he played with the Cyclops ball the house provided, he was absolutely lost...couldn't run three balls to save his life. Easier to adjust to perfect equipment when you're used to worn stuff than the other way around, IMHO.
 
Peronsally I don't mind playing on either. In my view, if the pockets are too tight, you have to change your entire game. At my home room we have 2 diamonds that are pro cut and the other the pockets were tightened up by RKC. If you are hitting the back of the pocket, it matters little which one you play on.

The main deal for me, and this is just for me, I find that if I'm getting plenty of table time it matters little. Just playing often keeps you in stroke be it small pockets are big pockets. Too bad my work schedule has sucked this year as my game has fallen off some due to lack of table time.:( Right now I'd take pockets the size of a basketball hoop if I could just play more often.:smile:
 
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