Shimmed pockets on a Home Table

9BallPaul

9BallPaul

Banned
As discussed in another thread, I'm building a game room in my new basement. I've found a table I like and have a question about pocket construction:

Why in tarnation would I shim the pockets down to 4 and a half inches? I'm looking for a table that plays fair, but doesn't discourage house guests from playing. I've got no plans to go to the DCC -- except as a spectator.

If any gambling happens on my table, it will be for peanuts. It's a social thing for me, until fishing season starts. So, do I shim or not shim? Thanks.
 
I'd hire a mechanic who can extend the rail backing and have shims installed right.
4 1/2" is very fair.
 
If you arent trying to improve your game and your house guest dont play well then leave it alone, I guess. I think 4.5 inch pockets are still pretty big depending on the type of table it is. I would not want a table that rewards players for missing a ball by a diamond ( or more)

Just my .02
 
9BallPaul said:
As discussed in another thread, I'm building a game room in my new basement. I've found a table I like and have a question about pocket construction:

Why in tarnation would I shim the pockets down to 4 and a half inches? I'm looking for a table that plays fair, but doesn't discourage house guests from playing. I've got no plans to go to the DCC -- except as a spectator.

If any gambling happens on my table, it will be for peanuts. It's a social thing for me, until fishing season starts. So, do I shim or not shim? Thanks.
Click to expand...

For the purpose you want your table to serve there is no need to shim.
 
4 1/2 is still pretty big, I would go 4 1/4, because when you make a ball you want to feel like your actually making it, atleast I do. I hate to think after I shot "Did that really go?" Also I would look into having the rail extended to tighten them up, not necessarily a shim, so when you hit the inside of the pocket the ball drops like it should, instead of hitting something unnaturally hard and the ball will rattle even when it shouldn't. Again, its just the feeling you get when you make a ball on a tougher than average table, you know you really made it. I wouldn't stand in the batters box in a little leauge field, hit the ball over the fence, and think I hit a home run....right?
 
I've got ~4 1/4" straight pockets at home and I love it. When my friends who play come over, they like the challenge. When my banger friends come over they can't tell a difference anyway because they're bangers.

When I practice for a few hours at home then go shoot league I feel like I'm aiming for buckets.

Shimmed for life!

-James
 
Tight Pockets

You would want the pockets tight for your practice table which would make the game much easier on any other table as far as pocketing balls. However, two things to consider:
You may be getting better at aiming, but, are you learning the extremes of shots where you can cheat the pocket on all the other tables you play on?
Whether or not a pocket accepts the ball also has a lot to do with shelf depth, pocket cut angle, cushion facings etc. So, making a table play tough is not just about shimming the pockets.
Also, if you want to reduce the pocket size extending the subrails and replacing the cushions is the way to go.
 
what dimmensions are the pockets to begin with? if they are big enough that you have to double or triple shim the pockets it could change the geometry of the pockets .
 
selftaut said:
For the purpose you want your table to serve there is no need to shim.
Click to expand...

I agree with Selftaut. Tight pockets aren't for everyone and it sounds like you would have more fun with a relaxed pocket. You could always have them tightened in another year or two if you are starting to feel like it's a good idea.
 
Cuebacca said:
I agree with Selftaut. Tight pockets aren't for everyone and it sounds like you would have more fun with a relaxed pocket. You could always have them tightened in another year or two if you are starting to feel like it's a good idea.
Click to expand...

Lots of good responses to my query, and thanks to all who offered opinions. But I like Cuebacca's response best. If and when I wish to tighten the pockets, I can do it.

Until then, let's play. Thanks.
 
My home table is 4"

I had my table triple shimmed and then when I re did it in simonis 760, I cut new rubbers and extended the backing to the equivalent of triple shimmed which ends up being about 4" on my table. I love it for practice. Anything bigger than 4.5" is not conducive to getting better IMO, but I play on a table with 4" pockets so anything bigger than 4.25" looks gigantic to me.....LOL....

Jaden
 
IMHO, making pockets TOO tight hampers developing a professional style. Having apprehension on certain shots that are only of moderate diffculty on the majority of the pool tables in America is, in my opinion, counter productive.

My Pro Cut Diamond Pro Am is just fine by me. It's what the majority of the pro tournaments nowadays are being played on, and it plays tougher than most of the tables in most pool halls.

Personally, I think the confidence gained from playing well on a tough, but fair, table will allow one to play just fine on a table that is slightly tighter.

If one wants to really work on shotmaking, go find a 12 foot snooker table and practice with regular pool balls.

Russ
 
If your home table is just for recreation, leave the buckets alone.

If you really want to take your game to the next level.....this is what you need>>>

DSC00095.jpg


Russ......I respectfully disagree. Tight pockets do not hamper your learning or developing a profesional style. They teach you to be more accurate...period. You haven't seen Corey Harper hammer a ball down the rail on my GCI and it still drops. The pockets are tight, but they are cut correctly by Ernesto and play fair.

Russ....
 
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A family table does not need shims. Make some balls, have fun! Missing gets old real quick and you'll still improve just from playing. HAVE FUN!!
 
poolhustler said:
If your home table is just for recreation, leave the buckets alone.

If you really want to take your game to the next level.....this is what you need>>>

DSC00095.jpg


Russ......I respectfully disagree. Tight pockets do not hamper your learning or developing a profesional style. They teach you to be more accurate...period. You haven't seen Corey Harper hammer a ball down the rail on my GCI and it still drops. The pockets are tight, but they are cut correctly by Ernesto and play fair.

Russ....
Click to expand...

Just wondering, with all that practice on tight-ass pockets, do you have world championship trophies on your wall? I mean, you MUST...right? In my 25 years as a Billiards Technician, it's never been my recommendation to purposely make pockets tighter than 4 1/2" because when I've seen most players miss, Pro's included...it's been by at least 6" or more for the most part, so the table could have had 6" pockets and it wouldn't have made a difference! Practice is what makes balls go in the pockets more often, not tighter pockets. SVB's table that HE practices on, has 4 1/2" pockets, so maybe he could take lessons from you...LOL

Glen, the Realkingcobra!
 
9BallPaul said:
As discussed in another thread, I'm building a game room in my new basement. I've found a table I like and have a question about pocket construction:

Why in tarnation would I shim the pockets down to 4 and a half inches? I'm looking for a table that plays fair, but doesn't discourage house guests from playing. I've got no plans to go to the DCC -- except as a spectator.

If any gambling happens on my table, it will be for peanuts. It's a social thing for me, until fishing season starts. So, do I shim or not shim? Thanks.
Click to expand...
There's nothing wrong with having the standard pocket openings on your table at home, don't worry about them being any tighter as a way of having fun for you and your friends, just play pool and have fun!

Glen
 
RunoutalloverU said:
I wouldn't stand in the batters box in a little leauge field, hit the ball over the fence, and think I hit a home run....right?
Click to expand...
You would if you were 12yrs old!...LOL So, if you ran a 10 ball rack on a 7ft Diamond with Pro pockets, you wouldn't feel like you really ran a rack, because it wasn't on a 9ft with 4" pockets?:D :D

Glen
 
James said:
I've got ~4 1/4" straight pockets at home and I love it. When my friends who play come over, they like the challenge. When my banger friends come over they can't tell a difference anyway because they're bangers.

When I practice for a few hours at home then go shoot league I feel like I'm aiming for buckets.

Shimmed for life!

-James
Click to expand...


Good point. I have 4 1/2 on on a Olhausen. Anyone who's played on an Olhausen knows how the balls have a tendency to rattle without being tightened. I do love the challenge though and if I keep to at least 30 minutes to an hour a day of knocking balls around it noticeably helps on the Gold Crowns on league night.
 
tjlmbklr said:
Good point. I have 4 1/2 on on a Olhausen. Anyone who's played on an Olhausen knows how the balls have a tendency to rattle without being tightened. I do love the challenge though and if I keep to at least 30 minutes to an hour a day of knocking balls around it noticeably helps on the Gold Crowns on league night.
Click to expand...


I agree. My Olhausen with 4.5" wrong cut pockets is quite a rattler. I should've sought RealKingCobra's services when he was in town. King Cobra vs Rattler hmmm!?
 
9BallPaul said:
As discussed in another thread, I'm building a game room in my new basement. I've found a table I like and have a question about pocket construction:

Why in tarnation would I shim the pockets down to 4 and a half inches? I'm looking for a table that plays fair, but doesn't discourage house guests from playing. I've got no plans to go to the DCC -- except as a spectator.

If any gambling happens on my table, it will be for peanuts. It's a social thing for me, until fishing season starts. So, do I shim or not shim? Thanks.
Click to expand...


i would weigh the percentage of your play, as if you are going to use it to improve your own game, vs. how much guest play you intend on having... i shimed my own pockets because my guests only make up mabey 5% of the playing time on my table.
 
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