Shooting on a Gabriel Table

[manlyshot]

Recently, at the Planet Pool 9-Ball Tour held at Great Slates in Cambridge, Maryland, the owner and host of the event, John Moody, shot brilliantly and managed to beat many, many topnotch players on this tour.

Many of the participants encountered uncharacteristic difficulties on the Gabriel pool table, as opposed to a GC or a Diamond, such as balls skidding and hopping, balls bouncing off rails and picking up speed, and pocket peculiarities. There was also a humidity factor in this room because of its location being close to the beach, which made the tables wet.

Ryan McCreesh, Nick Mannino, Jerry Slivka, Shawn Wilke, Jarrod Clowery, Jim Henson, Keith McCready, and Mike Davis were in agreement that their performance on the Gabriels was poor. Nobody was running racks. Pookie, on the other hand, shoots well on this equipment, as does John Moody, the owner of Great Slates.

John Moody played his heart out to beat Pookie twice and win this tournament, but I cannot help but wonder if his familiarity with the Gabriel tables in his pool room was an advantage to those unfamiliar with shooting on a Gabriel.

I would be interested to hear from others their opinions about the Gabriel pool table in comparison to the traditional tables used at most tournament venues by Brunswick and/or Diamond.

ManlyShot

 

[biGhuK]

More than likely... It's his room and his tables. He knows exactly how they roll. The breaks could have just been in his favor that day as well. 9 ball is a weird game and the balls never roll the same for everybody. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if the strictly tournament players that play on their own equipment and 80% of the time are break out on a diamond were given something like kasson tables and everyone had to use house cues. Now in this tournament road players and all the likes played as well, it's an open. I wonder if the gap between the pro's and the am's would grow smaller in this kind of event :0. Because the equipment is so different I think that road players adapt better than most of the tournament players. This isn't to say that efren reyes couldn't break a broom in half, duct tape it back together and still pull amazing runs like him. Some of the tournament players adapt very well like Efren.

 

[sarahrousey]

manlyshot,

It is kind of funny that you posted this here because on my forum I posted how much I liked play on the Gabriel tables this weekend. I played a tournament with all Gabriel tables as well. I am not sure what model table it was. I noticed that it played very similar to a Diamond. The pockets are very deep. I didn't run into any of the problems you spoke of. Maybe it was the weather or the way the cloth was put on the tables or any of the other million factors that are involved. But the owner of the room definitely has the advantage. He or she knows everything about all of the tables.

Sarah

 

[MFB]

Sounds like someone familar with the tables and conditions would have an advantage at the beginning. However I would think after a round or two the very good players should be able to adapt to the conditions just as well.

Course I know what it's like getting something in my head about equipment that I can't let go of. JMHO

 

[frankncali]

I like the play of the Gabriels. The rails they use are top notch and I
felt as if the ball kept the same speed instead of slowing.
The pockets are very deep and you have to be sure to hit the pocket and
not the rail going in.
I know alot of people including myself after first playing on a Diamond
thought the rails banked short. I still have to get used to banking
on a Diamond. Great table though.
If I opened a room and had to choose between Gabriels, Diamonds, or
GC and money was not an issue I would take the Gabriels. If money was
an issue I would take used GC's. More out there so the price is better.

 

[Teddy Harris]

Pookie, on the other hand, shoots well on this equipment, as does John Moody, the owner of Great Slates.

Pookie won the flip and ran a seven on one of his opponents. At that point, the opponent just quit the set!

John Moody played his heart out to beat Pookie twice and win this tournament, but I cannot help but wonder if his familiarity with the Gabriel tables in his pool room was an advantage to those unfamiliar with shooting on a Gabriel.
ManlyShot

John works about 100 hours a week trying to make Great Slates work. For the last couple of years, John has hardly played at all, and I mean hardly! Occasionally, he plays in the tournaments there on Sunday. Prior to this tournament, he practiced 1 hour a day for about two weeks...or it could be the cue I made him...LOL!
You can imagine that a place like that is high maintenance. Gotta stay on top of it to keep it running smoothly. The service was excellent, the food excellent, and just for the record, it is the nicest poolroom on the planet!

I would be interested to hear from others their opinions about the Gabriel pool table in comparison to the traditional tables used at most tournament venues by Brunswick and/or Diamond.
ManlyShot

The Gabriels are hands down the best table overall. Plays just like a diamond, but has different construction materials and techniques. Costs more too. The table is built with I-beams and all steel frame. Uses span bridge technology for leveling...there are just way too many good things about this table. A book would have to be written to explain it!

BTW, the humidity was very high there over the weekend.

 

[blud]

play

The Gabriels are hands down the best table overall.

Hi Ted and guys,

I have also played on a gabriel table. I own a diamond. If I had the chance, I would buy a gab, and off my diamond. Please don't get me wrong, the diamond is very nice. I just like how the gab is constructed and how well it banks.
blud

 

[Cue of Fury]

The Gabriel is a superb looking table. I read all of the features from their website and I am very impressed. Sure, it may be expensive but it appears to be worth it. I would take one over the GC IV. For the money though the Diamond Pro is an awesome table for the home or pool hall.

 

[Joseph Cues]

I should have bought one last year in Vegas during the tourney.
Hmm, lemme sell my GCII.