Earlier TAR matches with Fatboy's rails plays very good. I think this new setup isn't 100 percent the same.
Should the TAR table stay as is or go to standard pockets? You choose.
- Thread starter JCIN
- Start date
Earlier TAR matches with Fatboy's rails plays very good. I think this new setup isn't 100 percent the same.
Personally I think 4.25 pockets would be perfect for these guys and TAR. With that deep shelf its too hard to make a routine shot so players won't be playing to their top speeds. They may shy away from certain shots or play safe and not run the risk of hanging a ball. If these pockets were on a GC it would be fine but they are not.. these pockets are on a Diamond with deep shelves making them play under 4". You should loosen them up to 4.25 that way they still play really tough and would allow players to remain challenged.
4 1/2 get my vote . i enjoy watching racks run , not safeties and more safeties . One of the best matches i ever watched was Wade Crane and Buddy Hall playing on a valley bar table . Wade runs 13 racks , misses , Buddy runs 11 racks ... Does any one really remember great players matches off of great safety play every few racks ?
I have been doing this long enough to have a pretty good idea about what actually sells.
Some things I know from experience:
Every 14.1 fan on earth posts on AZ. All fifty of them.
Only half the one pocket fans post on AZ. There are one hundred of them.
On any given weekend half of both groups will not be able to watch anything no matter who is playing.
With the exception of one tournament a year, the US Open 1 Pocket which is a decent seller but features many of the best players in the world and not just two guys. 1 Pocket and 14.1 simply do not sell in the numbers it takes to break even on a stand alone event and they are the weakest selling individual formats in all arounds. Yet they always get a high a number of posts asking for them.
People always want to see Busty, Efren, Orcollo, Yang and others who do not get to the States much. I want to see them too and we make every effort to put things together when they are in the country. Having a bunch of people post "I want to see Efren play Orcollo an all around of 14.1, 1 pocket and 8 ball" doesn't really tell me anything simply because it probably wont ever happen.
Many things people say they want I can not say definitively "We will do that." because there are so many outside factors. One thing I can control is something like the pocket size which is why I put up a poll about that and not asking what match everyone wants to see.
Just trying to explain things from my point of view.
ChrisBanks
Banned
This is what is wrong with pool. Everyone in the country can run racks of 9-ball on a valley table.
Maybe you get out once in a while when the stars align but only the Buddy's and Cranes run 6+ racks. Keep dreamin.
Justin, thanks for asking. I voted for 4.5".
I don't really care if they are 4.3 or 4.6, what I want is for a great player
to have it play easy enough that he can play fully confident. The table as
is currently is does not allow for this as this match (which I did not see) and
the match with Oscar clearly showed.
gr. Dave
I don't really care if they are 4.3 or 4.6, what I want is for a great player
to have it play easy enough that he can play fully confident. The table as
is currently is does not allow for this as this match (which I did not see) and
the match with Oscar clearly showed.
gr. Dave
ChrisBanks
Banned
Are you kidding? You're out of line there. There are thousands of players just in the USA that can run 6 racks consistently on a valley table.
Steinway has 5 tables (brunswicks) with 4" pockets, usually you see the more avid players on those, practicing or playing money matches, and plenty of tables with "regular" size pockets for the casual, once-in-a-while players, and one table with 3" pockets, that hardly anybody plays on. Given the nature of a TAR match, I personally think the equipment should be tougher, since a TAR match is more of a "main event" type of thing. If I wanted to watch pros run out on 4.5" pockets, I'd watch a tournament. Schmitty had it right, the TAR table is just the right mix of playability and toughness.
4.5 pockets
Everybody wants to see a 6 pack or more run by the pros. 4 1/8 pockets seem to take away the excitement of the game, why limit the greatest players! Two of the most talked about records are Mosconi's run and Earls Million dollar run not done on 4 1/8 pockects. Put some excitement back in the game GO STANDARD POCKETS!
Everybody wants to see a 6 pack or more run by the pros. 4 1/8 pockets seem to take away the excitement of the game, why limit the greatest players! Two of the most talked about records are Mosconi's run and Earls Million dollar run not done on 4 1/8 pockects. Put some excitement back in the game GO STANDARD POCKETS!
This isn't a Valley Table we're talking about here.
Ask Buddy Hall!
I have heard Buddy say that the game should not come down to who can shoot the straightest, but who can play the best. When the pockets are to tight the play drops off.
Most of the time even on big pockets you dont see really big runs, both guys get their chance at the table in a long race and I dont think 4.25'' is big, just bigger.
You do good work and put on a great show, so no matter what you deside its always worth watching, thanks for putting it on!
I have heard Buddy say that the game should not come down to who can shoot the straightest, but who can play the best. When the pockets are to tight the play drops off.
Most of the time even on big pockets you dont see really big runs, both guys get their chance at the table in a long race and I dont think 4.25'' is big, just bigger.
You do good work and put on a great show, so no matter what you deside its always worth watching, thanks for putting it on!
When I watch a TAR match, I want to see them play in a table that is tougher than "normal" tournaments.
Using golf analogy, I want a "major" type of setup with tightened fairway, thick rough, and shaved green and hole placed in hard to get area.
I just want to see two of the best on tough condition where they have to prepare beforehand and be focused during few days knowing there is a hard battle to be fought and they will get their chance on the table. Where multiple packs will be talked about as astounding accomplishment.
I'm not an expect, but if a typical tournament setup for a diamond table is 4.5 then I want something smaller. I know you say 4.25 is not in the factor but maybe that's the right compromise? I don't know. I think the key, for me, is to play on tougher than "normal" condition.
Hidy Ho <--- watched TAR but never played on a Diamond table
Using golf analogy, I want a "major" type of setup with tightened fairway, thick rough, and shaved green and hole placed in hard to get area.
I just want to see two of the best on tough condition where they have to prepare beforehand and be focused during few days knowing there is a hard battle to be fought and they will get their chance on the table. Where multiple packs will be talked about as astounding accomplishment.
I'm not an expect, but if a typical tournament setup for a diamond table is 4.5 then I want something smaller. I know you say 4.25 is not in the factor but maybe that's the right compromise? I don't know. I think the key, for me, is to play on tougher than "normal" condition.
Hidy Ho <--- watched TAR but never played on a Diamond table
ChrisBanks
Banned
I can't believe what I'm hearing in this thread. Why not just make the pockets a foot and a half wide.
When it comes to ChrisBanks, the only successful reply is the one you don't post.
Exactly. Tournaments are like Monday night RAW, and a TAR match should be like a Wrestlemania vibe.
ChrisBanks
Banned
Let's make the pockets 18 inches so we can see more racks run and more impressive positional shots.