Slightly rounded cushions

[MSchaffer]

So I was watching 'Banks that don't go - but do' yesterday by the Beard and was curious about a set of banks he was talking about. He was talking about the cushions being ever-so-slightly rounded near the corner pockets as a result of the cloth being stretched tightly. I have seen many 1P players use this flaw(?) to their advantage to making balls reverse off the long rail (and short rail, for that matter).

My question is, is this something mechanics try to avoid, or is it just an accepted happenstance or trade-off for better fitting cloth? It seems like in a 'perfect world', this rounding would not occur.

I have tried some of these banks on my table, and I don't notice any reversing at all unless I throw some spin onto the OB (realizing of course that my ability level or lack thereof probably has more to do with it not reversing back). I know that some players use the actual point of the cushion to adjust the rebound angle, but The Beard stated specifically that the corners were rounded because of the cloth being stretched tightly around the point.

I guess the follow up question would be that if it can and should be avoided, what techniques do the mechanics use to avoid it?

 

[MSchaffer]

hmm, well I guess nobody knows, huh?

 

[ROB.M]

table

There is a way to cover rails with out rounding the corners...skilled trade
-
Rob.M

 

[Donny Wessels]

So I was watching 'Banks that don't go - but do' yesterday by the Beard and was curious about a set of banks he was talking about. He was talking about the cushions being ever-so-slightly rounded near the corner pockets as a result of the cloth being stretched tightly. I have seen many 1P players use this flaw(?) to their advantage to making balls reverse off the long rail (and short rail, for that matter).

My question is, is this something mechanics try to avoid, or is it just an accepted happenstance or trade-off for better fitting cloth? It seems like in a 'perfect world', this rounding would not occur.

I have tried some of these banks on my table, and I don't notice any reversing at all unless I throw some spin onto the OB (realizing of course that my ability level or lack thereof probably has more to do with it not reversing back). I know that some players use the actual point of the cushion to adjust the rebound angle, but The Beard stated specifically that the corners were rounded because of the cloth being stretched tightly around the point.

I guess the follow up question would be that if it can and should be avoided, what techniques do the mechanics use to avoid it?

what kind of table are you talking about. Also are you asking about corner pockets or side pockets. I believe Fred teaches bar box pool, but I don't know anyone who plays 1 pocket on bar tables. I would assume your talking about a valley tables side pockets? It's popular to pull cloth without folds, looks great, but the down side is the corner looses its sharpness. otherwise I cant think of what you would be referring to.

 

[RackemBilliards]

Rounded cushions

A perfectly covered table by a top mechanic would have corner pockets that are tight, and sharp (not rounded). Alas, reality is that most tables are something less than perfect, and a bit rounded. A ball banked into the point of the corner can be made to go cross corner by banking into the high end of the pocket facing. The ball almost appears to curve, going toward the end rail and then straightening out and banking cross corner. There are techniques used by mechanics to maintain sharp, not rounded, corners. Clearly I need to work on this as Mike Zimmerman and Jesse Allred continue to make this bank in one pocket games against me-on my tables. Today, Jesse did it one-handed. Bastard.