Slow cloth-i miss it

Fatboy

Fatboy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I saw another thread about this, so I decided to start my own, its been on my mind the past year.

I started playing pool in 85 on Stevens and Mali cloth fuzzy and slow, I have a good powerful stroke(I'm far from a great player, but that slow cloth is why I do have what I have) as a result of that(i and if I play enough sometimes I can make a ball or two). Then in about 88 760 started showing up, I loved it because with much less effort I could move the rock like never before, I thought it was too easy after a while, not for me-but for the top players it was a joke watching them running 6 packs all the time(because they hadnt tighened the pockets yet. Fast Cloth+top player+big pockets=6 packs.

Then along came 860 a compromise and I loved it, but the 860 they made 12+ year ago was much slower than the 860 of today, I dont know when they changed it but they did, I have some of both, a good friend has old 860 and its wonderful to play on, no skids, kicks or balls jumping on contact. the current 860 is garbage, the 860HR for a room owner might be a good idea for savings it dosent wear out-still plays terrrible.


I'm done with fast cloth, I'd like to open up the pockets-cheating the pocket and building angles that arnt there with 4" to 4 1/2" sucks it takes alot of creativeity out of the game when you just have hit the center of the pocket, speed control is a bigger issue-and watching speed control aint to exciting, big pocket players like Earl are fun to watch you can be more creative. 4" pockets like JA arnt as fun to watch(I'd rather watch snooker) no offence to JA.

I believe its harder to learn to play on slow cloth, I play with a 19oz cue these days and it feels heavy, I remember when anything under 20oz was light, you needed that weight to get the action on the balls. The biggest benefit is you either devlope a good stroke on slow cloth and if you dont then forget pool and go bowling if you cant play on slow cloth. It takes longer to learn to play, SVB has a stroke that would work perfect on slow cloth, as do most pros.


I dont like the direction the boxes are going faster cloth, jumpy balls, snooker pockets. It all adds up to a mess. Just like when they put 760 on 5" pockets, Earl didnt miss a ball for a year. There has to be a balance, and it starts with the cloth-slow it down, this aint 3 Cushion or snooker.

ok i'm done complaining


Fatboy
 
Last edited:
I agree put some friction back in the game.make the tables play tough like old used cloth does.a good tournament should be played on used cloth that the locals played on for 6 months.then when the tourny is over and the road rockets leave do the recover for the locals.put the stroke back in and take the poke out.

bill
 
Good Post Eric I cant imagine playing 860 on a table that has bad rolls. I like the fast cloth but I know what you mean, unless you are on your "A" game it can be frustrating. Glen has spoiled me......my table still plays perfect but fast is a understatement. By the way pm me with a good time to call I need to get your shipping address..... it is nearly time;).
 
I'm with you on this one, Eric - almost. There are times that I long for the old slow cloth and the tables I first played on in 1957. But then I think about what it was really like, and I realize I don't actually want the old, slow cloth - I just want to be 13 years old again, instead of 39 (that's 39 in Helfert years).

Of course, it might be nice to have a little larger room so I could add an 8-foot table with big pockets and slow cloth. Hmmm... might have to knock down a wall.
 
Couldn't agree more, Eric!

Slow cloth, real pockets, no cut-off broom sticks (jump cues), leather drop-pockets, even add a mud-ball to the mix and good game of 2-shot foul 9-ball and I'd be all smiles!

-von
 
Cuebuddy said:
Good Post Eric I cant imagine playing 860 on a table that has bad rolls. I like the fast cloth but I know what you mean, unless you are on your "A" game it can be frustrating. Glen has spoiled me......my table still plays perfect but fast is a understatement. By the way pm me with a good time to call I need to get your shipping address..... it is nearly time;).
Click to expand...



Ring me anytime at 702-241-8000 or email me at ep90210@hotmail.com

I'm in Vegas all summer, I will get you my Fedx account info. Actually Kelly will, she sorts that stuff out. She is the best. Hope you been well and had a nice summer, it's been triple hit in Vegas this summer, last year I spent summer in los Angeles and it was great, this year I'm stuck in the heat, I really appreciate what ur doing, I'll return the favor when you come to Vegas.:):):):)
 
VonRhett said:
Couldn't agree more, Eric!

Slow cloth, real pockets, no cut-off broom sticks (jump cues), leather drop-pockets, even add a mud-ball to the mix and good game of 2-shot foul 9-ball and I'd be all smiles!

-von
Click to expand...

Thanks for the support, I wonder if a person set up a table like that at home to play on, would it help or. Hurt their game on the current equipment? I think it would be bad and the players game. Would go down IMO


It's gonna be a long time before we see what you said in your post. KT had the slow cloth right, he. Told me. He wanted to re create what people at home understand pool to be, which for what he was doing was correct, I was sick of the fast cloth long before his gig started up and fizzled out.

Rolling balls IMO isn't pool that I like I like fire power. If I'm playing on fast cloth I'll play snooker or 3C.

I remember vividly the first time I saw. 760 on a pool table, I thought they made a mistake and put slow billiard cloth on that box, they only covered one table a week later all the tables in the back room at Great American Billiards had it(Now Hardtimes in Sac)
 
Slow Cloth/Stroke

I agree Eric, I learned to play on slow cloth, which allowed me to really stroke the ball, the slow cloth gives me more cue ball control, as opposed to the faster cloths.

On the faster cloths I tend to baby the shots, which lead to missed shots and bad position, a good worn Mali cloth is fast enough for me.

I guess the faster cloths are he to stay, but give me a table with a slower cloth on it and my eyes light up!:grin:


David Harcrow
 
Fatboy said:
Thanks for the support, I wonder if a person set up a table like that at home to play on, would it help or. Hurt their game on the current equipment? I think it would be bad and the players game. Would go down IMO


It's gonna be a long time before we see what you said in your post. KT had the slow cloth right, he. Told me. He wanted to re create what people at home understand pool to be, which for what he was doing was correct, I was sick of the fast cloth long before his gig started up and fizzled out.

Rolling balls IMO isn't pool that I like I like fire power. If I'm playing on fast cloth I'll play snooker or 3C.

I remember vividly the first time I saw. 760 on a pool table, I thought they made a mistake and put slow billiard cloth on that box, they only covered one table a week later all the tables in the back room at Great American Billiards had it(Now Hardtimes in Sac)
Click to expand...

I'm lucky in a way that I have my table outside in a sceened patio in FL. As the humidity goes from 90% in the morning in Tampa to 30% in the late afternoon (if no rain) I get to play on slow to fast cloth just about every day. I got my high run of 96 on the table when the humidity was about 82-75%. I like playing on slow to medium cloth, but with good lively rails. Johnnyt
 
JT yeah when the rails get that much humidity they do get bouncy for sure, sounds like you have a good set up. Wernt you gonna get a 8' box a while back?
 
Agreed, Eric, but the slower cloth needs to be of good quality, i.e. flat surface for consistent rolls, like that of Championship Mercury Ultra.

That nappy stuff with the different lengths of filler fibers is not a lot of fun. :(

Roger
 
Fatboy said:
JT yeah when the rails get that much humidity they do get bouncy for sure, sounds like you have a good set up. Wernt you gonna get a 8' box a while back?
Click to expand...

I'm holding out for a good deal (steal) on a 8' or 8 1/2' that can take the weather. Was going to have new slab and room built but wife is retiring next year and we might move to a different state. I'd never get my money back out of the house in this economy. It lost 35% of it's value in the last 2 years as it is. Not adding another $12,000 to that. Johnnyt
 
Simonis upside down is the nuts. I keep telling people that. Slower, but no nap. Plays perfect. Inside English grabs and everything. Good post Eric :-)
 
MexPoolPlyr said:
Simonis upside down is the nuts. I keep telling people that. Slower, but no nap. Plays perfect. Inside English grabs and everything. Good post Eric :-)
Click to expand...

Didn't the older Simonis 860 have a white backing on it? Wasn't that slower?

I'd like to see a scientific explanation, with graphics, of the differences between "outside" and "inside" english.

I always thought there was no difference - other than psychological and perhaps perspective with regard to the dominant eye.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top