Slow Olhausen

D

deLusan

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My 8 yr-old Olhausen has always played what I feel is slow. The Olhausen nameplate indicates Accu-fast cushions, but I have no idea what cloth is on the table. Before reading the messages on this forum, I thought that perhaps the table needed new cushions, but now am wondering if it might be the cloth that is slowing things down. By 'slow' I mean that if I shoot from headspot toward footspot, the cueball will travel maybe 3.5 - 3 .75 table lengths before stopping. A 5-rail shot attempt, shooting with all I can deliver will just make it to the corner pocket after traveling 5 rails. I know Ive shot on tables where the cueball traveled 6 rails with no trouble at all. I do want to speed up the play, and intend to replace whatever is necessary to do so. Cloth? Cushions? Both?
Recommendations and advice much appreciated!
 
deLusan said:
My 8 yr-old Olhausen has always played what I feel is slow. The Olhausen nameplate indicates Accu-fast cushions, but I have no idea what cloth is on the table. Before reading the messages on this forum, I thought that perhaps the table needed new cushions, but now am wondering if it might be the cloth that is slowing things down. By 'slow' I mean that if I shoot from headspot toward footspot, the cueball will travel maybe 3.5 - 3 .75 table lengths before stopping. A 5-rail shot attempt, shooting with all I can deliver will just make it to the corner pocket after traveling 5 rails. I know Ive shot on tables where the cueball traveled 6 rails with no trouble at all. I do want to speed up the play, and intend to replace whatever is necessary to do so. Cloth? Cushions? Both?
Recommendations and advice much appreciated!
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum! I can't imagine your cushions being bad on that table you describe. Me thinks you just need a new cloth, get a worsted cloth like Simonis 860 (760 is faster but almost to fast), Championship Tour Edition or Granito Basalt.
 
selftaut -
thanks for the very quick reply! In your opinion, am I expecting too much in wanting the ball to travel 5 rails with ease, or is this a good indication that things are not quite right with the table?
11 minutes for a reply!!! Looks like I'm going to like this forum.
 
You may have a regular woven (napped) cloth. If the cloth has a nap to it that's most likely the cause of slow table roll.
Another way to tell napped cloth is if you have fuzzies coming off the cloth. You may have a humidity problem or the cloth may have become loose over time. With slight pressure run your hand across the cloth and see if it moves in front of your hand. If it does the cloth is loose.

After 8 years it's probably time to replace the cloth anyway so getting a worsted cloth and a proper installation should help speed up the table roll. Unless the cushions feel hard they are probably ok. If there is any "thunk" sound from the rails there's a possibility the rails are loose and tightening them should help.
 
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Cloth doesnt move, and recently tightened the rails. Cushions don't feel hard to the touch ... but, yep, the cloth definitely has a nap with little fuzzys.
One would think that an Olhausen table dealer (West Penn Billiards here in Pittsburgh, PA area) would provide a high quality cloth on delivery, but perhaps the cloth was my choice on purchase.
I wish I had known about this forum 8 years ago. Really appreciate the knowledge you guys are providing.
 
I just rehabbed a 19-year-old Olhausen and it plays very well. I replaced my cushions (the old grey non-accufast made-in-Taiwan cushions) with Artemis and it made a major difference. But, from what I hear, the accufast cushions hold up very well and I doubt that's your problem.

I replaced the cloth, which was originally the napped felt, with Simonis 860HR and it has made all the difference in the world. The table has transformed from what I call a "bangers" table into one that allows me to use a lot of finesse. I know that Olhausen uses Hainsworth worsted cloth, but I think it may be an upgrade and not standard equipment.

I get just over 4 rails even with the 860HR. I think the control fabric on the rails slows the rebound on really hard banks, whereas on soft shots, the rails are very lively. The 860HR is supposed to be somewhere between 760 and 860 in terms of speed, and it seems to be perfect on my 8' OS table. I can now play straight pool the way it was intended...
 
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deLusan said:
Cloth doesnt move, and recently tightened the rails. Cushions don't feel hard to the touch ... but, yep, the cloth definitely has a nap with little fuzzys.
One would think that an Olhausen table dealer (West Penn Billiards here in Pittsburgh, PA area) would provide a high quality cloth on delivery, but perhaps the cloth was my choice on purchase.
I wish I had known about this forum 8 years ago. Really appreciate the knowledge you guys are providing.
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The dealer probably put a decent cloth on but certainly would have charged you for an upgrade
to a worsted cloth unless they made that part of the deal.

Rails tight, cushions ok, napped cloth - recovering with a worsted cloth should speed up the table noticeably.
860HR is between 860 and 760 on speed but you're limited to 4 color choices. More colors are available in 860 or 760.
 
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The table is typically used for 8-ball, 9-ball and straight pool. Consensus here seems to be a big recommendation for 860HR, and I'm pretty much sold on that. I see some mention in the forum of 760 being "too fast". After 8 years on a "too slow" table, I keep thinking I might like that. Somebody talk me out of 760!
 
Riptide is faster I belive and 760 is like a ice skating rink. Play on a snooker after an hour on you table then you will see the difference.18" stroke on your table 12" stroke on 760 and 6"or less on a snooker with simmonis or tour edition cloth on it.
 
deLusan said:
The table is typically used for 8-ball, 9-ball and straight pool. Consensus here seems to be a big recommendation for 860HR, and I'm pretty much sold on that. I see some mention in the forum of 760 being "too fast". After 8 years on a "too slow" table, I keep thinking I might like that. Somebody talk me out of 760!
Click to expand...

I'm somewhat of a novice, but from what I have picked up in my research here when I was deciding on my cloth is that if ALL you played was straight pool, then perhaps you would want to lean more towards 760.

I also play some 8-ball and 9-ball too, and that was why I decided on 860/860HR instead of 760, along with the fact that it was an 8' OS table instead of a 9' table. The choice for HR instead of regular 860 was for humidity and burn resistance as well as a little extra speed for straight pool.

It seems to be a good median speed. I can play nice long, soft shots with ease, but I can also open up my stroke if I need to and the cue ball doesn't get away from me. What I didn't want was a table so fast that ALL I could do was roll the balls in.

I have been playing 2-3 hours a day for the last 3 weeks since I finished recovering the table and I have yet to get a single burn mark on it at all, and the general consensus is that the HR maintains its speed well over time too.

Anyway, there's my 2 cents. Hope it helps!
 
OK guys ... I pulled the trigger and bought the 860HR cloth. I want to thank all who offered opinions. This forum and you all are great!
 
deLusan said:
OK guys ... I pulled the trigger and bought the 860HR cloth. I want to thank all who offered opinions. This forum and you all are great!
Click to expand...

You made the right choice, the problem with the 760 is when you go play someplace else you can be pretty much assured you won't find the 760 being used and you will have to adjust to slower speed then you are used to if you had 760. A lot of places use the 860 and you will be more comfortable on it. 760 is to fast for 8 ball or 9 ball.

Let us know when you get it put on.
 
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Again I want to thank all you guys for the opinions that you provided regarding my 'slow' Olhausen.
I ordered my Simonis 860 HR from poolfelt.com. My order shipped the day it was ordered, spent 1 day in travel, and I had it in my hands the day after that. I consider that to be EXCELLENT service and thought it should be mentioned here.
The installation went very well. I was nervous about doing it as I hadnt recovered a table in many years, but I took my time and did everything to the best of my ability, avoiding a 'Thats good enough' mentality. When something wasnt quite right - I re-did it.
The table plays beautifully now, and the cue ball travels 5-rails with ease. I would have never realized what an effect the cloth has on game play had it not been for the forum here at AZBilliards. Thank you all.
 
deLusan said:
Again I want to thank all you guys for the opinions that you provided regarding my 'slow' Olhausen.
I ordered my Simonis 860 HR from poolfelt.com. My order shipped the day it was ordered, spent 1 day in travel, and I had it in my hands the day after that. I consider that to be EXCELLENT service and thought it should be mentioned here.
The installation went very well. I was nervous about doing it as I hadnt recovered a table in many years, but I took my time and did everything to the best of my ability, avoiding a 'Thats good enough' mentality. When something wasnt quite right - I re-did it.
The table plays beautifully now, and the cue ball travels 5-rails with ease. I would have never realized what an effect the cloth has on game play had it not been for the forum here at AZBilliards. Thank you all.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kudos and good to hear problem solved.
 
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