Smaller Pockets Don’t Always Play Smaller … Dr. Dave Evaluates His New Rails and Pockets

From the video's screenshot, the pocket facings appear to be almost parallel. That will throw the ball in the pocket more often than causing it to rattle. You only need to be accurate enough to hit just inside the point and it will drop, new cloth promotes that too.
 
But is it now still a Byrne table? Or is it now a Byrne-Alciatore hybrid?

That was my only hesitation before doing the modifications. It is no longer the same table as what I got from Byrne. I still think of it as his table, though.
 
From the video's screenshot, the pocket facings appear to be almost parallel. That will throw the ball in the pocket more often than causing it to rattle. You only need to be accurate enough to hit just inside the point and it will drop, new cloth promotes that too.

Agreed. They are at 50 degrees instead of parallel (45 degrees), but they definitely help the balls in. That was actually part of my goal … to make the pockets look tougher without making them tougher. Although, they are tougher for many shots. It sure is nice to be able to fire the balls into the pockets now without them rattling out.
 
I asked these questions because i know facings hardness matters too. Harder=rattle, softer seem to rub ball little different spin that drops it after rattle...
So often when people "shim" pockets to tighter they use double of those normal facing rubbers. I tightened our table with one thicker facing rubber that is softer than 2 normal ones in one. Table plays great even it is 10.7 cm pockets.
The problem with thicket facings, is while the corners still drop nicely, the sides are now near impossible at any steep angle. Shots that would typically fall in readily on a standard GC, are no longer even considered.
 
Nice video. I like the look of the table with the new rails. As a fan of professional pool, one thing I really don't like about the more parallel facings, is how there seems to be more balls hung up in the pocket than back when Gold Crowns were the standard. This makes the penalty for a miss even more severe. The incoming player shoots at a lot of hung balls in today's game. Is that a good thing? It keeps the game moving, but removes a bit of variety.

I wonder if buying new custom rails will become more of a thing. They really are the most important part of the table. I would consider some for mine.

Am I crazy, or do I correctly recall AZ's Neil (RIP), somehow extending the slate shelves on his table? That would be an interesting project to change the TDF of a table. Interesting for someone else that is.
 
Nice video. I like the look of the table with the new rails. As a fan of professional pool, one thing I really don't like about the more parallel facings, is how there seems to be more balls hung up in the pocket than back when Gold Crowns were the standard. This makes the penalty for a miss even more severe. The incoming player shoots at a lot of hung balls in today's game. Is that a good thing? It keeps the game moving, but removes a bit of variety.

Good point. I’ve noticed this also. I’ve also noticed the “tight” pro tournament pockets playing much bigger than they look with the slick conditions.

I wonder if buying new custom rails will become more of a thing. They really are the most important part of the table. I would consider some for mine.

Am I crazy, or do I correctly recall AZ's Neil (RIP), somehow extending the slate shelves on his table? That would be an interesting project to change the TDF of a table. Interesting for someone else that is.

I miss Neil. We had lots of good interactions over many years. RIP Neil! I remember his “bar box” having very tight pockets, but I don’t remember him extending the slate.
 
To me it's just the precision required of a small aperture. Standard pro cuts invite sloppiness. Hence 3.25 apertures with no jaws or shelf for me.
 
Good point. I’ve noticed this also. I’ve also noticed the “tight” pro tournament pockets playing much bigger than they look with the slick conditions.



I miss Neil. We had lots of good interactions over many years. RIP Neil! I remember his “bar box” having very tight pockets, but I don’t remember him extending the slate.
Actually, my memory was correct. In this thread Neil stated he extended the slate on his barbox:
Post in thread 'Make A Valley Play Very Close To A Diamond' https://forums.azbilliards.com/thre...y-very-close-to-a-diamond.312935/post-4079981

Post in thread 'Make A Valley Play Very Close To A Diamond' https://forums.azbilliards.com/thre...y-very-close-to-a-diamond.312935/post-4080813

Post in thread 'Make A Valley Play Very Close To A Diamond' https://forums.azbilliards.com/thre...y-very-close-to-a-diamond.312935/post-4082381
 
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