Some Pros Said They Would like Harder Tables

[itsfroze]

Re-read what you wrote. It doesn't make sense. You say the reason they aren't running 10 racks is because of the break, which is luck, which is why it's too easy. How is it easy if they aren't running 10 racks?

I think the MAIN point in all of this is that the pros are running racks too easily. Well, that's because they're ****ing great at what they do. And this really only goes for 9 and 10 ball. And what's wrong with seeing a pro run racks?? It's amazing. And just because they make it look easy doesn't mean it is. It takes huge amounts of stamina, high levels of focus, and extreme determination. If everyone in the world was running 10 racks in a row, sure, tables are too easy. But just because a handful of pros can run out like nothing simply proves their mastery. If they want a bigger challenge, tell them to take up biliards or snooker.

Furthermore, my argument about pro sports is about how the equipment doesn't change. You don't see the NBA making hoops higher or tighter simply because a few pros can get 60+ points per game. You don't see strike zones in baseball getting smaller because the pitchers are so accurate.

Your argument about those athletes not being able to do anything to their opponent is also falsely based. Look at golf! You can't shark your opponent. Yet the holes are the same size.

I agree with a lot of your thoughts on this subject.
I would say if the pros are running to many racks in 9 and 10ball in some peoples eyes then let them play 15ball rotation don't start monkeying around with the table.
I am sure they won't run to many in that. Efren said his high run in 15ball rotation was 3 racks, of coarse when asked how his run ended he said I lost the flip they flip for break every game. LOL

Plus if someone does run 8 racks people talk about it for years that can't hurt the game.

 

[foxcues]

I was talking to Dennis Haar a while back and he said he was playing almost everyday on a 9ft and wasn`t getting any better.He said he started playing on a 10 ft and he game improved.I have played snooker on a 10ft but never 9 ball/10 ball so I don`t have a comparison.

 

[joelpope]

If they want harder tables make the pockets 4 1/8" or 4 1/4" procut with the old type slow knap cloth on them...10' of course. Just the fact that you have to hit the CB hard to get 3 to 5 rails will make for a lot more misses. Johnnyt

Or play at one of the rooms I play at in Orlando. No need for high end torture with a tight quality table, just start with a poor table and neglect it for five or six years... Mix in some worn out dirty balls and bingo... Tough table

If that doesn't work, place the table close to a column for no particular reason and make one corner pocket area jacked up shots only.

This week I saw a ball hit the long rail above the side pocket and still go in the corner pocket 5 diamonds away... Hard to fade that

 

[GaryB]

I'm not convinced the 10' table is necessary, the set up of the TAR table is plenty challenging for the pros.

One of the great things about pool is us mere mortals get to play on the same size equipment pros play on. If professional events went to 10 footers that would no longer be the case.

I'm not sure it's in the best interests of the industry either (except, of course the table manufacturers). Rooms simply aren't in the financial position to toss out all their tables and replace them with fewer 10 footers. It's much cheaper to reduce the pocket size to a pro standard and the room doesn't lose a number of tables due to space. If players insist on wanting to play on the one or two 10 footers some rooms do install, it could reduce their revenues even further as everyone is on the wait list for the 10 footer while all the "baby" 9 footers go unused.

Same is true for home table owners.

Obviously it would be great for Diamond and I can certainly see why they are promoting it, but I'm not sure this would be doing room owners any favors.

I totally agree with all aspects of your post. Pool is hurting right now and anything could tip the scales for many rooms. Most rooms without a liquor license are in a precarious position right now and in need of our patronage.

As far as pocket size, there are pros who want as little to do with tables 1& 6 at Hard Times as possible. I watched Roberto Gomez, of the Philipines, back off the shot at the lower right hand pocket of table 6 at least 3 times. He had warmed up on the table and the pocket drove him nuts.

 

[ironman]

Until a pro is breaking and running every rack in a tournament with 4 1/2" pockets, why should they play on smaller pockets? Or even use slower cloth?

i think this is a very valid point. There are few events with winner break anymore and fewer mullitpile racks being run as in the old days. With the alternateing break, players are relying on others missing or making mistakes and there seems to be plentyof that going on.
Why try and trun tables into snooker tables?

 

[Slh]

Re-read what you wrote. It doesn't make sense. You say the reason they aren't running 10 racks is because of the break, which is luck, which is why it's too easy. How is it easy if they aren't running 10 racks?

I think the MAIN point in all of this is that the pros are running racks too easily. Well, that's because they're ****ing great at what they do. And this really only goes for 9 and 10 ball. And what's wrong with seeing a pro run racks?? It's amazing. And just because they make it look easy doesn't mean it is. It takes huge amounts of stamina, high levels of focus, and extreme determination. If everyone in the world was running 10 racks in a row, sure, tables are too easy. But just because a handful of pros can run out like nothing simply proves their mastery. If they want a bigger challenge, tell them to take up biliards or snooker.

Furthermore, my argument about pro sports is about how the equipment doesn't change. You don't see the NBA making hoops higher or tighter simply because a few pros can get 60+ points per game. You don't see strike zones in baseball getting smaller because the pitchers are so accurate.

Your argument about those athletes not being able to do anything to their opponent is also falsely based. Look at golf! You can't shark your opponent. Yet the holes are the same size.

because as I said there is a lot of luck on the break. You can make a ball and stop the cueball on the middle of table but if you have a shot or not is primarly luck. Very often you break perfectly and you have to push-out, or kick, or you can even scratch because the cb was kicked in...
Why in tournament matches pros are running 2-3 racks of 10 ball and then in pratice ( I agree the pressure is not the same) they ran a lot of racks? Because playing the ghost with bih after the break you are decreasing the luck required on the break. Yes, there is chance of having to deal with clusters or tricky balls, but you have a shot on the lowest numbered ball. The only reason why pros are not running huge packages on the 9ft diamond is only because the luck plays a huge factor. Example: in the 1999 WPC the table ( a brunswick) was breaking easily, in fact Reyes run a 9 pack in the semifinal against Bustamante, Francisco run a 3 pack before and some other players run a 5 or 6 pack ( I don't remember who were).
A friend of mine run 9 racks of 9 ball with bih. The table has a little bigger pocket than 4,5in but the cloth was very old. This means that if an amateur who is for sure not a world class player ( even if he is very good) can run a 9 pack what the pros can do?

 

[topcat1953]

I am against the use of 10 foot tables for anything other than a novelty.

Tennis courts and bowling lanes are all produced at the same dimensions. The same could be true for all pool tables. No matter where one would go, the tables would be the same dimensions with the same pocket size.

We should not forget that it is in the pool room where the game is learned and most competiton begins. A 5 inch pocket may be too soft for competition, but perhaps not so for social play. Then again, is a 4.5 inch pocket really necessary for the best players? Or is there a happy medium?

A pocket with a 4.75 inch opening that tapers back to 4.5 is really still challenging to the very best players and easy enough for the novice to slip a few in the hole. There could easily be a standard pocket that all table manufacturers would have to abide to in the building of the 9 foot tables. Even the Bar Boxes and home 8 footers could have the same pocket.

The pool room is the heart and soul of our sport and making a standard, consistent instrument on with which to play on, can only be of benefit to the industry.

We all want more money in our Sport. We all want more exposure. Making pockets tighter and tables bigger to accomodate the 1% is not the answer and will not get us what we want.

Personally, the Pros can want to shoot into 2 3/8 inch holes if they want and I would probably watch them do it. But, is that what is best for the overall interest in the Sport?