Were playing conditions tougher in Mosconi's era or now?
I seem to remember hearing on a Grady mathews instructional(not sure which one, I have them all) that the corner pockets in Mosconi's era were a much bigger 5" wide as compared to the 4 1/2 inch standard(unshimmed) size of today.
I also remember Grady saying that they used what he referred to as "Mud Balls".
Why he called them Mud balls I don't know, however, they are different from todays plastic composistion balls.
I do remember him saying they were easier to play with as well, with the exception that on breakout shots (in 14.1) that they didn't spread open the pack as well.
Thirdly(I'm not sure on this point) I THINK, i remember him saying that Mosconi either played or made his legendary high run out on an 8 footer.
Was it an 8 footer or a 5x10 footer? does anyone Know.
Summing things up, Grady goes on to say that conditions were much easier(eg. wider pockets) for the players then ,compared to today with shimmed pockets, plastic balls etc.
If anyone can elaborate on the above, much appreciated, because there are those who think that conditions were tougher for the oldtimers. It's all got me curious....LOL
RJ
ps.Grady also said that the legends of the past( eg.mosconi,greenleaf,lassiter etc) were all great players and would be competitive today, however, he said the players of today (in general)aremuch more talented and that those legends of pool wouldn't have dominated today ,like the did then.
Being that Grady has lived through both yesterday and todays era's, I find his observarions intresting and perhaps with some merit.
I seem to remember hearing on a Grady mathews instructional(not sure which one, I have them all) that the corner pockets in Mosconi's era were a much bigger 5" wide as compared to the 4 1/2 inch standard(unshimmed) size of today.
I also remember Grady saying that they used what he referred to as "Mud Balls".
Why he called them Mud balls I don't know, however, they are different from todays plastic composistion balls.
I do remember him saying they were easier to play with as well, with the exception that on breakout shots (in 14.1) that they didn't spread open the pack as well.
Thirdly(I'm not sure on this point) I THINK, i remember him saying that Mosconi either played or made his legendary high run out on an 8 footer.
Was it an 8 footer or a 5x10 footer? does anyone Know.
Summing things up, Grady goes on to say that conditions were much easier(eg. wider pockets) for the players then ,compared to today with shimmed pockets, plastic balls etc.
If anyone can elaborate on the above, much appreciated, because there are those who think that conditions were tougher for the oldtimers. It's all got me curious....LOL
RJ
ps.Grady also said that the legends of the past( eg.mosconi,greenleaf,lassiter etc) were all great players and would be competitive today, however, he said the players of today (in general)aremuch more talented and that those legends of pool wouldn't have dominated today ,like the did then.
Being that Grady has lived through both yesterday and todays era's, I find his observarions intresting and perhaps with some merit.
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