TAR Pockets

Exactly. This is NOT a bucket table. This is a standard Diamond. There's only a handful of players in the world who can make it look that easy. That's a compliment to SVB, not an indictment of the table.

Yes, He just played that good
He worked to get where he's at, let him enjoy it.
Shane is not going to play that strong everytime he steps to the table. He was just on fire this weekend
Let the rest of the pool world catch up
 
It's not the tabe. MD couldn't fire back at Shane when he had his chances. It was the match up not the table. Put Orcullo or Archer against SVB on this table & it is much more entertaining & competitive. I like the pockets like this & like to see these guys hit that gear.

Watching Mike in his chair spoke volumes as to what negativity was running through him. Yeah, no one likes getting spanked, but even early on - match still in the balance - it was head holding and head shaking ad naseum.
 
...At least in the previous matches, Shane had to aim. This one he was sleepwalking through it. It looked like practice.

He was freewheeling because he was playing well and had a huge lead to work with. Not because the table was easy. Watch the beginning and the intenseness on his face when MD is running his 3 after he lets him in on the first ball. He's ready to jump out of his chair.

MD was so intense during his initial racks. He gave everything he he had and SVB left him in the dust. He saw this and knew he could not compete. The rest was just MD becoming unglued. We have all been there.

Nick
 
... My point is the game needs consistency. The cup size does not change in golf. The hoop size does not change in basketball. The plate size does not change in baseball. The bowling ball & pin size & configuration do not change in bowling.

When the general public plays any of those games or sports for recreation they know they are trying to play a very similiar version of the pro game. I know it's not exactly the same but please get my point. ...

I get your point. But you well know that the conditions are often quite different in golf during a top pro event versus a normal day for amateurs on the same course -- tees pushed back, fairways narrowed, rough grown longer, greens mowed shorter, cup placed in tougher positions. The cup size is the same, but the course setup is quite different.

For pool, I'm pretty neutral on this issue. I enjoy seeing matches under very tough conditions as well as under "normal" pro conditions. And I don't think the inconsistencies in table set-ups have much to do with "why the general public does not get into pool." I imagine the general public is unaware of the differences.
 
Earl could run huge packs on that table. It would be sick. I liked the pocket size this time better to watch and play on.
 
ed
I get your point. But you well know that the conditions are often quite different in golf during a top pro event versus a normal day for amateurs on the same course -- tees pushed back, fairways narrowed, rough grown longer, greens mowed shorter, cup placed in tougher positions. The cup size is the same, but the course setup is quite different.

For pool, I'm pretty neutral on this issue. I enjoy seeing matches under very tough conditions as well as under "normal" pro conditions. And I don't think the inconsistencies in table set-ups have much to do with "why the general public does not get into pool." I imagine the general public is unaware of the differences.

Sir,

I know what you're saying, I have played the Monday after the Pro Golf Tournament at English Turn in New Orleans a couple of times & enjoyed it very much because the course was in near pristine condition. The only thing I would not like is playing from the back tees which naturally I did not do at my age.

I'm not really concerned with the TAR table. That's completely up to them & what they want to do for their events.

But, if we are going to use a table & pocket size to gauge pro players' ability, the answer is simple. The table is the same for both players.

If we want to neutralize the break we can have a designated breaker that breaks for both parties. I guess one could accuse the breaker of favoritism or of being bought off. How about a machine that breaks at a set speed that the player only aligns & then pushes the launch button.

How about the opponent breaks for the player to take the table regardless of balls made or not. Naturally legal break rules would need to apply. Turn the break into a defensive shot.

The general pocket size issue is one of pro vs amatuer & money. Room owners need tables for the pool playing public vs tight tables for pros.

I'm just saying some standards would be a step in the right direction. A certain size table with a certain size pocket is the official pro qualifying table. Anything else is an amatuer table. PS no shims allowed, pure rails only.

I'm sure it can be figured out. x size table must have y size pockets or less to qualify as a pro table, again no shims. x minus 1 size table must have y minus 1/z or less size pockets to be a pro table.

Pool has to take a first step in the right direction if it ever wants to become anything even close to a respected game. I know it will not be easy because it will cost money. The littles girl needs a new pair of shoes. She now wants to be consider a grown woman. Perhaps a higher heeled shoe is in order to lift her up & make it apparent that she not a little orphan girl any longer.

Again, JMHO.

Regards to You, Sir &
 
Last edited:
It's not the tabe. MD couldn't fire back at Shane when he had his chances. It was the match up not the table. Put Orcullo or Archer against SVB on this table & it is much more entertaining & competitive. I like the pockets like this & like to see these guys hit that gear.

Exactly, it only because boring because MD could not fire back when given the chance. Which will of course make the other player start to free stroke.

If you analyze the match - it's not about just the pocketing of balls - it's about how to stay consistent and in that zone. Shane stayed focused no matter what happened - MD was too busy playing with the music and throwing fits when Shane would get a roll or two.
 
He was freewheeling because he was playing well and had a huge lead to work with. Not because the table was easy. Watch the beginning and the intenseness on his face when MD is running his 3 after he lets him in on the first ball. He's ready to jump out of his chair.

MD was so intense during his initial racks. He gave everything he he had and SVB left him in the dust. He saw this and knew he could not compete. The rest was just MD becoming unglued. We have all been there.

Nick

Well put - It seemed that MD came out of the gate and looked at Shane to see if he was rattled. Shane responded - MD had chances to but did not. I rather watch pool like this because it teaches you how mentally, by watching the actions and reactions of the players, to approach the game.

One thing is for sure - Shane's mental game is elite.
 
One thing is for sure - Shane's mental game is elite.

When he's winning. I've seen plenty of times when he's down and he has that give up look when he's slumped over in his chair. He still handles it better than most though, and he'll only get better with time.

As for Shane's break, yeah it's great, but it wasn't the deciding factor. I could have broken for Shane, and he still would've won.
 
When he's winning. I've seen plenty of times when he's down and he has that give up look when he's slumped over in his chair. He still handles it better than most though, and he'll only get better with time.

As for Shane's break, yeah it's great, but it wasn't the deciding factor. I could have broken for Shane, and he still would've won.

Unless you can break and sink 2-3 balls on a 10 ball break and line up the 1 an inch from a pocket with the cueball 3 feet from it, he may not have won. The break was huge here, Shane had lots of easy layouts after the break, not much to do for even an A or B player. If Shane broke for an A player, that A player could probably beat many "Pro" players.

Really the thing that lost the second set for Mike was him missing a straight shot on a ball when it was 5-6 or something. Then Shane won that game, put a few more together, and you can't catch up.
 
I voted to keep the tighter pockets on the TAR table....And after talking with Mike at DCC, he felt he had a greater advantage with the tight pockets! Had they been used, Mike would have lost by an even greater margin IMO.

But what I would like to know is this...How many people purchased TAR 31 and how many of those voted in Justin's 'should the rails stay or go' thread. Because I am thinking LOTS of people voted who have never watched a TAR match, didn't purchase TAR 31, and will most likely not purchase the next one either, thus skewing the results of the final tally. I am an avid TAR ppv purchaser and supporter who feels others like me possibly should have a louder voice.

Someone start a poll...

I partly agree with you. I did buy the stream. In fact, I buy the stream every time except for the times that I'm working nights. I prefer the 4 1/8" pockets. This is the pocket size that I play on at home.

In a world filled with an overabundance of pool stream viewers, I wish he would take our advice. But, what I really want is for Justin to do whatever he can to increase the number of viewers so he can stay in business and keep suppling my pool addiction.
 
Well, it was a heck of a lot more exciting than watching Oscar D. and Jason Klatt duke it out for almost three hours in a 9-ball race to 9 at Turning Stone last month.

Normal table + long sets + world-class talent = plenty of excitement for this spectator. The best player always emerges no matter what size pockets are used. This weekend would have ended the same with the TAR rails, the Fatboy rails, or the new Diamond rails... regardless of what Mr. Dechaine says.


the fatboy rails are available anytime TAR wants to use them
 
Back
Top