the tighter pockets makes it really interesting as luck factor is minimised but I guess it ultimately depends upon preference to the players really... we'll see how this goes from now
The new TAR table - What do you think of it?
- Thread starter KoolKat9Lives
- Start date
Too tough, and I say that after watching a match played with brand new cloth and good, warm lights over the table...
Probably perfect for one-pocket, but not for 9-ball/10-ball.
Probably perfect for one-pocket, but not for 9-ball/10-ball.
Why do tables have to be gaffed? Why not just follow WPA and BCA specifications that call for a 4.5" pocket and forget about it? Everybody seems hell bent on fixing something that ain't broke. Too me, overly tight pockets take more away from the game than they give. A players ability should be dictating the type of shots they are taking, not table conditions.
Break and runs are exciting. You hear way more excited talk about how many racks a guy ran in a set than what a great safety he played. Bucket pockets are no good, but this set was tough enough. After the cloth is no longer new at least 12 shots that went during this set would have hung up.
As tough as it was, I still remember one shot near the end where Bustamante hit nearly a diamond up the rail and it still went. The table now was probably OK, but I would love to be watching and suddenly everything falls into place and a guy puts up 10 or more. With these two and slightly larger pockets, it could happen. Shane ran 7 on the tighter table and did not finish the run. Who knows what we could see.
As tough as it was, I still remember one shot near the end where Bustamante hit nearly a diamond up the rail and it still went. The table now was probably OK, but I would love to be watching and suddenly everything falls into place and a guy puts up 10 or more. With these two and slightly larger pockets, it could happen. Shane ran 7 on the tighter table and did not finish the run. Who knows what we could see.
Joe T
Well-known member
Table looked good to me as I didn't see any balls that you might think "should" have gone but didn't. Seen tables with bigger pockets not cut right and just spit out balls down the rail that were hit good , hate that.
There would have been more break n runs had they got more decent shots after the break. Now if it wears in and for some reason gets damp that might be a problem?
There would have been more break n runs had they got more decent shots after the break. Now if it wears in and for some reason gets damp that might be a problem?
I don't know anymore.
The biggest problem I see with the tight pockets isn't that the players miss too many balls. Actually Shane and Francisco both played great on the table. The problem I have with it is they both have to bear down so much more. It seems like it just slows both of the players down enough to through off their rhythm and really slow down the play of the match. I can't imagine what this table would do to some of the slower players. Maybe over time the players would get used to playing on a table this tight but only if it became more common. If there are just a handful of tables like this around then I think it will always slow the game down too much.
One other thing - these guys really weren't playing for an amount of money that would make either of them nervous. Can you imagine them playing on a table like this with 50k or 100k on the line???
The biggest problem I see with the tight pockets isn't that the players miss too many balls. Actually Shane and Francisco both played great on the table. The problem I have with it is they both have to bear down so much more. It seems like it just slows both of the players down enough to through off their rhythm and really slow down the play of the match. I can't imagine what this table would do to some of the slower players. Maybe over time the players would get used to playing on a table this tight but only if it became more common. If there are just a handful of tables like this around then I think it will always slow the game down too much.
One other thing - these guys really weren't playing for an amount of money that would make either of them nervous. Can you imagine them playing on a table like this with 50k or 100k on the line???
This table is one of the toughest tables they will ever play on, period! It's interesting to me that they keep wanting to play on it, knowing how truly tough it is. Last night even Mika said he would like to play Shane on this table. Personally I'd like to see the pockets go to 4.25", a slight increase of 1/8 inch. Enough to make a difference, believe me.
To play well on this table, you MUST play close position. Long shots are deadly! The best player is the player who controls the cue ball the best, not the best breaker or the best shot maker. I like Dennis O. on this table over almost anyone. Of course, Yang in stroke would be a monster here also. JMHO as always. :wink:
P.S. Parica in his prime would have been unbeatable on a table like this. Of course he was anyway!
To play well on this table, you MUST play close position. Long shots are deadly! The best player is the player who controls the cue ball the best, not the best breaker or the best shot maker. I like Dennis O. on this table over almost anyone. Of course, Yang in stroke would be a monster here also. JMHO as always. :wink:
P.S. Parica in his prime would have been unbeatable on a table like this. Of course he was anyway!
20K is a serious bet for both of them. Would they play any different if the bet had been 50K? Doubtful. Both of them have played for bigger money before.
P.S. As great as Shane is, he will lose sometimes. It's inevitable. NO ONE can fade the best players in the world day after day and keep beating them. His feat of winning seven straight money games in the Philippines last year is remarkable!
These are two of the best players on the planet.
They played on arguably one of the toughest tables on the planet.
They played 'call shot', eliminating the two-way 'safety valve' alternative ball pocketing option.
The TAR matches are a real treat for the audience of die-hard pool fans.
Personally, I like seeing the way these top players respect and deal with the tough table. Every shot is critical. Every shot requires focus. Every shot has to be respected. It is a different game on this table.
I like it. I like seeing these guys adapt to the playing conditions and making shot, shape and safety selections that we might not expect under easier conditions. It's educational to watch the best players dial down their firepower to a level that the table will accept.
Don't change a thing.
To see top players struggle a little in these conditions is to be expected. These guys are crazy good. The table demands their concentration on every shot. That's good too.
If it were an easy table-I probably wouldn't pay to watch.
-just my take on it
-Thank you TAR for making this happen
They played on arguably one of the toughest tables on the planet.
They played 'call shot', eliminating the two-way 'safety valve' alternative ball pocketing option.
The TAR matches are a real treat for the audience of die-hard pool fans.
Personally, I like seeing the way these top players respect and deal with the tough table. Every shot is critical. Every shot requires focus. Every shot has to be respected. It is a different game on this table.
I like it. I like seeing these guys adapt to the playing conditions and making shot, shape and safety selections that we might not expect under easier conditions. It's educational to watch the best players dial down their firepower to a level that the table will accept.
Don't change a thing.
To see top players struggle a little in these conditions is to be expected. These guys are crazy good. The table demands their concentration on every shot. That's good too.
If it were an easy table-I probably wouldn't pay to watch.
-just my take on it
-Thank you TAR for making this happen
I like to watch those guys run racks and not duck every hard shot.