Here's one of my favorite 14.1 matches. Crane running 150 and out to win the 1966 US Open:
Tight Pockets
- Thread starter peppersauce
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Here's one of my favorite 14.1 matches. Crane running 150 and out to win the 1966 US Open:
Good question--although I don't see anyone in the 1969 article casting doubt on his claim (only his attitude). I played on the Big Bertha table (10 foot Kling) that hosted many world championships in the pre-WW2 years and I don't think its pockets have been modified. I'm a terrible player so it's pockets seemed microscopic, but I can't say they were 4 inches. I'll pay more attention on my next visit.
(these are images from the web)
Beautiful table, where is this?
I've played on that. Raytown Rec in KC. Cool table. Don Brink was a neat guy and a really good 3c player.
Great match. I’ve seen it before, but had to go back and watch again since you posted it. I love how visibly nervous Crane is towards the end of the run.
is there any way to know if this match was played with clay balls or plastic balls?
Is this table still there? It’s not super close to me, but it’s close enough that I might take drive and spend a day playing on it. It’s been a long time since I spent any time on a 10 footer, and the Kling in the pictures is beautiful.
I
I don't know the status of the room or the table currently, but as of early last year it was still there. I suggest calling before you make a trip.
www.kansascitymag.com
I don't know the status of the room or the table currently, but as of early last year it was still there. I suggest calling before you make a trip.
This century-old pool table is the most coveted in KC
Every day the residents of Raytown walk by Raytown Recreation without knowing the piece of history that sits right below their feet. Behind an unassuming door that you can miss if you blink is a subterranean pool hall that is the home to the legendary “Big Bertha.” Big Bertha is one of the...
www.kansascitymag.com
The clay balls were lousy, on the other hand they were the standard of the time! I found an old place with five by tens and clay balls, played there every time I got a chance. The owner kept each set of balls matched with one table. To this day I remember the seven ball was very bad, set up for an easy shot and power that puppy in! The four ball was about half as bad as the seven and the rest of the balls played pretty close to the same.
I wouldn't mind slower cloth and cushions but I have to say I would hate giving up phenolic balls. I have played enough snooker that I don't care what pockets are tightened to.
I ended up with two sets of the roughly $30 plastic pool balls. Put them away as soon as my phenolic balls got here. I keep meaning to give them another try and see if they are really that bad. I will some day too, well maybe ... Good pool balls to play with are one of the inalienable rights of modern man!
Hu
If tight pockets are what your looking for, Sand Castle Billiards in Edison NJ has plenty !
I have watched this many times. The wraparound shot to start the run is amazing!
-dj
Yes! Looked like something you’d set up for a movie, lol. Great shot.
Tight pockets in our family go back a long time:
On my dads side: My Great Grand Father had them, My Grandfather had them and then of course my dad had them too. It was pretty much the same story on my moms side of the family too. It served them well.
On my dads side: My Great Grand Father had them, My Grandfather had them and then of course my dad had them too. It was pretty much the same story on my moms side of the family too. It served them well.
I visited Raytown Rec and the hall is open and the 10-ft table (big bertha) is still there. It was just reclothed and looked great. I didn't interrupt the 1P game for a precise measurement, but the pockets looked like 4.5in and not 4in.