To equalize the difficulty, how tight must the pockets be on a bar table?

I am speaking in this manner:

Place the object ball at the center of a 9' table, let's say 4.25'' pockets. Place the cueball in the jaws of a corner pocket. Shoot the object ball into the opposite pocket.

Shoot the shot 500 times, and record your percentage.

Now set up the same shot on a bar table. How much of a reduction in pocket size will it take to equalize your pocketing percentage on both tables?
 
I say just under 3 1/3 inches.

What do you say they should be?

If you don't answer my question to you then why should anyone else answer your question to them?
 
it has to be drastically reduced on a bar box.
Last time I practiced that shot at a bar, I made it 99 times in a row without missing, when I went to a pool hall, on a 9 footer with triple shimmed pockets I was only able to do it 30 times without missing. It's a lot harder on a 9 footer.
That's one of the shots that I practice all the time, 4 to 5 hours straight when I get a chance and I can tell the difference right away!
 
The side pockets on a valley bar box are the tightest standard pockets compared to ball size of any western pocket billiard table...
 
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I would like to say 3.5 to 3.6

But I can't be certain.

Thanks for your opinion.

I took a 4.25 pocket & divided it by 9 & then multiplied by 7. In effect reducing it by 2/9. 9ft. minus 7ft.= 2, the difference.
4.25 / 9 = .4722222 x 7 = 3.30555555, just under 3 1/3 inches.

Does not mean that is the right formula but it's what I came up with off the top of my head, sort of a distance proportion.

I'm sure PJ will have a more correct answer.

Now what is the purpose of your question? Are you going to have a table built with those dimension pockets?
 
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when I started shooting pool a couple of years ago, I didn't know about the difference in pocket sizes and shapes. The bar where I was hanging out had a table and when it was slow I was practicing my aim and stroke by shooting a cueball frozen to the first diamond away from a pocket on a short rail directly into the side pocket(same side). Very hard shot I would tell you! It took me like three hours to make it first, and even after the percentage was very low, but when I was concentrating I could usually make it and won some money betting on that shot.
When I went to a different bar I tried to do the same thing and I made a fool of myself, because I was so sure I could make it and on a different table the shot wouldn't go at all, no matter how hard I tried it! Never made it once. and on the first table I could make it even when I moved the ball a few inches closer to the corner pocket from the first diamond.
 
If you normally chalk with Masters blue but are forced to use Masters red while at a friend's house, would you purchase a green sleeping bag or cook the meat to medium rare?
 
Come on, man!
 

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I will say this.... Valley tables are shit for pockets. Now Diamond BB tables is a different story. If a Diamond BB pockets are at 5 inches it still has a shelf that balls could hang up on so therefore the play tougher than valley tables with a smaller opening and no shelf. BUT... If you count or factor in the BB from the valley forge (diamonds) expo they play wicked tight at 4 and 1/4"!!! Which makes valley BB a complete joke...

So there is a lot of factors with BB tables... personally if Im not playing good I like to play on valley tables with a huge pocket and smile over Diamond tables even with monster pockets that spit out well hit rail shots. Just an observastion :wink:
 
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I will say this.... Valley tables are shit for pockets. Now Diamond BB tables is a different story. Even if Diamond BB are at 5 inches it still has a shelf that balls could hang up on so they play tougher than valley tables with a smaller opening and no shelf. BUT... If you count or factor in the BB from the valley forge (diamonds) expo they play wicked tight at 4 and 1/4"!!!

So there is a lot of factors with BB tables... personally if Im not playing good I look at valley tables with a huge smile over Diamond tables even with monster pockets that spit out well hit rail shots. Just an observastion :wink:

I played 4 matches on those diamond bar tables at valley forge last year, all those tables played EASIER than a Valley. You basically hit the shot soft, and you could not miss no matter how hard you tried!!!! It was almost a joke.
 
it has to be drastically reduced on a bar box.
Last time I practiced that shot at a bar, I made it 99 times in a row without missing, when I went to a pool hall, on a 9 footer with triple shimmed pockets I was only able to do it 30 times without missing. It's a lot harder on a 9 footer.
That's one of the shots that I practice all the time, 4 to 5 hours straight when I get a chance and I can tell the difference right away!

Do you gamble?
 
I played 4 matches on those diamond bar tables at valley forge last year, all those tables played EASIER than a Valley. You basically hit the shot soft, and you could not miss no matter how hard you tried!!!! It was almost a joke.

So you won Valley Forge last year? Brian.
 
I played 4 matches on those diamond bar tables at valley forge last year, all those tables played EASIER than a Valley. You basically hit the shot soft, and you could not miss no matter how hard you tried!!!! It was almost a joke.


Wasnt there last year but I was there in 2011 and those pockets were pretty tight and didnt allow sloppy hit shots. Just saying.....
 
I am speaking in this manner:

Place the object ball at the center of a 9' table, let's say 4.25'' pockets. Place the cueball in the jaws of a corner pocket. Shoot the object ball into the opposite pocket.

Shoot the shot 500 times, and record your percentage.

Now set up the same shot on a bar table. How much of a reduction in pocket size will it take to equalize your pocketing percentage on both tables?

I'll say I sorry upfront but I just can't help it.
Who gives a RATS A$$ ?????
 
sometimes. not much now, I practice now for the most part. Wanna bring my game to the next level. then ...then...

The reason I asked is if you can make 30 in a row on a triple shimmed 9 foot table you could make some serious money. I can assure you, you would get action in almost every poolroom in the country. You also said you made 99 out of a 100 on a barbox? I would go off if you could make 90 out of a 100. I would also go off on a triple shimmed gold crown if you made 25 out of 30, considering you said you have only been playing for two years, I would have to go busted on these prop bets.
 
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