Well Rounded or Confusion?
- Thread starter 1ab
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I've seen 2 top pros who set up practice tables to most closely duplicate tour equipment. So I would argue that practice on a table similar to the one you must perform well on is a good thing and time spent on different or tougher equipment is less useful.
I'm also a proponent of playing different games though to round out skills. One pocket for speed and banking, 3 cushion for kicks etc... As I think about it now, these two views seem to contradict one another.
I like your question
I'm also a proponent of playing different games though to round out skills. One pocket for speed and banking, 3 cushion for kicks etc... As I think about it now, these two views seem to contradict one another.
I like your question
Banks
Banned
Come on down to the bar and play some on the Valley.. or we can go somewhere else and hit up a Diamond barbox.. or we can go play some on a GCI with funky pockets.. or..
You tell me. Would you rather be a one-trick pony or a have a bag full of tricks? I'd rather be able to walk in anywhere and play anything. I'm still a little iffy on 9s since I haven't spend too much time on them in the last 8 or 9 months, but once I do I'll be comfortable on about anything.
Summary: Helps.
You tell me. Would you rather be a one-trick pony or a have a bag full of tricks? I'd rather be able to walk in anywhere and play anything. I'm still a little iffy on 9s since I haven't spend too much time on them in the last 8 or 9 months, but once I do I'll be comfortable on about anything.
Summary: Helps.
If you only play on one table brand with one type of cloth and rails, it will hurt.
Since the chances of that are almost 0, you are better off playing on different equipment.
If you know that you will be in a tournament that uses a certain type of setup, practice on that at that point for a while. But don't just play on a single table all the time you play.
For example, my son and I play in a league that uses furniture style tables with leather pockets, almost all the tables have quirks, some pop out balls if you hit them center pocket clean due to the pockets being loose, some rattle shots with draw, so you need to play on several tables to get the hang of how to play on them. We also play in tournamens on Gold Crown tables, so we need to play some on those as the speeds and rails react differently, AND his Jr Nationals in Vegas will be on Diamond tables, so we have someone who has a Diamond table at home that we visit a few times a month to practice on that style of table so he knows how the pockets take shots and how the rails play.
My nine ball league plays on valleys. My eight ball league plays at a place with three eight footers and three nine footers. At that same room I like to play straight pool on the nines. Last week I played straight pool on a nine and played my eight ball match on an eight and couldn't be touched.
I think I'm gonna go play some ten ball on a diamond bar box
I think I'm gonna go play some ten ball on a diamond bar box
The true answer to your question is: It won't hurt a thing. Good players are equally adept at playing the small, medium, and large tables. You can be to. 
I learned that you need to learn to play and adjust to different conditions if you want to be a great player. I used to play almost exclusively at my local hall, and could play lights out on my usual table, but take me to another place where the cloth is slower/faster, table is higher/lower, lighting is different, rails bank short/long, etc. and I would struggle a lot. I used to make excuses and blame the fact that the conditions were crappy, etc, but I realized that would never be a good player until I could go into someone's place and beat them on their own table.
Now, I try to practice at different places, and although it still takes a little time, I can usually get the speed and rails down after a few racks. A couple of places have brought in full-sized snooker tables as well and I try to get on them whenever I can and it's improved my accuracy a lot.
Vic
Now, I try to practice at different places, and although it still takes a little time, I can usually get the speed and rails down after a few racks. A couple of places have brought in full-sized snooker tables as well and I try to get on them whenever I can and it's improved my accuracy a lot.
Vic
Definitely must practice on different equipment, it can expose holes in your game. Fast cloth makes you realize how important it is to develop a soft touch so you don't end up shooting long all the time. Tight pockets make you bear down and stay on the right side of the ball. Slow cloth exposes wobbles in your stroke that come out when you're straining to hit the ball hard. Small tables force you to take intelligent safe routes with your cue ball to minimize all risk of getting hooked.
I wouldn't focus too much on one particular table type, even the pros aren't spending 100% of the their time on diamond 9 footers.
I wouldn't focus too much on one particular table type, even the pros aren't spending 100% of the their time on diamond 9 footers.
When I installed a table for practice at home I chose an 8 foot. It plays fast. I find it helps because I have little adjustment needed to go to 9 foot or 7 foor.
I also like to regularly go and practice on a 9 foot diamond. Other than that I always arrive early when in competition to get a feel for the tables there. I found that putting some concious thought on the table speed allows me to adjust faster.
I also like to regularly go and practice on a 9 foot diamond. Other than that I always arrive early when in competition to get a feel for the tables there. I found that putting some concious thought on the table speed allows me to adjust faster.