I have an 8' table and was wondering what pocket size you guys would suggest. What do you use to practice with?
What is the best size pockets for a home table?
- Thread starter Taylor_Lee09
- Start date
It varies depending on the situation. If you are a casual player who has family and friends over to play casually you may want standard 5+ inch pockets.
If you play in tournaments, or just want to improve your game, you might benefit from pro cut 4.5" pockets. That way if you play in a tournament that has tight pockets you will be used to them. If the tournament has looser pockets then they will feel slightly more forgiving, which is good.
I wouldn't go any smaller than 4.5" personally. There comes a point where it will no longer be helping your game, but could even be detrimental.
If you play in tournaments, or just want to improve your game, you might benefit from pro cut 4.5" pockets. That way if you play in a tournament that has tight pockets you will be used to them. If the tournament has looser pockets then they will feel slightly more forgiving, which is good.
I wouldn't go any smaller than 4.5" personally. There comes a point where it will no longer be helping your game, but could even be detrimental.
No bigger than 4.5 inch pockets. Any bigger is just firing into buckets on an 8ft table. That's just MHO, everyone has their own personal preference. Just go with something you are comfortable with, just a little tighter to help your game. If you are comfortable shooting on it, it is time to go tighter. Just like sex.... the tighter the better, hoe this doesn't offend any ladies 
Both Chin0 and s0lidz are right...as a matter of fact....anything that anyone posts on the subject is probably right. It all comes down to what you're goal is with your practice.
Years ago we'd play 9 ball on a 10' snooker table for hours to get warmed up for games on a standard Gold Crown.
In my opinion, which will be as right as those before me and after me, is this..
If you're practicing to play on 5" pockets in your local room...dial yours in for 4.5". If you're local room has 4.5" pockets...go a bit tighter. If in practice you can hit center pocket on a tighter table it'll be like throwing quarters in a pond after a while.
Years ago we'd play 9 ball on a 10' snooker table for hours to get warmed up for games on a standard Gold Crown.
In my opinion, which will be as right as those before me and after me, is this..
If you're practicing to play on 5" pockets in your local room...dial yours in for 4.5". If you're local room has 4.5" pockets...go a bit tighter. If in practice you can hit center pocket on a tighter table it'll be like throwing quarters in a pond after a while.
I'm having a GC4c set up and am going with 4 3/8" in the corners. I wanted pockets less than two balls but not as tight as some guys have on their set ups. It does depend on what the table is for. In my case, it is a practice table and the tighter pockets will help me become more precise so when I play a match or in a tournament its is beneficial. Bear in mind though that this depends on where you compete. The tournaments I look to play in are primarily at two pool halls, both of which have pockets cut tighter than 2 balls at the mouth. So it would definitely be difficult for me to transition to those tables if my own practice table was 4.5" or bigger.
I also want to play some one-hole on it so again, I wanted somewhat tighter pockets. However, I also play a good amount of straight pool, so anything tighter (like 4.25 and under) and the table wouldn't play right for 14.1. To play straight pool properly I believe you do need to be able to cheat the pockets a little on certain shots. Plus, it is fun to run a few racks, something that can be frustrating to accomplish on 4" pockets.
So I settled on 4 3/8". I haven't yet heard anyone that would consider these to be buckets. :wink:
I also want to play some one-hole on it so again, I wanted somewhat tighter pockets. However, I also play a good amount of straight pool, so anything tighter (like 4.25 and under) and the table wouldn't play right for 14.1. To play straight pool properly I believe you do need to be able to cheat the pockets a little on certain shots. Plus, it is fun to run a few racks, something that can be frustrating to accomplish on 4" pockets.
So I settled on 4 3/8". I haven't yet heard anyone that would consider these to be buckets. :wink:
4.75" - no point killing yourself at home by missing a bunch
I wish Oscar wasn't such a celebrity now.. so he could set up my table and make the pockets like his at home.. j/k Oscar, I don't want to shoot a ball down the rail just to have it wedge between the points :wink:
If I were setting one up, I'd go with a tight 4" pocket for 9-10 ball. 4 3/8-4.5 for one pocket/straight pool lovers, and 5" for all the people in Texas(everything's bigger in Texas..lol)
If I were setting one up, I'd go with a tight 4" pocket for 9-10 ball. 4 3/8-4.5 for one pocket/straight pool lovers, and 5" for all the people in Texas(everything's bigger in Texas..lol)
4.5 would probably be best.
You could be like Johnny Archer and have 3 7/8 inch pockets I believe I heard somewhere his home table has pockets that small
You could be like Johnny Archer and have 3 7/8 inch pockets I believe I heard somewhere his home table has pockets that small