What's up with my table?

Spikestta

Spikestta

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About a year ago I purchase a used but in super clean shape GC3 table. I figured while I had it apart I would change the cloth. I mentioned to the mechanic check out the rails and see if they need replacing. He said they looked fine it wasn't necessary. The problem I'm having is when I shoot the ball anywhere from medium to hard and I'm not dead center the ball gets rattled and I don't make the shot. If it hits any part of the inside cushion the ball rattles and leaves hanger or comes out completely. It's driving me nuts. The table plays great at medium to slow speeds but hard shots need to be perfect. Is this a rail issue? Is this common on other GC? Thanks
 
Are you talking mostly about shots along the rail? I have a GCII and in its original configuration anything I shot with speed down the rail would rattle and hang or even kick back out. I had the pockets tightened, new Artemis cushions installed, sub-rails modified, and pocket openings changed to current specs. I still rattle a ball shot too hard if the shot is not perfect but it is better than it was. I would say it plays very similar to a Diamond right now. It will never play like a Valley because of the depth of the pocket shelf.
 
It really doesn't matter if it's down the rail or not. Basically if I shoot a shot with authority from anywhere and it's not perfect and it just touches any part of the rail it seems to rattle and not go in. I never had any issue with any balls being rejected from the pockets. Just the rattle issue. Thanks
 
In my opinion that is how a table should play.

If you want everything to fall, either work on your accuracy or trade up to a Dynamo bar box with 5.25 inch corner pockets. ;)
 
Spikestta said:
It really doesn't matter if it's down the rail or not. Basically if I shoot a shot with authority from anywhere and it's not perfect and it just touches any part of the rail it seems to rattle and not go in. I never had any issue with any balls being rejected from the pockets. Just the rattle issue. Thanks
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As Tony stated, the majority of players would suggest that this is how a table is supposed to play.
 
I was thinking the same thing, nothing worse than playing on some guys home table where every shot is sucked into a bucket regardless of how well it's hit. My table rejects a few shots now and then but I blame myself more than the table. It's not like a properly struck ball wont go in. I think what you have there is a table playing the way it should.
 
bradsh98 said:
As Tony stated, the majority of players would suggest that this is how a table is supposed to play.
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Ditto....mine is a rattling SOB! But I learned how to shoot on it. I agree....that's the way its supposed to be. You've got a good one!
 
I have learned to play many, many shots at pocket speed to prevent this issue. When my stroke gets better & I gain confidence I will then shoot a spot shot with authority but right now I am more likely to rattle that shot. Also, as more and more Diamonds replace the Valleys this will be something that should give you an advantage over players who mainly play on Valleys. If you clip a rail on the way in on a Diamond you will rattle or even have the shot rejected where on a Valley you can hit the rail 6" before the pocket and still have it drop. "Bank" shots dont work so well on Diamonds.
 
I guess I'm the problem then. When I was young teen I practically grew up in a pool hall triangle and playboy Billiards in brooklyn ny and I was pretty decent player. I stopped playing regularly and really haven't played much in last 20 years but I never lost the passion to play and always said one day I'm getting my own table. Now I have my own table and I don't remember the pockets rattling my shots out that much. My brother in law says the table plays great. I guess it's easier to blame the table than myself. I'll try and adjust my game to the table see if that helps. Thanks
 
Spikestta said:
I guess I'm the problem then. When I was young teen I practically grew up in a pool hall triangle and playboy Billiards in brooklyn ny and I was pretty decent player. I stopped playing regularly and really haven't played much in last 20 years but I never lost the passion to play and always said one day I'm getting my own table. Now I have my own table and I don't remember the pockets rattling my shots out that much. My brother in law says the table plays great. I guess it's easier to blame the table than myself. I'll try and adjust my game to the table see if that helps. Thanks
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I played some pool in my early teens. I just started playing about 2 1/2 years ago after almost 35 years of absence. I seem to remember being much better back then than I am now. I am pretty sure sure I wasnt nearly as good back then as I thought I was. Then of course only 2 years ago I thought I made a huge mistake buying my Gold Crown because it seemed like a 9' table was too big for me to play on, now I love it and it does not seem big anymore, just a regular table. :eek:
 
Pockets.

Post some pictures of your pockets, if possible maybe even a video of a couple shots that rattle, how do the pockets handle shots fired down the rail?
 
Pockets

I have done allot of research on pockets in the past month or so, as I just (this weekend) finished my first ever rail extensions. Sounds like your pocket angle might be a bit wide. Brunswick are usually 142 degrees, but yours may be more, less, or a mix of both. Do all your pockets rattle? Are some worse than others? I set my pocket angle to 141 degrees, haven't put cloth on them yet, install on the table and test shots coming soon. I started my first thread as well on here "first trip to Machanicsville" in the main forum. That thread probably ought to be here but like I said I am new to this. Live and learn! If it is the angel, you could probably remove the cloth from the cushions, and change the angle 1 or 2 degrees with a belt sander, then re-cloth them. This may make it play way too easy though depending on the size of the pocket openings. Note I am not a skilled mechanic, just starting to learn how many more possibilities there are over just changing the cloth on a table.
 
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