Sry, but I'm struggling with this. Maybe because I'm a player, and I promote those developing their games to aim to cheat pockets. Meaning, don't just focus on dropping the OB but pick a portion of pocket in which it will enter. Regardless if you need that level of accuracy or not. Cheating pockets isn't about +/- of what drops. It's literally abandoning the the safety margin on aim to generate carom angle.
Why the Best Players Want Tight Pockets
- Thread starter brunswick1901
- Start date
I'm just saying for most pocketing, the ball will stay on whatever line it's moving on. IOW you can learn to shoot the ball along any line you need. Granted you will have much less rail to fudge against but that's a part of pool I can do without.
Well seeing as you don't play, your concern is moot. For those of us that do. There's a point in development wherein a player needs to forgot about leaning on +/- and instead focus on potting accuracy. By accuracy I don't mean successfully dropping a ball, but consciously picking a portion of the opening and putting the OB there. What this ends up translating to is the ability to comfortably "cheat" pockets for sake of generating carom angles, and increases their odds of success on difficult potting angles when added +/- is beneficial.
This mindset isn't a day one thing. More so for those who have already dialed in +/- potting and have a strong handle on moving the CB around.
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Where are these 15" pockets you speak off? I need them!
Player/not player has nothing to do with pocketing.
Pocketing is a function of ball line; something that can be determined in preshot and aside from the line should pass _through_ the pocket, has little to do with it.
I'm talking about no error lines. The plus and minus is not an error zone. It's merely a deviation from ideal as required. IOW if your default landing is lacking, then you shoot an acceptable deviant of the original intention.
The key is no error lines. Precision.
Well players care and understand the methodology. Non-players apparently have a hard time grasping it.
Lol... error = deviation.
It's a rarity to see someone contradict themselves in neighbouring sentences like that. Good job.
The deviation is from the ideal line, and done deliberately. It's not an error and certainly more precise than just cheating the pocket. For instance, with common technique, landing "straight in" will stymie many players and result in a shift in priorities to simply make the ball. Those versed in tight pockets may be able play through many of those straight ins, running the ball forward with relatively low risk. There's lots of room for refinement in pool.
If I look back 25-30 years ago, I recall how the late George "Ginky" San Souci used to back me in action from time to time at Chelsea Billiards in Manhattan, New York. I was no great player, just a strong amateur, and position play and defense were, by far, my strongest suits. Pocketing the balls was never my greatest strength.
When he backed me, Ginky insisted that I gamble on tight equipment only, and I questioned him "Why, as I'm not an especially straight shooter, do you want me gambling on the tight tables?" His answer amounted to this: "playing on tight tables greatly increases the rewards of good position play and good defense, and those are your greatest skills." Turns out he was right, and he made money backing me against players I didn't always expect to beat.
In solo practice, tight equipment helps you learn to stay down on your shot better and helps with your concentration. Against an opponent, however, my answer to "why do strong players want tight pockets?" is that they get more value out of their advantages in position play and defense.
When he backed me, Ginky insisted that I gamble on tight equipment only, and I questioned him "Why, as I'm not an especially straight shooter, do you want me gambling on the tight tables?" His answer amounted to this: "playing on tight tables greatly increases the rewards of good position play and good defense, and those are your greatest skills." Turns out he was right, and he made money backing me against players I didn't always expect to beat.
In solo practice, tight equipment helps you learn to stay down on your shot better and helps with your concentration. Against an opponent, however, my answer to "why do strong players want tight pockets?" is that they get more value out of their advantages in position play and defense.