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Increasing Pocket Size.

  • 08-01-2008 04:36PM
    #1
    ArmaniJeanss
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,890 ✭✭✭✭


    I have one of these EjRiley pool tables.
    http://www.ejriley.ie/pool/clubslate.htm

    Its perfect except that the pockets are in my opinion ridiculously tight (much tighter than any pub pool table I've ever played on).

    Basically its almost impossible to pot a ball down a cushion if its played any stronger than dead weight. Turns most games into an exercise in who can cover the most pockets and stops freeflowing pool

    I'm fairly sure that theres no solution for this other than getting a smaller ballset, but ideally I'd like to increase the pocket size.

    I'm tilting at windmills a bit here, but anyone any miracle solutions?

    AJ


Comments

  • #2
    laoisfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,298 ✭✭✭laoisfan


    hmm not sure about increasing the pocket size, to be honest i have never heard of it being done.

    in the place i work in we have one of these pool tables and you are right....the pockets are very tight!!

    sorry i cannot be of more help!

    --laoisfan


  • #3
    bigpad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭bigpad


    I've never heard of pockets on a pool table being widened. How can they be, when the cups are plastic? The Riley tables are grand for a bar but not what you want for home play, as the pockets are not designed to take a hard shot.

    I had a look at the image and the pockets aren't tight. They're standard size. It's the quality of the tables is the problem (and the skill of the players, maybe).

    Sell it and get yourself a Supreme!


  • #4
    ArmaniJeanss
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,890 ✭✭✭✭ArmaniJeanss


    bigpad wrote: »
    I had a look at the image and the pockets aren't tight. They're standard size. It's the quality of the tables is the problem (and the skill of the players, maybe).

    Sell it and get yourself a Supreme!

    The skill of the players prob is top class, i'm insulted :) Maybe the pockets are 'standard' size for competition pool rules but they are far tighter than anything I've ever seen on a pub pool table or a 12x6 table. Over Christmas I played some 12x6 snooker and I was knocking balls down the cushion with a bit of screwback without a problem, this is just not possible on the Riley table, the balls will always jangle in the pocket, no matter how accurate the shot.
    bigpad wrote: »
    I've never heard of pockets on a pool table being widened. How can they be, when the cups are plastic?

    I've thought of 2 ways of doing it. Placing a piece of wood in the pocket when the table is not being used, obviously the piece of wood needs to be slightly larger than the pocket so that over time it'll stretch the pocket.

    And the other more dramatic solution... Imagine a ball rolling towards a corner pocket it is on the slate then suddenly there is nothing below it and gravity takes control, lets call this point X. My possible solution is to drill around each corner pocket by maybe 1/8th of an inch in a perfect semi-circle so that pointX will be reached slightly sooner. Obviously less balls will jangle as there will be more pocket for them to fall into to.
    However I'm afraid of either damaging the slate or ending up with 4 different sized pockets.

    Thanks for the replies by the way.
    AJ


  • #5
    armchairninja
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 323 ✭✭armchairninja


    ArmaniJeanss wrote: »
    I've thought of 2 ways of doing it. Placing a piece of wood in the pocket when the table is not being used, obviously the piece of wood needs to be slightly larger than the pocket so that over time it'll stretch the pocket.

    And the other more dramatic solution... Imagine a ball rolling towards a corner pocket it is on the slate then suddenly there is nothing below it and gravity takes control, lets call this point X. My possible solution is to drill around each corner pocket by maybe 1/8th of an inch in a perfect semi-circle so that pointX will be reached slightly sooner. Obviously less balls will jangle as there will be more pocket for them to fall into to.
    However I'm afraid of either damaging the slate or ending up with 4 different sized pockets.

    AJ

    I dont think either of these solutions would be wise, firstly the cups on the table arnt your problem, from the sounds of it its the jaws, the width of the jaws is determined by the rails, as they are fitted to them, so no matter what you jam in there the only result would be damaging the rubbers on the table, because what you really want to do is shorten the rails (ANOTHER BAD IDEA).

    And i definitely wouldnt advise going at the bed of the table with a drill as it will result in a jacket edge to the pocket meaning that the balls will drop in some spots and just hop in others, no matter how hard you try you wont get them the same size either using this method imho.

    I reckon the best solution, as mentioned above, is to by a new table, possibly get a trade in on the one you have, try ringing a couple of table fitters from the phonebook, they mite be interested in a swap;)..

    anyway, thats just my two cents, hope it helps


  • #6
    gerire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,587 ✭✭✭gerire


    If you are feeling particlarl brave you could take te cushion off; Take off the staples that hold the cloth on and pear off some of the ruber with a stanley blade or something and then re-staple back on the cloth;

    Alternatevly get back onto Riley and ask them would their table fitter do it for you; Or get a new set of rubbers off Riley and ask for a generous cut on them;


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  • #7
    ArmaniJeanss
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,890 ✭✭✭✭ArmaniJeanss


    Thanks for the replies, Ger and Ninja.
    I've decided to leave it for a little while to see if the pockets get a little bit looser by themselves... the two pockets at the non-baulk end already seem to be a tiny bit friendlier (the majority of balls are obviously potted down that end) and there seems to be an effect whereby 'paths' are developing into these pockets.
    Though it could be wishful thinking on my part. :)


  • #8
    gondorff
    Closed Accounts Posts: 388 ✭✭gondorff


    A faster cloth can help.


  • #9
    tm2204
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 991 ✭✭✭tm2204


    The size of a pocket (snooker or pool) is determined by 2 factors.

    (a) The 'cut' of the rubber in the cushions around the pocket
    (b) The drop of the slate at the pocket entrance

    Generally if you want bigger pockets you need to have the rubber in the cushions 'opened up' which means cut back. This is not a DIY job and you should get a table fitter to do it for you.

    Pocket sizes are measured by templates which are blocks of wood that measure the pocket size and the drop into the pocket. The template must fit the pocket exactly and this is the table fitters job.

    Hope this helps.

    :D:D:D


  • #10
    Bishy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11 ✭Bishy


    Well

    I have the exact same table, got it 2 months ago from EJRiley. I know what you mean about the pockets being tight, as in tighter than on a pub pool table, but I researched it before making the purchase, and the 2" balls that come with the table (standard UK size) are just right for the pockets.

    I didnt play in the pub for around a month after the purchase, and when I did, I noticed that they use 2 1/4 inch balls, so the pockets are bigger.

    Dont even bother (or dare) drilling off pieces of the slate! As far as im concerned, if I can master those small pockets then if im playing in a pub or an american style table (f***** massive pockets), at least i'll have a damn good advantage:) All my friends think the table is great, and some of them are experienced pool/snooker players.

    P.S. the cloth on the table, stracha 777, is the industry standard and is quite fast, definetly faster than a pool hall or pub cloth, the only faster one I can think of is strachan 6811 Tournament cloth, but to be honest, a faster table will not make potting to the corner pockets easier, as adefter touch and slower ball will go in much easier:)


  • #11
    dr.bollocko
    Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 35,946 Mod ✭✭✭✭dr.bollocko


    I used to have a similar table and I would be inclined to leave it if I were you. It helps you with small scale snooker practice, you can get a 2nd set of balls to make it easier for novices, as well as that, it makes you concentrate so much more on the pot, the spin, the angle, and hitting dead centre. Certainly improved my angled pots to middle and started me off on decent snooker breaks. Its just more of a challenge.


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  • #12
    ArmaniJeanss
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,890 ✭✭✭✭ArmaniJeanss


    dr.bollocko wrote: »
    I used to have a similar table and I would be inclined to leave it if I were you. It helps you with small scale snooker practice, you can get a 2nd set of balls to make it easier for novices, as well as that, it makes you concentrate so much more on the pot, the spin, the angle, and hitting dead centre. Certainly improved my angled pots to middle and started me off on decent snooker breaks. Its just more of a challenge.

    Cheers, thats what I decided to do, taking a drill to the table would have just ended in tears. :)


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