Williams - 118, 140,142 .... Unbelievable.

[blinky88]

I say unbelievable as I consider the tables down-under are truly regulation, not remotely like the tables they are playing on in the UK. Tighter pockets have created problems for many this week however, they have not bothered Williams in any way .... an absolute pleasure to watch. Domonic played exceptional safety in his matches ..but.. he was unable to stop Williams, great stuff.

[Inoffthered]

I say unbelievable as I consider the tables down-under are truly regulation, not remotely like the tables they are playing on in the UK. Tighter pockets have created problems for many this week

Evidence of this. Source?

[Theguywithaplan]

I saw a black go in for Dominic that would have failed to go in on many tables in the uk.

[seppo147]

pockets are taking balls easier there
check dales potted black
club pockets
world cup was tighter pockets

[Gerry Armstrong]

I say unbelievable as I consider the tables down-under are truly regulation, not remotely like the tables they are playing on in the UK. Tighter pockets have created problems for many this week however, they have not bothered Williams in any way .... an absolute pleasure to watch. Domonic played exceptional safety in his matches ..but.. he was unable to stop Williams, great stuff.

The tables there are the same as tables everywhere else. The players are just that good as you have now seen with your own eyes.

TV pictures can be VERY deceiving, especially cameras mounted in the pockets.

[blinky88]

Inoffthered's,

Prove it, very intelligent reply .... my eyes are my proof.

Hi Gerry Armstrong,
The only reply with any substance. The pocket opening are to the template as they should be however, I believe the fall of the slate on the pocket opening is possibly back 3/8" as they should be which makes the pot a lot harder. As far as the Star tables in the UK, in my opinion they are forward by at least 3/8". It's extremely difficult to see as the slate is covered by felt, balls that hit the inside of the jaw down-under are thrown out, whereby balls that hit the inside of the jaw in the UK, fall in. If you have taped the Australian Open and have some tapes of tournaments in the UK, I feel sure you will be able to see the difference. I have seen far more balls jaw and not go in during this tournament than any other tournament I've seen. If any member has a CLOSE pro. friend who has played in the Australian Open, I feel sure he will confirm the tables in Australia were very tight.

[Gerry Armstrong]

The fall in the slates are the same the world over, unless you believe that Star have made special Australian Open only slates just for this tournament? I find this so unlikely as to be absurd.

Brand new balls and brand new cloth on the cushions always means TV tables will slide just that wee bit more and so be a tiny bit more generous that the equivalent table that's been set up for weeks but there are no special UK TV only version of the slates on the new Star tables and the slide from new balls and cushion cloths is the same for all TV tables.

[magicman]

I think this Aussie guy has started about 3 separate threads, all saying the same thing - that the Aussie tables are tighter. There's no argument that's ever going to convince him otherwise.

[jrc750]

Maybe too much of the "Amber Nectar" lol

[blinky88]

I have never stated anywhere on this forum Aussie tables are tighter than those in the UK outside of the comment I made about the tables for the Australian Open ..but.. you are right, nothing will convince me the fall on the slate is standard the world over.

[cally]

come on bud, common sense should tell you that slates are gonna be the same on all tables used on the tour.


But you won't have it i know...:)

[Gerry Armstrong]

come on bud, common sense should tell you that slates are gonna be the same on all tables used on the tour.


But you won't have it i know...:)

That was my point which is clearly the case - there is no way there are different sets of slates coming off the production line, some earmarked for qualifiers, some earmarked for TV and an especially tight set earmarked for Australia :)

[1blonde]

I thought it was the cut of the pockets that made a table tighter or easier, rather than it having anything to do with the slate which is just the bed of the table and is universal like the previous poster (cally) just said.

[nrage]

I thought it was the cut of the pockets that made a table tighter or easier, rather than it having anything to do with the slate which is just the bed of the table and is universal like the previous poster (cally) just said.

Theoretically you could cut the pockets deeper into the table bed. Meaning that the drop would start earlier. Meaning you could hit further 'out' on the side of a pocket, and still have it drop (provided you didn't hit it too hard). So, essentially a deeper cut would make it 'easier' to pocket balls, by giving you a larger margin for error.

It's just one more thing (along with how you cut the cushion/opening to the pocket) you can change to make potting harder/easier, or just plain different.

I can't comment on how likely it is for tables used in Australia recently to be different to those used in the UK.

It seems to me that one possible difference might be climate (humidity, temperature, etc) and that might possibly have an effect on whether the ball slides off a cushion/knuckle, or not.

[cally]

Obviously tables will play tighter at some venues like nrage says could be climate etc..

There will be slight differences in how a table plays, even if it's the same table. once taken apart and set back up it won't play the same as it did last time it was setup. same as everything that comes in 'flat pack' it's not going to be exactly the same every time it's put together.... even though i'm sure table fitters take care to get the tables as close as poss to the 'std' there will still be 'differences' from venue to venue.

You just seem to think tables can play the same all of the time, unfortunately it is not really possible.