Re-designing Pocket Reducers...
Bill
installed, they did not have the same angle as the rail pocket openings.
Also it was almost impossible to cut a "frozen to the rail" ball into a
corner pocket and I almost had to shoot straight into the side pockets
(could not shoot at very much of an angle).
Basically I wanted to reduce the pocket openings, but be able to play all
normal shots - just with more difficulty.
So I decided to re-design the pocket reducers so they would have the same
angles as the rail pocket openings.
I went to the hardware store and looked all over. I found a round "rubber
like" sewer pipe coupling for 4 inch round sewer pipe. The rubber on the
coupling is 3/8 inch thick. It has screw clamps on both ends.
Anyway I took it home and removed the screw clamps, then cut the whole
thing in half with a knife. Then I was easily able to cut small pieces off
to act as the pocket reducers (with a utility knife) and drilled holes for
the spring ends to fit into. I faced the curved part toward the pocket
wall, and the spring forces it flat against the wall.
It works great! The table plays just like a regular table, except the
pockets are smaller. But you can shoot balls into the sides at an angle,
cut frozen balls into the corner pockets, etc. You could also glue a second
layer of this over the corner pocket reducers to make them smaller and
increase the difficulty, but I think the side pockets are at their limit
with just one thickness of these installed (to be able to shoot in balls at
an angle).
Frank Glenn
says...
:|:It works great! The table plays just like a regular table, except the
:|:pockets are smaller. But you can shoot balls into the sides at an angle,
:|:cut frozen balls into the corner pockets, etc. You could also glue a second
:|:layer of this over the corner pocket reducers to make them smaller and
:|:increase the difficulty, but I think the side pockets are at their limit
:|:with just one thickness of these installed (to be able to shoot in balls at
:|:an angle).
:|:
Picture? I'll be glad to host it if you can't, but you have to get it
to me before Tue. Email it to 4_sale at my domain ( youknowwhat-at-
frankglenn.com). Otherwise it will be after my trip is over.
Frank <-Fl bound
Bill
>
> Picture?
Side and top views with black (new reducers) and green (old reducers)
Pictures...
http://www.geocities.com/bill190nospam
Frank Glenn
says...
:|:"Frank Glenn" wrote in message
:|:
:|:
Thanks. I have a set and don't use them for the reasons you quoted. I
may try this.
Frank
Steve Ellis
Much, much better!!! You're a clever guy. I'm not a very handy guy, but I might take your
directions and pictures and my pocket reducers and see if I can find somebody who is
handy.
Steve.
ramdad...@yahoo.com
the gamblers want to trap the new guy coming in off of big pockets to
now 4 l/2" pockets and have a local advantage.
If the guy is a real roadie, he shoots so damn straight it does not
matter if the pockets are 3 l/2", he is still going to beat you. He
also know every place he goes there is a trap table so when he says
where do you want to play and you say on table 11, he should then say
no, we only play on table 9. Even if you make him play on the trap
table he has the damn thing figured out in one set.
You do not need these turkeys on your home table because as you found
out they don't work worth a crap.
Learn how to hit the center of your pocket. On every pot, say to
yourself, center, right center, left center. On any shot that pots or
hits a point or a rail going in, consider it a miss and shoot it until
you pot it clean and perfect. That is all you need to do is stop
playing sloppy pool and learn how to play precision pool. The key
thing that seperate the pro from the banger is the pro keeps hitting
the center of the pocket and the banger is rolling them in all over the
joint. On a full pocket shot, you have a full inch on each side of the
OB to clear the points, that is a lot if you hit center.
da ding dong daddy....FL...