@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Good Day Sir, I am getting my snooker table made, I have kept the size of all 4 corner pockets to 78mm as you have shown in this video, but I don't know the size of the middle pocket in mm? Could you please tell the exact dimension of star professional table? Thanks
I love this man. Humble and to the point. Elsewhere, these pockets are fairly large. Not as small as they're made to appear. Actually, two balls can fit in considering the wide are of the ball passes under the rail which means more space.
The pockets have been the same cut on pro tables since the 1990/91 season ,during the 80's the pockets were quite a lot bigger (check out Steve davis 147 in 1981 on the table before BCE tables took over ,massive) even after that they were still bigger ,but not as large . The cloth makes the most difference ,the bed is 6811 double cut branded as no 10 cloth which means it goes through the nap cutting twice ,the cushions are standard 6811 cloth ,this is done so the tv tables are playing fast and true from the start and need little bedding in .What a lot of people don't realise is that when a table has been recovered the tables pockets will play a lot easier as the cushion cloth is tight and pulls the rubber down towards the bed and makes a lot of shots slide in ,this eases after a few weeks and the table will settle down and play a little tougher ,so the pro's are getting the best and slightly easier conditions every time ,but the tables are still harder than you're average club table .If you were having a table fitted at home or in the club as a little used match table it would be better to have the pockets cut ever so slightly bigger than a pro table ,so when the cushion cloth eases a little it would still be playing tight but fair.A club table with a lot of use and a heavy cloth ,that get dirty greasy and not looked after as well would play very hard with a WPBSA pocket template fitted ,thats why a different pocket cut is used in snooker events .Sorry if thats a bit long winded ,but its pretty much how it is .
I played on Riley aristocrat tournament champion with club cloth and pro cuted pockets- man thats the hardest table i ever played! Later on i played on a star table (which was used in european championship in Sofia) and the cloth was fast.I was like "Hmmm not a hard table at all" . I' ve found that on star table with fast , ironed and heated cloth your CUEING NEED to be MORE precise than on a club table. Even Barry Stark was talking about that when u play on a brand new cloth that a bit of left or ride hand side and and the ball goes more offline. So there is pros and cons. And if you have technique , you should no worry. BTW Aramith premier balls are rubbish( i regret that almost a year i was playing with them) !!! But this is another topic to discuss :)
I asked Chatgpt to rewrite the paragraph, so I can better understand it: "The pockets have had the same cut on pro tables since the 1990/91 season. During the 80s, the pockets were significantly larger (check out Steve Davis' 147 in 1981 on the table before BCE tables took over-massive). Even after that period, they remained larger but not as large. The cloth makes the most difference; the bed is 6811 double-cut branded as No. 10 cloth, meaning it undergoes nap cutting twice. The cushions are standard 6811 cloth. This is done so that the TV tables play fast and true from the start and require little bedding in. What many people don't realize is that when a table has been recovered, the pockets will play much easier as the cushion cloth is tight, pulling the rubber down towards the bed and allowing many shots to slide in. This eases after a few weeks, and the table settles down, playing a little tougher. So, the pros get the best and slightly easier conditions every time, but the tables are still harder than your average club table. If you were having a table fitted at home or in the club as a little-used match table, it would be better to have the pockets cut ever so slightly larger than a pro table. This way, when the cushion cloth eases a little, it would still be playing tight but fair. A club table with a lot of use and a heavy cloth, that gets dirty, greasy, and not looked after as well, would play very hard with a WPBSA pocket template fitted. That's why a different pocket cut is used in snooker events. Sorry if that's a bit long-winded, but it's pretty much how it is."
Barry, you explain this very well. Thumbs Up! Our club has converted 19th century billiards to snooker table, tighter pockets just makes you hone your game more. Some of them 1/8 to 1/16 inch SMALLER than championship table. Still no excuse for a good cue arm, as mentioned at the end.
This is Very interesting looking pockets plus is see the nets and the ball railtrack I always want to look down the snooker pockets when I was a kid :)
Nice to see you Sir again, this is really interesting, I play on a Riley table, which is not generous at all. The point for me is not to pot balls on a generous table, it is to learn how to pot balls on a tight one. Which means that I have improved my aiming, cueing etc. That's what I strive for. Imagine that in my city, Thessaloniki, of a population of about 1+ million, the guys that play snooker are about 20. Yes it is a difficult game, but that's exactly what we love. And we want to do it right. Thanks for your video Sir!!!!!
My thoughts exactly. I was raised watching snooker and I love it exactly for its unique and difficult nature yet its nobility and sportsmanship. It seems I am one of the 20 other players in Thessaloniki who adore this sport. I don't get the chance to play often, since my friends prefer 8-ball or 9-ball, but when I do I make sure I gain 100% from my time on the snooker table. When I get the chance, I would prefer to have a snooker table at home and take me months or years to get to decent breaks than buying a pool table and feel like a pro. Lovely video from Mr. Stark as always. Kind regards.
@@athanasiospolitis8538 Κανένα mistake φίλε, εννοούσα ότι αυτοί που παίζουμε συχνά είμαστε περίπου 20 άτομα, ενώ πολλοί περισσότεροι παρακολουθούν το παιχνίδι στην τηλεόραση. Καλή σου μέρα!!!
What an informative and useful instructional video. Let's just say I've been playing pocket billiards and long long time and I was not completely aware of everything covered here until now and I will be watch this at least one more time. One thing which was touched upon is the "sheen" of the table felt and how it affects the friction of the cue and the felt. More friction makes the shots harder. I'm quite sure you are aware of this Barry but for those who are not aware. For most of my time playing pocket billiards I was not aware of a playing technique which eliminates that friction between the cue ball and felt. On medium speed to fast speed shots and the length of the shot comes into play here as far a how hard the shot needs to be hit; by slightly hitting down into the cue ball the cue ball will imperceptibly leave the table surface thereby eliminating the effect of friction between the cue ball and felt. It's' difficult to believe at first, but on follow shots it is still possible to use this technique. This makes the shot more accurate on average. Love your videos Barry thanks again. Cheers, John Noe
Great video, the pockets on our match tables are very tight, I measured them to compare to pro tables and ours are also 78mm, bit im glad because it makes you more accurate and when I make big break I know its a big achievement on tight pockets.
Thanks for sharing! ☺ I started using pocket reducers in 9-Ball, so I'm looking up tournament standards. Seeing that less than 2 balls can fit the opening of a snooker pocket tells me I should ALWAYS be using the reducers in practice. 😉
Thank you Barry for that information which is valuable to all Snooker players. As my loyalties are divided between Photography, Railway Modelling, and playing Snooker; I don't have enough time to devote to achieving a high standard of play on a Full-Size table, therefore I will be investing in a 9'ft table instead but with professional cut and size of pockets, I will be using 10 reds instead of 15 as a 9'ft Snooker table is considerably smaller than a Full-Size. I don't expect you to reply to this, bye.
good on ya barry. the best vid I've seen on the the physics of snooker pockets. I've been trying to get that 80 mm measurement all over the internet - to no avail. bloody snooker administrators doing their best to kill the game with all their secret squirrel nonsense. glad you mentioned that new cloth will tend to slide a ball into the pocket - a BIG factor in potting balls. something you didn't mention - in regards to professional play. brand new balls and super fast cloth enabling the opening of the pack of reds. I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I see how easy it is to do this under top conditions. a hundred brake anyone ?!
Hayden. Certainly new balls will play better and enhance reactions such as screw, they do tend to lose some of their quality as they age, surprisingly quickly as well
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach the irony for me is, I now play Chinese 8 ball on my table at home (brand new aramith premium balls and new cloth) and all I want is for the balls to react less and stop rolling !!
I agree most club tables have bigger pockets although not all. I do think pockets seem bigger than they used to be though even 5-10 years ago. Do you think the cloths have anything to do with it? Ie new cloths help the ball slide in off the cushion. So often these days you see a player miss the ball nearly halfway down the cushion and the ball still flicks in like a 9 ball pocket.
Robert. It is strange, even though templates are used on every tournament table some play a little more generous than others. You mention the cloth as being a contributory factor and you are right. When the cloth is new there is a sheen on it which allows the ball to slide in the pocket when played at the right pace, as that sheen is lost the pockets become tighter, sometimes extremely tight and pots along the cushion are almost impossible.
I used to play in that same room Barry is in right there (before he put his table in there) and the table was beautiful, but now I'm in the club area, I am always looking through the window of the door and visualise what it's actually like to play on a gently heated brand new professional table like what Barry has! So close yet so far!
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach oh yes of course it is!, You are doing a lovely job with your videos keep them up! It is weird how are we go to the same club but never have come across one another. I usually go Thursday evenings.
Trust me, they most certainly are tighter. I went for some coaching at the Star Snooker academy with Barry. The first thing I noticed is just how small the pockets truly are. The TV gives a false impression as you are viewing the pocket from behind mostly. The cut as Barry says is also very unforgiving. I can put balls along the cushion about 6-7 / 10 times on my club table. The best I could manage on those tables was 2-3 / 10. There was a video I saw a few years back showing the templates being inserted into a club table pockets. They could be easily wobbled about side to side in the pockets. Don't take our word for it. There was a story I once heard John Parrot tell on TV. When he was a young lad and just turned professional, he went and did an exhibition at a club. Some of the clubs players told him that he wouldn't be knocking in centuries on their table as it was super tight. They were wrong, he did knock in several and to quote John it was like "throwing them into a bucket". I came away from my coaching lesson with a new found respect for just how good the professionals really are. How they pot balls down cushions and into the middles from tight angles and at the pace they do is remarkable.
@@StefanDLazarov I think it was something that the BBC did during the world champs one year when people were writing in saying the pockets were too big as they were making it look too easy. So they showed the comparison and John Parrot also came out with his story during the same feature. I have been trying to find the video with no sucess.
@@amigodawn1728 Sorry, but I have to disagree. I have played the game for 35-odd years on many club tables in many leagues. I have never played on any table that has pockets as unforgiving as a pro table.
Barry, you are right. One major thing worth mentioning is that the cloth makes a world of difference. Regardless if it's a club or a pro table, if it has a brand new thin cloth, it will allow twice as many balls to go in as a worn cloth. The balls sort of just glide of it, if I can put it that way.
Hi Barry, very good information. I am just preparing my Brunswick 6 leg Arcade Snooker Table for covering. It is a 10 foot by 5 foot & I have some newly covered #7 Irons.I am truly looking forward to playing on this table & practicing my new game of GOLF on a Snooker Table with Pool Balls. Could you possibly video a few shots for us... I like the double the corner shot & the use of the side pockets rounds to get the object ball into different ares of the table...
Michael. You have hit the nail on the head, the pockets are tight but generally the conditions are perfect or at least very good so they are a delight to play on.
Yeah I've played on a pro table many years ago, it was so good to play on it made it easier compared to the much slower well used other tables. People tend to overhit shots on club tables cos you kind of need to at times making it harder. Bit like a dodgy pub pool table, slow, dead cushions, fluff, and rolls all over the place compared to a well sorted new supreme table with quality cloth and good balls. Night and day, one is a joy and effortless and one is unplayable and frustrating lol.
Hi Barry. I've been working on my aiming lately and noticed a funny mistake I was making which I hadn't thought of before. Basically, what I was doing was putting my right foot on the line of the shot, then trying to look down the line of the shot to choose my contact point on the object ball, then I was taking a small step straight forward with my right foot, stepping wide with my left, then getting down for the shot and missing the angle! I eventually worked out that this problem was because when I am trying to look down the line of the shot, my vision center is actually to the left of the line, since my foot is on the line and my foot is right of my vision center. This was affecting my perception of the contact point even from standing position. Then today I was watching the match between Kyren Wilson and Ronnie at the Shanghai Masters and I noticed, both of them actually step slightly to the left with their foot to put it on the line, not straight forward. Thus when they are looking down the line, they are doing so from their vision center, then stepping to the left to put their foot on the same line that they were looking down! It seems to me that an alternative method would be to keep both legs together while examining the line, that way the right foot is near the vision center.
Rajie. This is what SightRight is all about, basically you see the line of the shot from a central position then move to put the foot on the line of the shot. Some players have adopted this, others do not like or believe in it, in the end it is down to the player to decide what suits him. Keeping the feet together initially again suits some players but as you say it is only near the vision centre not on it.
The further the slate goes into the pocket is called the “shelf depth”, The other dimensions are the pocket profile or template. They can be measured and copied by a good fitter. Pro tables are harder to pot balls. Club tables are easy. Nice video Barry. Steel block cushions are wonderful with new cloth
Barry Stark Snooker Coach my pleasure, that’s a common American term for how deep the slate goes into the pocket. On Diamond Pool Tables it’s deeper than Brunswick tables. I’ve been around pool for almost 40 years, I enjoy your video’s. Warmest regards
I realize that my question is slightly off-topic. Is it easier to pot balls on pro tournament tables nowadays than it was in the 1970s? I am asking because century breaks (for example) are much more common now than back then. Or is it solely because players play better now than back then?
marc. I believe that the conditions the players play in today are superior to those of the 1970's. The balls are slightly lighter and more responsive and the cloth is finer reducing the need for the power shots of yesteryear. However, I also believe that the standard is far higher in todays era as well.
Thanks, Mr. Stark. Why are the templates for a professional snooker table not clearly, publicly available? The dimensions of the field of play for most all professional sports are precise and openly published.
Jeffrey. I agree with you but as I understand it I am afraid that this is a contractual thing between World snooker and the Star company. Money not only talks in this world, it shouts.
What size balls should I be using on an 8x4 table? 2inch seem to small and easy to pot, i like full size but some shots seem impossible, could i open the pockets slightly without making them look like an 8 ball pool table
Stephen. The official rules state that the balls should 52.5mm in diameter on a full size table, don't know what they should be on a table 8x4 but full size seems okay. Opening the pockets seems the best solution but I wouldn't try to do it yourself, it needs a proper table fitter.
I have a 8ft snooker table and i use the 50mm balls and i can use the full size balls but the cushing`s would be lower and the pockets tighter as i have modified the pockets for mine to except both balls and the cushing`s the same.
@@ch41ky822 Ok , it depends if you use both set of balls, my pocket sizes are near to the star tables as Barry has said, i have an old R. Stevens and sons table that was made in London the cusings hight for the full size was i think around 40 mm so i had to lower them alittle for the 50 mm as i could not hit the top of the ball on the cushing as i could with the full size so i had to take a 1 mm or 2mm off so i could use both.
I think the pockets on a pro table are about 80mm but IMO they are cut very generously. The corners of the cushion are eased. This makes potting easier. Yes lot of club tables are cut on the generous side. But watching Snooker on TV the pockets are not overly tight. IMO.
Domagoj. I mean that where the slate ends it can be a sharp edge or a rounded edge, the former will not help the ball to fall into the pocket whilst the latter will.
Barry, I just bought a second hand table but the slate at the bottom (black ball end) looks like it’s been hand sanded with fine sand paper and lots of score marks filled in, it’s very very smooth like a glass finish, where the other 4 slates are much more rougher. Will this make a difference?
Maui. I think the only way you will know this is to play on it. The balls actually run on the cloth so hopefully you will not notice significant difference.
Hi Barry...big fan of yours young man, Barry Im trying to find accurate information on the process the snooker table manufacturers use when lacquering a new table...i.e the name of the products they use and the process they use to apply....Im planning on refurbishing my table as its scrathed to pieces....I want to make sure I use the right process and products so I dont have to do it again in a years time...a you tube video on the subject would be ideal..thank you
the swerve. Table manufacturers all have their own methods of manufacture and finish. We have to realise that they are in business and as such will be reluctant to release information that in their opinion makes their product better than their competitors. Asking a joiner/cabinet maker or looking on the internet may be the best way to get information on this. What I can tell you is that a lot of scratches on the cushion rails are caused by belt buckles, please be wary of these when the refurbishment is complete.
During the earlier rounds of a televised tournament. The pockets do tend to play easier, which is where this idea that professional tables play easier. Even if that were true, it would have more to do with the fine cloths they play on; rather than the way the pockets play.
Hi Barry. I recently ordered a star-table. I get the opportunity to choose size of the pockets. The seller said the pockets are "PRO-cut 81-82 mm" from the beginning. Since I started playing snooker I have played on a riley club table with 81-82 mm. I would like to have similar playing conditions on my star-table, but how does the cutting on a star-table differ from riley? Do i have to compensate the pocket size to the cutting? Thank you for all your great videos. Cheers // Adam
Adam. Some time ago I tried to borrow a set of pocket templates from World Snooker, I was not allowed. Apparently they are under contract to the Star company and only their own table fitters are allowed use of the official templates. Now obviously some fitters will have their own templates and no doubt they will be very close to the real thing but I am confident that World Snooker and the Star company will tell you that they are the only people who have the officially recognised templates. One thing I don't understand is the seller saying that the pockets are pro- cut and then giving you the opportunity to choose the size of the pockets, I am afraid that that does not make any sense to me. As for the difference between the pockets of a Riley and a Star table I am afraid I cannot help you, but if there is a difference it will be in the cut rather than the size of the opening and you would need the templates to determine that.
hi barry , been following you from quite some time now, can you suggest any exercise for someone who only has 90mins to practice daily. would be really grateful
Respect. Before I retired I used to practise in my lunch break for approximately 20 minutes and even that was not every day. The difference was that I disciplined myself to practise properly. I would practise the line up but set myself targets such as taking reds and blacks but the reds must be taken in a certain order. I would play the blue from the wrong side taking the cue ball in and out of baulk for the whole 20 minutes. The point I am making is that it really doesn't matter what the practise is as long as you set targets to achieve. 20 minutes of purposeful practise is worth more than a whole day of just potting balls
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach yes discipline is something always mentioned by you and i have been discilinging myself alot, line up gets easy with time but still not able to score big in a frame. should i practice on an open table or something ?
I checked a table i played on yesterday and it was 3 1/2 inches it says on the net most pro tables are around a 1/4 inch smaller than the 3 1/2 but have a faster cloth. Also the tables i play on have rug like cloth near the corner pockets, but are smoother in the middle for some reason maybe from use, so are much faster in that area and feels better to play on for my game. Thanks!! for the Video Barry very good.
Paul. As I explained in the video the pro cloth you see on the TV also has a sheen on it which in some respects make it more difficult to play on but when it comes down to the pockets it does help the ball to slide in providing the pace is right.
Barry , we had a match yesterday and this happened, 2 reds left on ,our opponents miss the reds and leave us a free ball , we nominate blue , hit the blue the white travels round the table and lands close to the blue the opponents can see 1/4 ball red and claim a foul because they are snookered behind a free ball, there ruling was they had to see the centre of the red ??? If you can reply I would be very grateful but no worries if you can’t THANKS
andy young. They are right. Paul explains it very well below. However they are wrong also because in this instance they don't just have to see the centre of the ball i.e full ball contact, they have to be able to hit both edges of the ball that is on.
Barry Stark Snooker coach , thank you Barry , really really appreciate your time, I suppose it relies on the definition of ( you can’t snooker behind a free ball) “SNOOKERED “ to me means you can’t see a ball on , like when you see a tournament on the box and say , Stephen Hendy breaks off and runs the white up to the”D” and the commentator says “ Alan McManus isn’t snookered he can just see the red” the definition of a “ snooker” changes , or am misinterpreting it , probably me , anyway thanks again Barry , you really help a lot of lads out there 🙂
andy. Yes can be a little confusing at times, when a foul and a miss is given the opponent can have a free ball if he cannot see a ball on full in the face (full ball) not both edges, that's even more confusing to some.
What size are the balls you play with though? Was always under the impression snooker balls are just over 2" in diameter but the pros seem to have no problem bridging over the top of them at all ...
Alec. You are right with the size of the ball, if you have average size hands it really shouldn't be a problem in most instances to bridge over a ball.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach I understand that, it's a good video, It would have just made it abit clearer if you could have got that. Keep up the content though, you're helping me with my game!
To address the elephant in the room, pro players themselves have described the pockets as "buckets" at certain major events during the years, enough that bbc went out of their way to throw together a snooker fitting promo. I haven't watched every single match in history, but I've seen enough dodgy shots that should no way go in yet still do on those pro tables (the commentators even pointing them out). i.e the object ball hitting the black cushion 8 inches from the pocket yet somehow the far cut always seems to redirect the ball into the pocket.
xeno and James. The pro tables are always installed by world snooker services and the same templates are used, however, there will always be slight variances. The fitters do their best but conditions, particularly atmospherics and TV lighting play their part in these variances.
Barry Hearn is a smart guy, he knows punters don't want to watch every other ball rattle out the pocket. That is my gripe, the TV table jaws always favour directing the balls into the pocket no matter how hard they are hit, which is why Judd can pot rail shots at a million miles an hour. ruclips.net/video/t__sxnLstM0/видео.html (slo-mo at 1.50) The object ball hits the very edge of the jaw and the 4 bounces it takes on the jaws all push the ball further into the pocket, he wasn't anywhere close to the heart of the pocket on the shot, the average club or non TV table would probably throw that out 9/10 times even at slower paces. At the end of the day every other aspect of the table is set up to allow the players to make big breaks, new super fast cloth, heated, brand new balls, new rails etc. Why not forgiving pockets.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Unfortunately I don't play snooker but I would guess the pro is typically gonna be tighter because they are pro's however I think this trend changes from time to time. With tight being sought out, and people like xeno, complaigning about buckets and what not (where are you in the tour if your so good to call any pocket a bucket?? us pool even?? ) typically tighter, you may find the finals all the sudden has tight pockets. But occasionally somebody does say, let them out a bit, and let's see a shoot out. That is the general conception, that playing on tight pocketed table makes you better. But as Barry said in end of video, I can't see how a table will make you a profressional level player?? Everyone has different "grouping" variations. A pro will maybe find it easier on larger pocketed table, on many shots, but will still get misses, and a lot of time, the play is indistinguishable based on table pocket size. That my observation. And then playing wise, for me there is a lot of feel, the particular day being an off day or not, can have more effect, nervousness, and other things. This game, you just have to play to learn. Discussion is good, fundamentals, we always try to understand what's going on, but nobody I'm sure is going to find any success simply out of understanding and what not.
Bostjan. I am sorry to say that it is very possible, so much depends on the ability of the fitters and of course the condition of the table in the first place.
hey barry, love your videos. I have a problem, in which I find the right line for the pot, however when I go down to the cue ball, I often don't go in the right line, but instead where it just looks right. I don't know what to do with that. thanks
Its a common problem that seeing the line from a standing position is fairly natural but when the chin is down on the cue the picture (line) that you are seeing comes over as slightly different. The best way to tackle this is to place the cue on line, try hard not to move the cue as you adopt the cueing position and to have faith in the line that you have selected, obviously there may be minor adjustments to be made before you get this right but once you have try, to establish a pre-shot routine that replicates this time after time. Don't forget that this game is all about repetition, repeat the good things and progress will come. Good luck.
Does anyone know if there’s a way to tighten your pockets without replacing the rubber? I know you can install shims in pocket facings with American pool tables but since the rubbber goes all the way into the pocket on a snooker table I’m not sure if shims will work. Does anyone know this answer?
MZiggy. Sometimes there is a little play in the bolt holes of the side and end cushion rails allowing some adjustment. It is possible sometimes to tighten the corner pockets but be aware this will open the centre pockets a little.
Barry Stark Snooker Coach Barry thanks so much for always reading through your comment section I truly appreciate that. I’ll look into the bolt holes and see if there’s any room for adjustment without making massive middle pockets. I was also thinking perhaps buying some flexible rubber shims to place behind the rail rubber inside the pockets but I’m still not sure how well that will work. I may just have to invest in new rail cushions and somehow track down some pocket templates as well
work with that cue action...............great advice Barry. Barry please tell me how much importance in terms of percentage would you give to 'cue action'. If my cue action is great, will i be able to pot 100% balls or 75% or 50% or how much???? Secondly, please tell how can i improve my cue action??? Thirdly, name things which are included in cue action, like stance, bridge, aiming, or any others??? plz make a list of them all. Fourth, how can i stick to a cue action and don't change it after looking some other guy's action. There is a guy who comes to our local club daily. His stance is remarkable. His legs and feet adjust so well according to the nature of every shot. He only misses very hard shots. He defeats club owner almost daily. They play a game called 'century' where every player has to earn score of 100 and there is only one red on the table that has 10 points for every pot. his arms flow so naturally. I don't think if he has taken any class from a pro player. He works as a bread maker on a shop nearby. He works all day on his shop but would take one hour break from work and go to the club to play snooker. He wins most of the time. how come he has such a nice cue action????
Multi. I can't give an accurate percentage on the importance of the cue action, only that it is so important that you will seldom see a good player without a good cue action. Please have a look at my videos which show how and where to place the bridge, how and where to hold the cue. These are the fundamentals of a good cue action, get them right and the game starts to get easier, get them wrong and it is damn near impossible. People come to me saying that they have seen my videos and do what they have seen on them, yet when I watch them play they are doing nothing like what is on them. Please watch them, work on what they say, it won't be easy but if you devote some time to it you will get there.
Hi Barry I am trying to buy a table with match pockets etc trying to get a supplier to give me pocket size is like trying to get blood from a stone they say their cut to template size, one said cut to template but they measure 88mm that’s bigger than my club 🤷🏼♂️
Michael. I am afraid you have hit upon a snag. I tried to borrow the official templates from World Snooker but I was told that they are in a contract with the Star table company and are not allowed to lend them out. As far as I know the only way that you can be absolutely positive your table has template size pockets is to get World Snooker Services to fit or check it and that costs money.
During the 2016 World Billiard Championship, I heard Clive Everton mention that they used 3" pockets during the 1870 championship which were so tight that certain shots were impossible to play
Gurdit. There is no doubt that some of the old billiard tables were very tight, I have played on some, but if they are so tight that certain shots cannot be played that surely cannot be good for the game, billiards or snooker, likewise if they are so generous they will spoil the game. Uniformity was needed, hence the templates.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach The original Billiard table had slightly longer cushions ,so you cant make the pocket any wider past the slate fall ,the slate fall has to be filed more and the pocket made wider at the entrance ,tough tables to play on .
I played on Kurt Dunham's table in Cambridge a few years ago. Not as nice as Neil Robertson and Joe Perry's tables but certainly a table with the tightest pockets I have played on and tighter than tournament Star tables for sure.
Another very good and important video. I wish I could show Barry the type of snooker tables we have here in Las Vegas. An absolute disgrace to the sport lol. Table is covered in ''ultra fast'' Diamond Pool Cloth, and it feels like you're playing on ice. The pockets are about the same size as the snooker ball in diameter, so unless you pot the ball in the middle of the pocket, you will miss. One half milimiter to the right or left and is not going in. I miss playing snooker in Europe where they have the real tables.
rob. I visited Las Vegas once and absolutely loved it, perhaps you can convince some of the hotels to install a table and start a league, Now that would be an achievement.
Barry Stark Snooker Coach I was thinking about that thanks to the knowledge from your videos I would be able to teach the local pool enthusiasts the ins and outs of the game of snooker. However I anticipate a lot of frustration in the process, as many pool players here are not willing to work on their technique
At my club the pockets at a "pro" table ex tournament in fact is way easier to pot and the reason is better cloth I guess and better pocket adjustment maybe
Ian. Not absolutely sure how they work this out, good safety for me not only stops a player from potting a ball but also puts him in trouble. However, if you get the cue ball on or near the baulk cushion at least it restricts options, this is also true when some of the balls on are hidden or partially hidden
Aniq. There are several reasons that might be happening here, you might be hitting at the ball instead of hitting through it, you might be trying too hard and creating tension in your arm and grip, you might be hitting the ball too hard. Those are all valid but the most common reason that I see is that players do not hit the ball where they think they are hitting it through fear of a mis-cue or most common movement. Place yourself on video and see if you can detect any movement when you play the shot, remembering that even minute movement of the bridge hand, head, cue will make all the difference.
Hello First I want to ask you and I hope to respond when we want to hit a ball Snooker like what taught us the right influenza one two three of these while taking an eye ball or plaster
Mr Barry when we want to hit a ball Snooker take an eye ball correctly and go down to hit the ball my question when we go down the right to hit the ball looked at the white then the ball on Ready to hit the ball to white or to the ball and plaster Sorry
I am sorry to prolong because I do not know that I mean by white or plaster ball, which we hit the ball in short when ready to hit the ball during the diet and two three in this during what to look for the ball or plaster and thank you and I hope you have understood what I mean
why not say how wide the side pockets are? Of course there are other important factors but the actual width certainly matters so there must be some reasonable value or range. We just got a table recovered and the side pockets are now VERY narrow compared to what they were.
Doug. The rules sate. The pocket openings shall conform to the templates owned and authorised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) I tried unsuccessfully to borrow these templates on one occasion.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks Barry, It would still be very useful to provide a "range" for amateurs so we have an idea of what is "normal" and know if the tables we are playing on are near the "wide end" or "narrow end" of the range. It seems quite bizarre that this seems to be some sort of mystery.
again @@BarryStarkSnookerCoach you did show the measurement you made of the corner pockets 78mm and 82mm so could you please let me know what the measurements are of your centre pockets? I've read that a typical club table would have ~3.5 inch (89mm) corner pockets and ~4 inch (102 mm) centre pockets. The BIG issue we have is that we have two snooker tables and one was recently recovered and cushions replaced. The centre pockets are now 12 mm NARROWER than on the other table (ie they went from 101 to 89!). So I'd like to know if the 101 is "reasonable" - 89mm certainly seems narrow for a centre pocket. Please help!!!!
Star tables are ok but when the cloth has just been done on a star or a club table the balls still slide in if played slow all club tables are slightly different and always will be if you like it then that's all that matters
Hi Barry, Today I'm watching the English open match between Dave Gilbert and Ricky Walden. Second frame Walden has 43 on the score board and Gilbert is on a break, he plays a red to right-hand corner pocket next to black spot and even the commentator thought that he'd over cut the red, but it drops after wobbling a few times? This would never have went in on a club table?. You can clearly see from the good camera view just how big the pocket is. My point to you from a previous comment. Best wishes to you. Thanks for your good snooker tips. Ps. Kyren has went downhill since he hasn't got you with him.
Amigo. Don't forget that the camera shows every little detail and exaggerates it. I know that I am not going to convince you but the pro tables are very tight, the big difference is the cloth, the sheen on it allows the ball to slide in if played at the right pace. Thanks for the well wishes.
Nico. Although some manufacturers are better than others, generally speaking tables are constructed in the same way. One major difference could be that pro tables always have steel block cushions, these are also in some clubs but normally the cushion rubbers are mounted on wood. Pocket openings in clubs tend to be slightly larger (not always) so that recreational players can enjoy the potting aspect of the game a little more.
There is a table in my club that is actually tighter than professional pockets, ive played on a professional table before, they arent horrendous, but this other table was ridiculously tight.
Goofy. I have played on one two like that myself, you could say that they are really unfairly tight, and really do limit the shots that you should be able to play.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach youve got a point there like ive genuinely found myself playing shots tight along the rail, and it goes exactly along the rail with barely any pace and then still stays in the jaws
C Bing but in snooker it’s much different. The cloth has a different thickness to provide better grip. I have played plenty of snooker on new tables, and the cloth always grips much more on snooker tables which slows the ball down.
Fred I’m sure I’ve heard the commentators saying exactly the same as me though. They say they slid into the pockets on the superfine cloth. Obviously friction increases as it wears out and they don’t slide in ? I’m not sure now though lol you may be correct ?
C Bing no, friction decreases as the table wears. It depends on the cloth as well. If it’s super fine then yes, the table will play faster than your average table, but the cloth will have to be refitted more regularly due to the susceptibility of the fine cloth
Krvy. If a cloth is fitted correctly this should not happen. One thing that can cause tears is careless ironing particularly at the centre pockets, the corner of the iron can tear the cloth at the opening of the pocket were it is slightly slack under the rubber of the cushion.
I think you should watch the Betfred World Snooker Championship, slow the footage down and then tell me the pockets are tighter. They are playing very generous and have done for the last few years. If you watch some of the tournaments in China you see the same thing, balls dropping in when really they shouldn't.
I have only been playing a short time and never really noticed will have a look this next tournament to see, i must admit some hit them very hard and they still go in, many on the tables we play they dont often drop unless going slower maybe as Barry says they have near perfect cue action so they make it look so simple.
Nigel. The templates used are always the same but we should also remember that the cloths and cushions are fitted by people, as a result it is very difficult to get two tables playing exactly the same.
Pocket opening are measured over the slate fall, as measuring inside the pocket is pointless as the ball will already be potted before it gets to that point. The standard club size is about 3.5inches over the fall, which is the old official template size from the late 80s/early 90s. I think the new size is between 3 3/8 and 3 1/4 inches over the fall which is very tight. However the undercut is important as that is what pulls the ball into the pocket. In the 80s they thought taking as much rubber off as possible meant that the ball would be easier to pot, but leaving some rubber actually creates the perfect undercut to draw a ball in, which is why pros can play balls along the cushion at pace and still pot instead of the ball rattling. A star table should pull balls in better than a club table, although their build quality is so poor and substandard I wouldn’t be surprised if this wasn’t the case
I don't fully agree with this. Club tables have a huge variation in pocket depth and width - that's what makes playing in a league interesting. When I watch some professional matches - some shots like close down the cushions ones have distinctively forgiving traits, like seeing a ball bounce 6" before the pocket but still potting. So overall - every table is different but pro tables are surely more consistent and easier to play on. Plus they have better nap etc etc
Neofierer. I agree that club tables have huge variations in pocket sizes and of course overall playing conditions. Professional tables are certainly more consistent but they to have problems in variable playing conditions, this is mainly due to atmospherics within the playing arena more than anything else though. TV cameras seem to have this innate ability to highlight every detail and to some point exaggerate it like making a pocket look bigger than it actually is. The true statement of the professional table being more consistent does not necessarily make them easier to play on, in fact they are more difficult to play on then any club table that I have played on. Since I am not going to convince you and a few others I can only say please reserve judgement until you have actually played on one I am sure you will change your mind.
Cool. But I'm not having that. The superfine cloths make a difference. With today's pro tables I've seen pots drop-in from hitting cushion first. Down to the superfine cloth That really annoys me. Because far as I'm concerned that player failed to hit the target. But the Ball still drops. Which lessens drama to the game. So sorry I'm not having it. You got a call it when it happens. the balls would never have dropped on the old tables hitting cushion first. Makes me think that that balls slide easier today.
Jamie. There is no doubt that the sheen on the table cloth, when it is new, does help the ball to slide in the pocket. The video was more about the size of the openings though.
JC. Potting on an American Pool table is relatively easy compared to snooker but there are other skills associated with the game that cannot be underestimated.
What we need to see is the difference with tournament tables played on the TV , anyone can easily see the pockets are larger and the cut of the pockets are not curved the same as club tables or your table come to that, they are almost straight . Have a look at video's on here they tell a different story !!! Now they are cut more like a American 9 ball pool table pocket .
Brian. I am obviously not going to convince you, all I can say and repeat is that the templates are the same on all pro tables including the TV tables and the one I play on.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Mr Stark I have the greatest respect for you as a snooker coach and player of the game, I have played on pro tables, when i was having coaching from Steve prest who sadly is no longer with us, died far too young, there is a difference from pro to club tables that i totally agree with you, but how the tournament tables accept some of the balls played is a joke, there would be no way club tables at my club would accept them, nor do i think your's would, I know there in a different league to how even some of the best amateur's can play but snooker table pockets would never accept some of the shots that go in, but this is only my thoughts.
People worry too much about the size of pocket, to some degree i think it is an excuses for their own bad play. Even if it’s bigger, it still requires a very good technique to constantly pot balls, and could even get more tv viewers that could lead to a rise in popularity of the sport, with a little cost in genuineness, however.
Zin. Personally, being something of a purist I believe the balls should be made slightly heavier, this would mean that the pack of reds would not split quite so easily, and possibly positioning the cue ball would demand greater skill. Futile points really though because it just isn't going to happen and the powers that be are happy with the way it is.
Well if the powers that be aint profit minded and love snooker like we do, maybe they will consider about it, it is not a hard thing to change isn’t it?
I have #7 Irons, which makes the pockets in my table a bit larger. But I have a Snooker Table that I play 9 Ball on.... I also practice for my Golf Game... IMHO, tables that have had their pockets closed up are just GAFFE Tables... they are a Cobbed Up, hunk of Junk
Agassi. Sorry don't agree, if a club player wants to play a pro and stand a chance of winning, he should play on a table with generous pockets, that way he may pot a few balls before the pro does.
Agua. The pocket (hole) may appear to look large until you try to play on the pro table, it is then that you realise that they are not large and the players rarely miss because they are very good.
A bit long winded but please bear with me. So sorry Barry but l think you are totally wrong. Ive studied this issue for years and from the aerial view on TV you can categorically see that the slate on the table is cut considerably shorter than our club tables. Club tables have the bed cut well into the pocket. How many times over recent years have commentators said 'Oh! he's missed.. Oh no he hasn't.. 'well that surprised me' The great Alex Higgins used to say that the big pockets are narrowing the gap between the top players and other professionals. I've seen far too regularly, objects balls hit cushions at acute angles on the TV, a foot or even two feet before the pockets and still go in. That just never happens on club tables. Further, TV pockets are definitely cut almost square without any obvious narrowing of the Jaw. You can readily see from an aerial view that you can almost fit two balls into the opening of the TV pocket and the edge of the slate is almost hidden beneath the balls. When l did that on our table it was obvious that the table bed ends a lot deeper in the pocket making it much more difficult. This is proven on TV when all too often shots that appear to be too wide to go in, rattle the jaws and often still drop because there's hardly any bed to sit on. l once asked ex pro, David Roe, who was from our club in Derby if he honestly thought the pockets were like buckets on TV tournaments and he said' 'although the middle ones may be tighter than you think'. My challenge to you Barry is invite me to a TV tournament and discuss the whole thing with the TV pundits and I'll produce video evidence and photos and play some shots to highlight and prove my findings. Of course the snookers authorities and perhaps even yourself would never do that. This post is likely to be ignored or poo pooed also. The key thing for me isn't the size of the pockets. As you suggested its 1) The cut 2) Where the table bed ends and 3) the curve of the cut. I'd love to be proved wrong but l doubt l would be. Why does the subject come up all the time??? Its because too many wayward shots go in.. thats why. Fred Davis once said in his book that due to the new cloth, new balls, condition of cushions, speed of cloth that he thought a 50 break on a club table is worth a century on a pro table. Looking forward to hearing from you Sir.
Craig. There are points in your discussion that I agree with but surely you are forgetting that the pockets on club tables vary considerably whilst the pockets on professional tables are always fitted to template size. Certainly the cut of the pocket plays a significant role in whether a pocket plays generously, likewise the opening size is relevant. The sheen on the cloth also plays a part as to whether the pockets play tight or generous, providing the player plays at the correct pace the sheen on the cloth helps the ball to slide into the pocket, as the sheen reduces with use the pockets play a little tighter. I have long argued that the game at the highest level has become a little too easy but not because the pocket size or cut is wrong but because of advances in technology, the balls are a little lighter than they used to be, the cloth is finer and more responsive and players are better than they have ever been. The subject is raised often because television highlights every little detail, good or bad, but lets not forget that snooker is also an entertainment, punters like to see the big breaks, world snooker are satisfied that they have got conditions about right so what you and I have to say about it whilst worthy of discussion will be viewed as somewhat irrelevant.
If Pro tables pockets are smaller/harder then why not make the tables even more difficult by slowing down the cushions and fitting the tables with heavy slow cloths? Sorry I don't buy it, there is a reason they won't release the pocket templates!
TheRagBag. Your are right, there is a reason that they will not release the pocket templates and it is purely commercial and bound by contract. On your other point we have to remember that pro snooker is also an entertainment and people like to see big breaks with spectacular shots. The lighter balls and faster cloths make this possible whilst also examining any technical flaws.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thanks for the answer Barry, as you know the different tables on the amatuer circuit can be frustrating, one minute playing on nice fast tables with nice pockets the next very cold muddy tables with bad lighting. I once played a few matches on a table I was told had the same pocket templates as the ones they were using at the time up in Blackpool for the qualifiers, the table was very hard to pot on but very true as well. I just wish Snooker could be the same across the board amatuer and pro, perhaps the amatuer scene needs modernising hence why I think the picket templates should be released, I do realise though that the thicker amatuer cloths would change the pockets and other aspects of the tables yet again though!
Someone can show this gentleman the world championchip table of 2023 and than he will have to make another video, becose the new pockets are very, very larger than he belive.
Nilton. This argument goes on and on, tournament table pockets are templated and are always the same. Granted they are fitted by human beings so sometimes there may be very slight variances, also when the cloth is new there is a sheen on the cloth which will help the ball to slide into the pocket opening.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach It's an honor for me that you answered me, congratulations on the channel, I'm watching all your videos and learning a lot, please keep transmitting knowledge because you do it with mastery... Speaking of pockets, I know that sometimes some exotic balls fall and people fall into conspiracy theory, how about you demystify that? record a video taking the measurements of the pockets of an official table that will be broadcast on tv in the best of 19 matches hahaha, hey, I know this won't be possible but it would be cool... I'll settle for a video of the measurements only of an official table if possible, I believe it is a debt of many people, thank you very much and have a good day Master.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach 82mm is far to hard to play on for a rookie. But as you say, this measure is not that important as the cut of the pocket. You can have 90mm pockets that are cut to throw out every ball that even barely touches the cushion.
A very humble teacher. Most tutorial videos out there are pretty egotistical. But not you, you earn my respect.
Gothus. Many thanks, glad you like the videos.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Good Day Sir, I am getting my snooker table made, I have kept the size of all 4 corner pockets to 78mm as you have shown in this video, but I don't know the size of the middle pocket in mm? Could you please tell the exact dimension of star professional table? Thanks
This has been the topic of snooker that I have been waiting for the longest time! Thank you, Mr. Stark!
Slick. Thanks for that, might settle or start a few arguments.
It was harder to find an answer to my questions than I thought it would be. This was ver helpful
I love this man. Humble and to the point.
Elsewhere, these pockets are fairly large. Not as small as they're made to appear. Actually, two balls can fit in considering the wide are of the ball passes under the rail which means more space.
The pockets have been the same cut on pro tables since the 1990/91 season ,during the 80's the pockets were quite a lot bigger (check out Steve davis 147 in 1981 on the table before BCE tables took over ,massive) even after that they were still bigger ,but not as large . The cloth makes the most difference ,the bed is 6811 double cut branded as no 10 cloth which means it goes through the nap cutting twice ,the cushions are standard 6811 cloth ,this is done so the tv tables are playing fast and true from the start and need little bedding in .What a lot of people don't realise is that when a table has been recovered the tables pockets will play a lot easier as the cushion cloth is tight and pulls the rubber down towards the bed and makes a lot of shots slide in ,this eases after a few weeks and the table will settle down and play a little tougher ,so the pro's are getting the best and slightly easier conditions every time ,but the tables are still harder than you're average club table .If you were having a table fitted at home or in the club as a little used match table it would be better to have the pockets cut ever so slightly bigger than a pro table ,so when the cushion cloth eases a little it would still be playing tight but fair.A club table with a lot of use and a heavy cloth ,that get dirty greasy and not looked after as well would play very hard with a WPBSA pocket template fitted ,thats why a different pocket cut is used in snooker events .Sorry if thats a bit long winded ,but its pretty much how it is .
mike. Its not long winded at all, you have covered all the salient points going a little deeper than I did on the video. Well done.
I played on Riley aristocrat tournament champion with club cloth and pro cuted pockets- man thats the hardest table i ever played! Later on i played on a star table (which was used in european championship in Sofia) and the cloth was fast.I was like "Hmmm not a hard table at all" . I' ve found that on star table with fast , ironed and heated cloth your CUEING NEED to be MORE precise than on a club table. Even Barry Stark was talking about that when u play on a brand new cloth that a bit of left or ride hand side and and the ball goes more offline. So there is pros and cons. And if you have technique , you should no worry.
BTW Aramith premier balls are rubbish( i regret that almost a year i was playing with them) !!! But this is another topic to discuss :)
I asked Chatgpt to rewrite the paragraph, so I can better understand it:
"The pockets have had the same cut on pro tables since the 1990/91 season. During the 80s, the pockets were significantly larger (check out Steve Davis' 147 in 1981 on the table before BCE tables took over-massive). Even after that period, they remained larger but not as large. The cloth makes the most difference; the bed is 6811 double-cut branded as No. 10 cloth, meaning it undergoes nap cutting twice. The cushions are standard 6811 cloth. This is done so that the TV tables play fast and true from the start and require little bedding in.
What many people don't realize is that when a table has been recovered, the pockets will play much easier as the cushion cloth is tight, pulling the rubber down towards the bed and allowing many shots to slide in. This eases after a few weeks, and the table settles down, playing a little tougher. So, the pros get the best and slightly easier conditions every time, but the tables are still harder than your average club table.
If you were having a table fitted at home or in the club as a little-used match table, it would be better to have the pockets cut ever so slightly larger than a pro table. This way, when the cushion cloth eases a little, it would still be playing tight but fair. A club table with a lot of use and a heavy cloth, that gets dirty, greasy, and not looked after as well, would play very hard with a WPBSA pocket template fitted. That's why a different pocket cut is used in snooker events. Sorry if that's a bit long-winded, but it's pretty much how it is."
Barry, you explain this very well. Thumbs Up! Our club has converted 19th century billiards to snooker table, tighter pockets just makes you hone your game more. Some of them 1/8 to 1/16 inch SMALLER than championship table. Still no excuse for a good cue arm, as mentioned at the end.
This is how I wanted someone to explain it. Very nice my friend.
Abdul. Glad you like it and I hope it has cleared a few things up for you and some other players.
Happy teachers Day Sir. You taught me much of a snooker so that i can enjoy the game . Thanks Barry .
Abhishek. My pleasure, really glad that you enjoy playing.
This is Very interesting looking pockets plus is see the nets and the ball railtrack I always want to look down the snooker pockets when I was a kid :)
Gothic. It is amazing the things that capture our imagination when we are young.
Legendary, spot on answers, and commentary!
marcin. Thanks for that, glad you like the video.
Nice to see you Sir again, this is really interesting, I play on a Riley table, which is not generous at all. The point for me is not to pot balls on a generous table, it is to learn how to pot balls on a tight one. Which means that I have improved my aiming, cueing etc.
That's what I strive for.
Imagine that in my city, Thessaloniki, of a population of about 1+ million, the guys that play snooker are about 20. Yes it is a difficult game, but that's exactly what we love. And we want to do it right.
Thanks for your video Sir!!!!!
My thoughts exactly. I was raised watching snooker and I love it exactly for its unique and difficult nature yet its nobility and sportsmanship. It seems I am one of the 20 other players in Thessaloniki who adore this sport. I don't get the chance to play often, since my friends prefer 8-ball or 9-ball, but when I do I make sure I gain 100% from my time on the snooker table. When I get the chance, I would prefer to have a snooker table at home and take me months or years to get to decent breaks than buying a pool table and feel like a pro. Lovely video from Mr. Stark as always. Kind regards.
Hello@@athanasiospolitis8538, I meant that we are about 20 people that play snooker regularly.
@@georgedagosdagopoulos7587 My mistake, yet we adore it nonetheless I guess!
@@athanasiospolitis8538 Κανένα mistake φίλε, εννοούσα ότι αυτοί που παίζουμε συχνά είμαστε περίπου 20 άτομα, ενώ πολλοί περισσότεροι παρακολουθούν το παιχνίδι στην τηλεόραση. Καλή σου μέρα!!!
George. Great insight, you can get misled about your own ability if you play on tables that are generous.
What an informative and useful instructional video. Let's just say I've been playing pocket billiards and long long time and I was not completely aware of everything covered here until now and I will be watch this at least one more time. One thing which was touched upon is the "sheen" of the table felt and how it affects the friction of the cue and the felt. More friction makes the shots harder. I'm quite sure you are aware of this Barry but for those who are not aware.
For most of my time playing pocket billiards I was not aware of a playing technique which eliminates that friction between the cue ball and felt.
On medium speed to fast speed shots and the length of the shot comes into play here as far a how hard the shot needs to be hit; by slightly hitting down into the cue ball the cue ball will imperceptibly leave the table surface thereby eliminating the effect of friction between the cue ball and felt. It's' difficult to believe at first, but on follow shots it is still possible to use this technique. This makes the shot more accurate on average.
Love your videos Barry thanks again.
Cheers,
John Noe
john. Glad you enjoy the videos, and for sharing your thoughts.
Wow! I wouldn't have expected that. Thought it would have been the other way round to be honest. Thanks for the info! Great video
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, the pockets on our match tables are very tight, I measured them to compare to pro tables and ours are also 78mm, bit im glad because it makes you more accurate and when I make big break I know its a big achievement on tight pockets.
Thanks for the info!
Excellent! The owner of our club in Phoenix, Arizona actually flew a mechanic in from the UK for proper Star table prep.
alydar. Wow! Now that is something I love to hear.
Thanks for sharing! ☺
I started using pocket reducers in 9-Ball, so I'm looking up tournament standards. Seeing that less than 2 balls can fit the opening of a snooker pocket tells me I should ALWAYS be using the reducers in practice. 😉
DSL. Not a bad philosophy, please be careful though that it does not restrict some of the shots you are able to play.
Thank you Barry for that information which is valuable to all Snooker players. As my loyalties are divided between Photography, Railway Modelling, and playing Snooker; I don't have enough time to devote to achieving a high standard of play on a Full-Size table, therefore I will be investing in a 9'ft table instead but with professional cut and size of pockets, I will be using 10 reds instead of 15 as a 9'ft Snooker table is considerably smaller than a Full-Size. I don't expect you to reply to this, bye.
good on ya barry. the best vid I've seen on the the physics of snooker pockets.
I've been trying to get that 80 mm measurement all over the internet - to no avail.
bloody snooker administrators doing their best to kill the game with all their secret squirrel nonsense.
glad you mentioned that new cloth will tend to slide a ball into the pocket - a BIG factor in potting balls.
something you didn't mention - in regards to professional play.
brand new balls and super fast cloth enabling the opening of the pack of reds.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I see how easy it is to do this under top conditions.
a hundred brake anyone ?!
Hayden. Certainly new balls will play better and enhance reactions such as screw, they do tend to lose some of their quality as they age, surprisingly quickly as well
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach the irony for me is, I now play Chinese 8 ball on my table at home (brand new aramith premium balls and new cloth) and all I want is for the balls to react less and stop rolling !!
I agree most club tables have bigger pockets although not all. I do think pockets seem bigger than they used to be though even 5-10 years ago. Do you think the cloths have anything to do with it? Ie new cloths help the ball slide in off the cushion. So often these days you see a player miss the ball nearly halfway down the cushion and the ball still flicks in like a 9 ball pocket.
Robert. It is strange, even though templates are used on every tournament table some play a little more generous than others. You mention the cloth as being a contributory factor and you are right. When the cloth is new there is a sheen on it which allows the ball to slide in the pocket when played at the right pace, as that sheen is lost the pockets become tighter, sometimes extremely tight and pots along the cushion are almost impossible.
I used to play in that same room Barry is in right there (before he put his table in there) and the table was beautiful, but now I'm in the club area, I am always looking through the window of the door and visualise what it's actually like to play on a gently heated brand new professional table like what Barry has! So close yet so far!
Talvin. Unfortunately it is not my table, I use it by kind permission of Michael Holt, a lovely guy and a very good pro.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach oh yes of course it is!,
You are doing a lovely job with your videos keep them up! It is weird how are we go to the same club but never have come across one another. I usually go Thursday evenings.
Very well explained mate. My club has two professional tables and I've played on them, it's much harder to pot a ball on them 😊
Absolutely
Trust me, they most certainly are tighter. I went for some coaching at the Star Snooker academy with Barry. The first thing I noticed is just how small the pockets truly are. The TV gives a false impression as you are viewing the pocket from behind mostly. The cut as Barry says is also very unforgiving. I can put balls along the cushion about 6-7 / 10 times on my club table. The best I could manage on those tables was 2-3 / 10. There was a video I saw a few years back showing the templates being inserted into a club table pockets. They could be easily wobbled about side to side in the pockets. Don't take our word for it. There was a story I once heard John Parrot tell on TV. When he was a young lad and just turned professional, he went and did an exhibition at a club. Some of the clubs players told him that he wouldn't be knocking in centuries on their table as it was super tight. They were wrong, he did knock in several and to quote John it was like "throwing them into a bucket". I came away from my coaching lesson with a new found respect for just how good the professionals really are. How they pot balls down cushions and into the middles from tight angles and at the pace they do is remarkable.
gixxerman69 I would love to see the video with the wobbling tamplate on a club table .
@@StefanDLazarov I think it was something that the BBC did during the world champs one year when people were writing in saying the pockets were too big as they were making it look too easy. So they showed the comparison and John Parrot also came out with his story during the same feature. I have been trying to find the video with no sucess.
Sorry I know from experience they're bigger.
@@amigodawn1728 Sorry, but I have to disagree. I have played the game for 35-odd years on many club tables in many leagues. I have never played on any table that has pockets as unforgiving as a pro table.
@@amigodawn1728 🤣🤣🤣 ok mate
Thanks Barry , great ,informative videos .
Glad you enjoyed it
Barry, you are right.
One major thing worth mentioning is that the cloth makes a world of difference.
Regardless if it's a club or a pro table, if it has a brand new thin cloth, it will allow twice as many balls to go in as a worn cloth. The balls sort of just glide of it, if I can put it that way.
Michael. I am glad someone is listening.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach
Barry, if you don't mind, who do you consider to be the top 3 greatest snooker players of all time ?
Love these vidoes. Thanks Barry!
Glad you like them!
Very very clear and detailed, many thanks.
Glad you liked it
Hi Barry, very good information. I am just preparing my Brunswick 6 leg Arcade Snooker Table for covering. It is a 10 foot by 5 foot & I have some newly covered #7 Irons.I am truly looking forward to playing on this table & practicing my new game of GOLF on a Snooker Table with Pool Balls. Could you possibly video a few shots for us... I like the double the corner shot & the use of the side pockets rounds to get the object ball into different ares of the table...
Yes. Have fun at the table. Encouraged to play more.
Gregory. What a very valid point, there is no incentive to learn if you don't enjoy what you are doing. Well said.
I have played on John Astley's Star table at Gateshead snooker centre and they are very tight pockets. However it was still a joy to play on.
Michael. You have hit the nail on the head, the pockets are tight but generally the conditions are perfect or at least very good so they are a delight to play on.
Yeah I've played on a pro table many years ago, it was so good to play on it made it easier compared to the much slower well used other tables. People tend to overhit shots on club tables cos you kind of need to at times making it harder.
Bit like a dodgy pub pool table, slow, dead cushions, fluff, and rolls all over the place compared to a well sorted new supreme table with quality cloth and good balls. Night and day, one is a joy and effortless and one is unplayable and frustrating lol.
Hi Barry. I've been working on my aiming lately and noticed a funny mistake I was making which I hadn't thought of before. Basically, what I was doing was putting my right foot on the line of the shot, then trying to look down the line of the shot to choose my contact point on the object ball, then I was taking a small step straight forward with my right foot, stepping wide with my left, then getting down for the shot and missing the angle!
I eventually worked out that this problem was because when I am trying to look down the line of the shot, my vision center is actually to the left of the line, since my foot is on the line and my foot is right of my vision center. This was affecting my perception of the contact point even from standing position.
Then today I was watching the match between Kyren Wilson and Ronnie at the Shanghai Masters and I noticed, both of them actually step slightly to the left with their foot to put it on the line, not straight forward. Thus when they are looking down the line, they are doing so from their vision center, then stepping to the left to put their foot on the same line that they were looking down!
It seems to me that an alternative method would be to keep both legs together while examining the line, that way the right foot is near the vision center.
Rajie. This is what SightRight is all about, basically you see the line of the shot from a central position then move to put the foot on the line of the shot. Some players have adopted this, others do not like or believe in it, in the end it is down to the player to decide what suits him. Keeping the feet together initially again suits some players but as you say it is only near the vision centre not on it.
Hey Barry. Saw you today at northern. Thanks for doing these videos. They are a big help. 😁👍
Charlie. Great place the Northern, good tables, friendly staff, hope you enjoyed your day, and that you continue to enjoy the videos.
The further the slate goes into the pocket is called the “shelf depth”,
The other dimensions are the pocket profile or template. They can be measured and copied by a good fitter.
Pro tables are harder to pot balls. Club tables are easy.
Nice video Barry.
Steel block cushions are wonderful with new cloth
Eric. Never heard the saying "Shelf Depth" makes sense thanks for that.
Barry Stark Snooker Coach my pleasure, that’s a common American term for how deep the slate goes into the pocket. On Diamond Pool Tables it’s deeper than Brunswick tables.
I’ve been around pool for almost 40 years, I enjoy your video’s.
Warmest regards
I realize that my question is slightly off-topic.
Is it easier to pot balls on pro tournament tables nowadays than it was in the 1970s?
I am asking because century breaks (for example) are much more common now than back then. Or is it solely because players play better now than back then?
marc. I believe that the conditions the players play in today are superior to those of the 1970's. The balls are slightly lighter and more responsive and the cloth is finer reducing the need for the power shots of yesteryear. However, I also believe that the standard is far higher in todays era as well.
Thanks, Mr. Stark. Why are the templates for a professional snooker table not clearly, publicly available? The dimensions of the field of play for most all professional sports are precise and openly published.
Jeffrey. I agree with you but as I understand it I am afraid that this is a contractual thing between World snooker and the Star company. Money not only talks in this world, it shouts.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Ha...money certainly tends to get it’s way. Thanks, Mr. Stark.
What size balls should I be using on an 8x4 table? 2inch seem to small and easy to pot, i like full size but some shots seem impossible, could i open the pockets slightly without making them look like an 8 ball pool table
Stephen. The official rules state that the balls should 52.5mm in diameter on a full size table, don't know what they should be on a table 8x4 but full size seems okay. Opening the pockets seems the best solution but I wouldn't try to do it yourself, it needs a proper table fitter.
Thank you Barry, much appreciated yes of course I wouldn't attempt this myself, best I start saving lol, thank you
I have a 8ft snooker table and i use the 50mm balls and i can use the full size balls but the cushing`s would be lower and the pockets tighter as i have modified the pockets for mine to except both balls and the cushing`s the same.
@@michaelparanormal yes mate, thats same problem I was having
@@ch41ky822 Ok , it depends if you use both set of balls, my pocket sizes are near to the star tables as Barry has said, i have an old R. Stevens and sons table that was made in London the cusings hight for the full size was i think around 40 mm so i had to lower them alittle for the 50 mm as i could not hit the top of the ball on the cushing as i could with the full size so i had to take a 1 mm or 2mm off so i could use both.
I think the pockets on a pro table are about 80mm but IMO they are cut very generously. The corners of the cushion are eased. This makes potting easier. Yes lot of club tables are cut on the generous side. But watching Snooker on TV the pockets are not overly tight. IMO.
i didn’t understand what means radius of slate at fall that you talk about at 2:45??? can you explain once more what’s that and how it affects?
Domagoj. I mean that where the slate ends it can be a sharp edge or a rounded edge, the former will not help the ball to fall into the pocket whilst the latter will.
Barry, I just bought a second hand table but the slate at the bottom (black ball end) looks like it’s been hand sanded with fine sand paper and lots of score marks filled in, it’s very very smooth like a glass finish, where the other 4 slates are much more rougher. Will this make a difference?
Maui. I think the only way you will know this is to play on it. The balls actually run on the cloth so hopefully you will not notice significant difference.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach cheers Barry 👍
Hi Barry...big fan of yours young man, Barry Im trying to find accurate information on the process the snooker table manufacturers use when lacquering a new table...i.e the name of the products they use and the process they use to apply....Im planning on refurbishing my table as its scrathed to pieces....I want to make sure I use the right process and products so I dont have to do it again in a years time...a you tube video on the subject would be ideal..thank you
the swerve. Table manufacturers all have their own methods of manufacture and finish. We have to realise that they are in business and as such will be reluctant to release information that in their opinion makes their product better than their competitors. Asking a joiner/cabinet maker or looking on the internet may be the best way to get information on this. What I can tell you is that a lot of scratches on the cushion rails are caused by belt buckles, please be wary of these when the refurbishment is complete.
Thank you very much Barry!!
Ram. My pleasure.
During the earlier rounds of a televised tournament. The pockets do tend to play easier, which is where this idea that professional tables play easier. Even if that were true, it would have more to do with the fine cloths they play on; rather than the way the pockets play.
Mititsu. You are right, the cloth makes such a big difference. However I was just trying to show that the pockets are tighter than most club tables.
Hi Barry. I recently ordered a star-table. I get the opportunity to choose size of the pockets. The seller said the pockets are "PRO-cut 81-82 mm" from the beginning. Since I started playing snooker I have played on a riley club table with 81-82 mm. I would like to have similar playing conditions on my star-table, but how does the cutting on a star-table differ from riley?
Do i have to compensate the pocket size to the cutting? Thank you for all your great videos.
Cheers // Adam
Adam. Some time ago I tried to borrow a set of pocket templates from World Snooker, I was not allowed. Apparently they are under contract to the Star company and only their own table fitters are allowed use of the official templates. Now obviously some fitters will have their own templates and no doubt they will be very close to the real thing but I am confident that World Snooker and the Star company will tell you that they are the only people who have the officially recognised templates. One thing I don't understand is the seller saying that the pockets are pro- cut and then giving you the opportunity to choose the size of the pockets, I am afraid that that does not make any sense to me. As for the difference between the pockets of a Riley and a Star table I am afraid I cannot help you, but if there is a difference it will be in the cut rather than the size of the opening and you would need the templates to determine that.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach
Thanks for your quick reply. He said he can modify it in someway.
But i think i go for the "original" size anyway.
Cheers!
Well done Barry
hi barry , been following you from quite some time now, can you suggest any exercise for someone who only has 90mins to practice daily. would be really grateful
Respect. Before I retired I used to practise in my lunch break for approximately 20 minutes and even that was not every day. The difference was that I disciplined myself to practise properly. I would practise the line up but set myself targets such as taking reds and blacks but the reds must be taken in a certain order. I would play the blue from the wrong side taking the cue ball in and out of baulk for the whole 20 minutes. The point I am making is that it really doesn't matter what the practise is as long as you set targets to achieve. 20 minutes of purposeful practise is worth more than a whole day of just potting balls
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach yes discipline is something always mentioned by you and i have been discilinging myself alot, line up gets easy with time but still not able to score big in a frame. should i practice on an open table or something ?
I checked a table i played on yesterday and it was 3 1/2 inches it says on the net most pro tables are around a 1/4 inch smaller than the 3 1/2 but have a faster cloth.
Also the tables i play on have rug like cloth near the corner pockets, but are smoother in the middle for some reason maybe from use, so are much faster in that area and feels better to play on for my game.
Thanks!! for the Video Barry very good.
Paul. As I explained in the video the pro cloth you see on the TV also has a sheen on it which in some respects make it more difficult to play on but when it comes down to the pockets it does help the ball to slide in providing the pace is right.
Barry , we had a match yesterday and this happened, 2 reds left on ,our opponents miss the reds and leave us a free ball , we nominate blue , hit the blue the white travels round the table and lands close to the blue the opponents can see 1/4 ball red and claim a foul because they are snookered behind a free ball, there ruling was they had to see the centre of the red ??? If you can reply I would be very grateful but no worries if you can’t THANKS
I think that is right if snookered by accident or design is a foul, some of the rules are a bit unfair i know.
andy young. They are right. Paul explains it very well below. However they are wrong also because in this instance they don't just have to see the centre of the ball i.e full ball contact, they have to be able to hit both edges of the ball that is on.
Barry Stark Snooker coach , thank you Barry , really really appreciate your time, I suppose it relies on the definition of ( you can’t snooker behind a free ball) “SNOOKERED “ to me means you can’t see a ball on , like when you see a tournament on the box and say , Stephen Hendy breaks off and runs the white up to the”D” and the commentator says “ Alan McManus isn’t snookered he can just see the red” the definition of a “ snooker” changes , or am misinterpreting it , probably me , anyway thanks again Barry , you really help a lot of lads out there 🙂
andy. Yes can be a little confusing at times, when a foul and a miss is given the opponent can have a free ball if he cannot see a ball on full in the face (full ball) not both edges, that's even more confusing to some.
What size are the balls you play with though?
Was always under the impression snooker balls are just over 2" in diameter but the pros seem to have no problem bridging over the top of them at all ...
Alec. You are right with the size of the ball, if you have average size hands it really shouldn't be a problem in most instances to bridge over a ball.
I think snooker balls are 52 ish mm and American pool is 57?
Can I please ask what table that is you are using please Barry
lukusjolley. It is a Star tournament table.
I would have liked to see some side by side pictures of a pro pocket and amateur, but I think I understand what you mean.
Dean. We do our best with the equipment and time we have.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach I understand that, it's a good video, It would have just made it abit clearer if you could have got that. Keep up the content though, you're helping me with my game!
Is the cue ball small or bigger than the object ball?
Amzad. No, in snooker the balls are all the same size.
To address the elephant in the room, pro players themselves have described the pockets as "buckets" at certain major events during the years, enough that bbc went out of their way to throw together a snooker fitting promo. I haven't watched every single match in history, but I've seen enough dodgy shots that should no way go in yet still do on those pro tables (the commentators even pointing them out). i.e the object ball hitting the black cushion 8 inches from the pocket yet somehow the far cut always seems to redirect the ball into the pocket.
Great post....there are a couple of long clips on here showing that. As usual great work again by barry👍
ruclips.net/video/AoYCekJYpZQ/видео.html
Heres one of those said clips🙈
xeno and James. The pro tables are always installed by world snooker services and the same templates are used, however, there will always be slight variances. The fitters do their best but conditions, particularly atmospherics and TV lighting play their part in these variances.
Barry Hearn is a smart guy, he knows punters don't want to watch every other ball rattle out the pocket. That is my gripe, the TV table jaws always favour directing the balls into the pocket no matter how hard they are hit, which is why Judd can pot rail shots at a million miles an hour. ruclips.net/video/t__sxnLstM0/видео.html (slo-mo at 1.50) The object ball hits the very edge of the jaw and the 4 bounces it takes on the jaws all push the ball further into the pocket, he wasn't anywhere close to the heart of the pocket on the shot, the average club or non TV table would probably throw that out 9/10 times even at slower paces.
At the end of the day every other aspect of the table is set up to allow the players to make big breaks, new super fast cloth, heated, brand new balls, new rails etc. Why not forgiving pockets.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Unfortunately I don't play snooker but I would guess the pro is typically gonna be tighter because they are pro's however I think this trend changes from time to time. With tight being sought out, and people like xeno, complaigning about buckets and what not (where are you in the tour if your so good to call any pocket a bucket?? us pool even?? ) typically tighter, you may find the finals all the sudden has tight pockets. But occasionally somebody does say, let them out a bit, and let's see a shoot out. That is the general conception, that playing on tight pocketed table makes you better. But as Barry said in end of video, I can't see how a table will make you a profressional level player?? Everyone has different "grouping" variations. A pro will maybe find it easier on larger pocketed table, on many shots, but will still get misses, and a lot of time, the play is indistinguishable based on table pocket size. That my observation. And then playing wise, for me there is a lot of feel, the particular day being an off day or not, can have more effect, nervousness, and other things. This game, you just have to play to learn. Discussion is good, fundamentals, we always try to understand what's going on, but nobody I'm sure is going to find any success simply out of understanding and what not.
Great video. If the pros played on club tables pocket size with the same cloth they made twice as many century breaks, and many more 147s
Snooker. So very true, the cloth does make a difference, but it also examines technique showing just how good they are.
I measured pockets on table that i play on in club. 3 corner pockets are 75 mm wide, but one is 78 mm. That's strange. Is this possible?
Bostjan. I am sorry to say that it is very possible, so much depends on the ability of the fitters and of course the condition of the table in the first place.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thank you for the answer. Greetings from Ljubljana, Slovenia.
So the side pockets are also 78 mm? Or smaller/wider?
B. Side pockets are wider.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thank you for your answer!
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach how much wider??? Please let me know.
hey barry, love your videos.
I have a problem, in which I find the right line for the pot, however when I go down to the cue ball, I often don't go in the right line, but instead where it just looks right. I don't know what to do with that. thanks
Its a common problem that seeing the line from a standing position is fairly natural but when the chin is down on the cue the picture (line) that you are seeing comes over as slightly different. The best way to tackle this is to place the cue on line, try hard not to move the cue as you adopt the cueing position and to have faith in the line that you have selected, obviously there may be minor adjustments to be made before you get this right but once you have try, to establish a pre-shot routine that replicates this time after time. Don't forget that this game is all about repetition, repeat the good things and progress will come. Good luck.
Does anyone know if there’s a way to tighten your pockets without replacing the rubber? I know you can install shims in pocket facings with American pool tables but since the rubbber goes all the way into the pocket on a snooker table I’m not sure if shims will work. Does anyone know this answer?
MZiggy. Sometimes there is a little play in the bolt holes of the side and end cushion rails allowing some adjustment. It is possible sometimes to tighten the corner pockets but be aware this will open the centre pockets a little.
Barry Stark Snooker Coach Barry thanks so much for always reading through your comment section I truly appreciate that. I’ll look into the bolt holes and see if there’s any room for adjustment without making massive middle pockets. I was also thinking perhaps buying some flexible rubber shims to place behind the rail rubber inside the pockets but I’m still not sure how well that will work. I may just have to invest in new rail cushions and somehow track down some pocket templates as well
Barry is the best!!!!
work with that cue action...............great advice Barry. Barry please tell me how much importance in terms of percentage would you give to 'cue action'. If my cue action is great, will i be able to pot 100% balls or 75% or 50% or how much???? Secondly, please tell how can i improve my cue action??? Thirdly, name things which are included in cue action, like stance, bridge, aiming, or any others??? plz make a list of them all. Fourth, how can i stick to a cue action and don't change it after looking some other guy's action.
There is a guy who comes to our local club daily. His stance is remarkable. His legs and feet adjust so well according to the nature of every shot. He only misses very hard shots. He defeats club owner almost daily. They play a game called 'century' where every player has to earn score of 100 and there is only one red on the table that has 10 points for every pot. his arms flow so naturally. I don't think if he has taken any class from a pro player. He works as a bread maker on a shop nearby. He works all day on his shop but would take one hour break from work and go to the club to play snooker. He wins most of the time. how come he has such a nice cue action????
Multi. I can't give an accurate percentage on the importance of the cue action, only that it is so important that you will seldom see a good player without a good cue action. Please have a look at my videos which show how and where to place the bridge, how and where to hold the cue. These are the fundamentals of a good cue action, get them right and the game starts to get easier, get them wrong and it is damn near impossible. People come to me saying that they have seen my videos and do what they have seen on them, yet when I watch them play they are doing nothing like what is on them. Please watch them, work on what they say, it won't be easy but if you devote some time to it you will get there.
Hi Barry I am trying to buy a table with match pockets etc trying to get a supplier to give me pocket size is like trying to get blood from a stone they say their cut to template size, one said cut to template but they measure 88mm that’s bigger than my club 🤷🏼♂️
Michael. I am afraid you have hit upon a snag. I tried to borrow the official templates from World Snooker but I was told that they are in a contract with the Star table company and are not allowed to lend them out. As far as I know the only way that you can be absolutely positive your table has template size pockets is to get World Snooker Services to fit or check it and that costs money.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thanks for your reply you'd think table suppliers could give you a size though
hi what cloth do you play on this table?
eckat. The cloth is Strachan No10 on the bed and 6811 on the cushions.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thanks we play on 6811 bed and cusions. is no 10 faster than 6811?
During the 2016 World Billiard Championship, I heard Clive Everton mention that they used 3" pockets during the 1870 championship which were so tight that certain shots were impossible to play
I read on the internet that the Joe Davis Billiard table had 3 1/8 inch corner pockets so even smaller back then. lol!
Gurdit. There is no doubt that some of the old billiard tables were very tight, I have played on some, but if they are so tight that certain shots cannot be played that surely cannot be good for the game, billiards or snooker, likewise if they are so generous they will spoil the game. Uniformity was needed, hence the templates.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach The original Billiard table had slightly longer cushions ,so you cant make the pocket any wider past the slate fall ,the slate fall has to be filed more and the pocket made wider at the entrance ,tough tables to play on .
My table is 130 years old 5x10 and I use the original snooker balls that are smaller by far then club balls and yet the pockets are extremely tight
I played on Kurt Dunham's table in Cambridge a few years ago. Not as nice as Neil Robertson and Joe Perry's tables but certainly a table with the tightest pockets I have played on and tighter than tournament Star tables for sure.
Knightlore. Some tables, including those in some clubs are too tight and restrict progress in the game.
Another very good and important video. I wish I could show Barry the type of snooker tables we have here in Las Vegas. An absolute disgrace to the sport lol. Table is covered in ''ultra fast'' Diamond Pool Cloth, and it feels like you're playing on ice. The pockets are about the same size as the snooker ball in diameter, so unless you pot the ball in the middle of the pocket, you will miss. One half milimiter to the right or left and is not going in. I miss playing snooker in Europe where they have the real tables.
rob 1996 Why they put that cloth ??? Whats the brand of the table?
rob. I visited Las Vegas once and absolutely loved it, perhaps you can convince some of the hotels to install a table and start a league, Now that would be an achievement.
Barry Stark Snooker Coach I was thinking about that thanks to the knowledge from your videos I would be able to teach the local pool enthusiasts the ins and outs of the game of snooker. However I anticipate a lot of frustration in the process, as many pool players here are not willing to work on their technique
At my club the pockets at a "pro" table ex tournament in fact is way easier to pot and the reason is better cloth I guess and better pocket adjustment maybe
Hussain. A good cloth certainly helps but you have to ask the question, have the templates been used.?
Nice one Barry 👍 can you explain how they workout the pro players safety success ?
Ian. Not absolutely sure how they work this out, good safety for me not only stops a player from potting a ball but also puts him in trouble. However, if you get the cue ball on or near the baulk cushion at least it restricts options, this is also true when some of the balls on are hidden or partially hidden
Whenever I try to screw cueball , i end up playing stop ball
Any suggestions on what i might b doing wrong??
Aniq. There are several reasons that might be happening here, you might be hitting at the ball instead of hitting through it, you might be trying too hard and creating tension in your arm and grip, you might be hitting the ball too hard. Those are all valid but the most common reason that I see is that players do not hit the ball where they think they are hitting it through fear of a mis-cue or most common movement. Place yourself on video and see if you can detect any movement when you play the shot, remembering that even minute movement of the bridge hand, head, cue will make all the difference.
Hello First I want to ask you and I hope to respond when we want to hit a ball Snooker like what taught us the right influenza one two three of these while taking an eye ball or plaster
Gaith, I am sorry but I do not understand the question, please try again.
Mr Barry when we want to hit a ball Snooker take an eye ball correctly and go down to hit the ball my question when we go down the right to hit the ball looked at the white then the ball on Ready to hit the ball to white or to the ball and plaster Sorry
I am sorry to prolong because I do not know that I mean by white or plaster ball, which we hit the ball in short when ready to hit the ball during the diet and two three in this during what to look for the ball or plaster and thank you and I hope you have understood what I mean
Another diet to hit the ball look at why the ball or plaster
I wish you had an email to talk to you more
why not say how wide the side pockets are? Of course there are other important factors but the actual width certainly matters so there must be some reasonable value or range. We just got a table recovered and the side pockets are now VERY narrow compared to what they were.
Doug. The rules sate. The pocket openings shall conform to the templates owned and authorised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) I tried unsuccessfully to borrow these templates on one occasion.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Thanks Barry, It would still be very useful to provide a "range" for amateurs so we have an idea of what is "normal" and know if the tables we are playing on are near the "wide end" or "narrow end" of the range. It seems quite bizarre that this seems to be some sort of mystery.
again @@BarryStarkSnookerCoach you did show the measurement you made of the corner pockets 78mm and 82mm so could you please let me know what the measurements are of your centre pockets? I've read that a typical club table would have ~3.5 inch (89mm) corner pockets and ~4 inch (102 mm) centre pockets. The BIG issue we have is that we have two snooker tables and one was recently recovered and cushions replaced. The centre pockets are now 12 mm NARROWER than on the other table (ie they went from 101 to 89!). So I'd like to know if the 101 is "reasonable" - 89mm certainly seems narrow for a centre pocket. Please help!!!!
Star tables are ok but when the cloth has just been done on a star or a club table the balls still slide in if played slow all club tables are slightly different and always will be if you like it then that's all that matters
Alan. Very true, but if you are competing on the main tour or Q school you need to practise on templated tables.
Hi Barry,
Today I'm watching the English open match between Dave Gilbert and Ricky Walden. Second frame Walden has 43 on the score board and Gilbert is on a break, he plays a red to right-hand corner pocket next to black spot and even the commentator thought that he'd over cut the red, but it drops after wobbling a few times? This would never have went in on a club table?. You can clearly see from the good camera view just how big the pocket is. My point to you from a previous comment. Best wishes to you. Thanks for your good snooker tips. Ps. Kyren has went downhill since he hasn't got you with him.
Amigo. Don't forget that the camera shows every little detail and exaggerates it. I know that I am not going to convince you but the pro tables are very tight, the big difference is the cloth, the sheen on it allows the ball to slide in if played at the right pace. Thanks for the well wishes.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach You're right. I'm not convinced. Thanks for your reply though. Regards.
Shouldn't be club and professional tables the same way constructed?
Nico. Although some manufacturers are better than others, generally speaking tables are constructed in the same way. One major difference could be that pro tables always have steel block cushions, these are also in some clubs but normally the cushion rubbers are mounted on wood. Pocket openings in clubs tend to be slightly larger (not always) so that recreational players can enjoy the potting aspect of the game a little more.
There is a table in my club that is actually tighter than professional pockets, ive played on a professional table before, they arent horrendous, but this other table was ridiculously tight.
Goofy. I have played on one two like that myself, you could say that they are really unfairly tight, and really do limit the shots that you should be able to play.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach youve got a point there like ive genuinely found myself playing shots tight along the rail, and it goes exactly along the rail with barely any pace and then still stays in the jaws
Yes put a brand new cloth on a pro table makes the balls slide in like on a sheet of ice.
C Bing shouldn’t it be the opposite if it’s new cloth?
Fred trust me they slide in the pockets if they hit the cushion just before the pocket. Well they do on my pool table lol.
C Bing but in snooker it’s much different. The cloth has a different thickness to provide better grip. I have played plenty of snooker on new tables, and the cloth always grips much more on snooker tables which slows the ball down.
Fred I’m sure I’ve heard the commentators saying exactly the same as me though. They say they slid into the pockets on the superfine cloth. Obviously friction increases as it wears out and they don’t slide in ? I’m not sure now though lol you may be correct ?
C Bing no, friction decreases as the table wears. It depends on the cloth as well. If it’s super fine then yes, the table will play faster than your average table, but the cloth will have to be refitted more regularly due to the susceptibility of the fine cloth
i thought the radius of the inside of a pocket was to prevent tears in the cloth once fitted?
Krvy. If a cloth is fitted correctly this should not happen. One thing that can cause tears is careless ironing particularly at the centre pockets, the corner of the iron can tear the cloth at the opening of the pocket were it is slightly slack under the rubber of the cushion.
I think you should watch the Betfred World Snooker Championship, slow the footage down and then tell me the pockets are tighter. They are playing very generous and have done for the last few years. If you watch some of the tournaments in China you see the same thing, balls dropping in when really they shouldn't.
I have only been playing a short time and never really noticed will have a look this next tournament to see, i must admit some hit them very hard and they still go in, many on the tables we play they dont often drop unless going slower maybe as Barry says they have near perfect cue action so they make it look so simple.
Nigel. The templates used are always the same but we should also remember that the cloths and cushions are fitted by people, as a result it is very difficult to get two tables playing exactly the same.
I'm a simple man. I see a Barry Stark video, I take out my notebook and learn.
Parimal. I am still learning myself, anyone who says he knows it all is heading for a fall.
Pocket opening are measured over the slate fall, as measuring inside the pocket is pointless as the ball will already be potted before it gets to that point. The standard club size is about 3.5inches over the fall, which is the old official template size from the late 80s/early 90s. I think the new size is between 3 3/8 and 3 1/4 inches over the fall which is very tight. However the undercut is important as that is what pulls the ball into the pocket. In the 80s they thought taking as much rubber off as possible meant that the ball would be easier to pot, but leaving some rubber actually creates the perfect undercut to draw a ball in, which is why pros can play balls along the cushion at pace and still pot instead of the ball rattling. A star table should pull balls in better than a club table, although their build quality is so poor and substandard I wouldn’t be surprised if this wasn’t the case
Thomas. Some very good points.
Great vid Barry👍👍👍
No kidding but on a club table I used to play on the corner bags were 100mm wide. Unbelievable!!!!! 😀
Deano. Even Ronnie could make centuries on that. Joke! not a very good one I know.
Made me laugh!
Keep up with the good work I love to watch your vids, at 47 I feel I am getting better with your shared knowledge 👍👍👍
I don't fully agree with this. Club tables have a huge variation in pocket depth and width - that's what makes playing in a league interesting. When I watch some professional matches - some shots like close down the cushions ones have distinctively forgiving traits, like seeing a ball bounce 6" before the pocket but still potting. So overall - every table is different but pro tables are surely more consistent and easier to play on.
Plus they have better nap etc etc
Neofierer. I agree that club tables have huge variations in pocket sizes and of course overall playing conditions. Professional tables are certainly more consistent but they to have problems in variable playing conditions, this is mainly due to atmospherics within the playing arena more than anything else though. TV cameras seem to have this innate ability to highlight every detail and to some point exaggerate it like making a pocket look bigger than it actually is. The true statement of the professional table being more consistent does not necessarily make them easier to play on, in fact they are more difficult to play on then any club table that I have played on. Since I am not going to convince you and a few others I can only say please reserve judgement until you have actually played on one I am sure you will change your mind.
extremely helpful, thank you
Simo. My pleasure.
Cool. But I'm not having that. The superfine cloths make a difference. With today's pro tables I've seen pots drop-in from hitting cushion first. Down to the superfine cloth That really annoys me. Because far as I'm concerned that player failed to hit the target. But the Ball still drops. Which lessens drama to the game. So sorry I'm not having it. You got a call it when it happens. the balls would never have dropped on the old tables hitting cushion first. Makes me think that that balls slide easier today.
Jamie. There is no doubt that the sheen on the table cloth, when it is new, does help the ball to slide in the pocket. The video was more about the size of the openings though.
Played American pool last night. The pockets were like buckets. Probably the biggest around.
JC. Potting on an American Pool table is relatively easy compared to snooker but there are other skills associated with the game that cannot be underestimated.
What we need to see is the difference with tournament tables played on the TV , anyone can easily see the pockets are larger and the cut of the pockets are not curved the same as club tables or your table come to that, they are almost straight . Have a look at video's on here they tell a different story !!! Now they are cut more like a American 9 ball pool table pocket .
Brian. I am obviously not going to convince you, all I can say and repeat is that the templates are the same on all pro tables including the TV tables and the one I play on.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach Mr Stark I have the greatest respect for you as a snooker coach and player of the game, I have played on pro tables, when i was having coaching from Steve prest who sadly is no longer with us, died far too young, there is a difference from pro to club tables that i totally agree with you, but how the tournament tables accept some of the balls played is a joke, there would be no way club tables at my club would accept them, nor do i think your's would, I know there in a different league to how even some of the best amateur's can play but snooker table pockets would never accept some of the shots that go in, but this is only my thoughts.
thank you master.❤
We miss your stock and most encouraging phrase at end of your videos. Pray tell us why you stopped your good wishes on that Practice!
@Vish. That was something that came about quite naturally, I will make sure I say it next time.
Thanks Barry 👍
andy. My pleasure, glad you like the videos.
People worry too much about the size of pocket, to some degree i think it is an excuses for their own bad play. Even if it’s bigger, it still requires a very good technique to constantly pot balls, and could even get more tv viewers that could lead to a rise in popularity of the sport, with a little cost in genuineness, however.
Zin. Personally, being something of a purist I believe the balls should be made slightly heavier, this would mean that the pack of reds would not split quite so easily, and possibly positioning the cue ball would demand greater skill. Futile points really though because it just isn't going to happen and the powers that be are happy with the way it is.
Well if the powers that be aint profit minded and love snooker like we do, maybe they will consider about it, it is not a hard thing to change isn’t it?
I have #7 Irons, which makes the pockets in my table a bit larger. But I have a Snooker Table that I play 9 Ball on.... I also practice for my Golf Game... IMHO, tables that have had their pockets closed up are just GAFFE Tables... they are a Cobbed Up, hunk of Junk
"It doesn't matter what table you play on."
- Because both you and your opponent play on the same table :)
Agassi. Sorry don't agree, if a club player wants to play a pro and stand a chance of winning, he should play on a table with generous pockets, that way he may pot a few balls before the pro does.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach such a honour for us to get responses to our comments, sir
2:57 Honestly the hole looks very Large compared to the ball that's why snooker players rarely miss they should narrow it
Agua Menti thats when the ball is directly straight to the pocket, if you play with an angle, the hole(target area) will become smaller
Agua. The pocket (hole) may appear to look large until you try to play on the pro table, it is then that you realise that they are not large and the players rarely miss because they are very good.
A bit long winded but please bear with me.
So sorry Barry but l think you are totally wrong. Ive studied this issue for years and from the aerial view on TV you can categorically see that the slate on the table is cut considerably shorter than our club tables.
Club tables have the bed cut well into the pocket. How many times over recent years have commentators said 'Oh! he's missed.. Oh no he hasn't.. 'well that surprised me'
The great Alex Higgins used to say that the big pockets are narrowing the gap between the top players and other professionals. I've seen far too regularly, objects balls hit cushions at acute angles on the TV, a foot or even two feet before the pockets and still go in. That just never happens on club tables. Further, TV pockets are definitely cut almost square without any obvious narrowing of the Jaw. You can readily see from an aerial view that you can almost fit two balls into the opening of the TV pocket and the edge of the slate is almost hidden beneath the balls. When l did that on our table it was obvious that the table bed ends a lot deeper in the pocket making it much more difficult. This is proven on TV when all too often shots that appear to be too wide to go in, rattle the jaws and often still drop because there's hardly any bed to sit on. l once asked ex pro, David Roe, who was from our club in Derby if he honestly thought the pockets were like buckets on TV tournaments and he said' 'although the middle ones may be tighter than you think'.
My challenge to you Barry is invite me to a TV tournament and discuss the whole thing with the TV pundits and I'll produce video evidence and photos and play some shots to highlight and prove my findings. Of course the snookers authorities and perhaps even yourself would never do that. This post is likely to be ignored or poo pooed also. The key thing for me isn't the size of the pockets. As you suggested its 1) The cut 2) Where the table bed ends and 3) the curve of the cut. I'd love to be proved wrong but l doubt l would be. Why does the subject come up all the time??? Its because too many wayward shots go in.. thats why. Fred Davis once said in his book that due to the new cloth, new balls, condition of cushions, speed of cloth that he thought a 50 break on a club table is worth a century on a pro table. Looking forward to hearing from you Sir.
Craig. There are points in your discussion that I agree with but surely you are forgetting that the pockets on club tables vary considerably whilst the pockets on professional tables are always fitted to template size. Certainly the cut of the pocket plays a significant role in whether a pocket plays generously, likewise the opening size is relevant. The sheen on the cloth also plays a part as to whether the pockets play tight or generous, providing the player plays at the correct pace the sheen on the cloth helps the ball to slide into the pocket, as the sheen reduces with use the pockets play a little tighter. I have long argued that the game at the highest level has become a little too easy but not because the pocket size or cut is wrong but because of advances in technology, the balls are a little lighter than they used to be, the cloth is finer and more responsive and players are better than they have ever been. The subject is raised often because television highlights every little detail, good or bad, but lets not forget that snooker is also an entertainment, punters like to see the big breaks, world snooker are satisfied that they have got conditions about right so what you and I have to say about it whilst worthy of discussion will be viewed as somewhat irrelevant.
If Pro tables pockets are smaller/harder then why not make the tables even more difficult by slowing down the cushions and fitting the tables with heavy slow cloths?
Sorry I don't buy it, there is a reason they won't release the pocket templates!
TheRagBag. Your are right, there is a reason that they will not release the pocket templates and it is purely commercial and bound by contract. On your other point we have to remember that pro snooker is also an entertainment and people like to see big breaks with spectacular shots. The lighter balls and faster cloths make this possible whilst also examining any technical flaws.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach thanks for the answer Barry, as you know the different tables on the amatuer circuit can be frustrating, one minute playing on nice fast tables with nice pockets the next very cold muddy tables with bad lighting. I once played a few matches on a table I was told had the same pocket templates as the ones they were using at the time up in Blackpool for the qualifiers, the table was very hard to pot on but very true as well.
I just wish Snooker could be the same across the board amatuer and pro, perhaps the amatuer scene needs modernising hence why I think the picket templates should be released, I do realise though that the thicker amatuer cloths would change the pockets and other aspects of the tables yet again though!
Someone can show this gentleman the world championchip table of 2023 and than he will have to make another video, becose the new pockets are very, very larger than he belive.
Nilton. This argument goes on and on, tournament table pockets are templated and are always the same. Granted they are fitted by human beings so sometimes there may be very slight variances, also when the cloth is new there is a sheen on the cloth which will help the ball to slide into the pocket opening.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach It's an honor for me that you answered me, congratulations on the channel, I'm watching all your videos and learning a lot, please keep transmitting knowledge because you do it with mastery... Speaking of pockets, I know that sometimes some exotic balls fall and people fall into conspiracy theory, how about you demystify that? record a video taking the measurements of the pockets of an official table that will be broadcast on tv in the best of 19 matches hahaha, hey, I know this won't be possible but it would be cool... I'll settle for a video of the measurements only of an official table if possible, I believe it is a debt of many people, thank you very much and have a good day Master.
Not buying it. My club table you can't hit the rail or near jaw and pocket the ball. Happens all the time in the professional game.
TheLast. I knew the video would be controversial, I knew that some would not be convinced unfortunately there is nothing I can do about that.
Club tables should be around 86mm, not 82.
moviemaster. That measurement may be correct, unfortunately club tables vary a great deal.
@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach 82mm is far to hard to play on for a rookie. But as you say, this measure is not that important as the cut of the pocket. You can have 90mm pockets that are cut to throw out every ball that even barely touches the cushion.
muito bom
Dont believe a word, they hit the cushion and go in
How am I meant to make excuses on why I miss shots the pros would easily get now?
JAY. Lovely comment, I am sure you will think of something.
🎉uhmmm champ snooker tables hanno unpo large pots😮 hai visito due palle unica in pots stesso tempo uhmm larga ....😮