Aiming from a Little Table to a Big Table

Week of Sept 25th, 2005. Most leagues are played on coin-operated 7 foot tables, aka "bar tables." Unless you often play on both bar tables and big tables ("regulation" or 9 foot tables), you may not necessarily notice the more subtle differences between the two. The more obvious differences on a big table are the longer shots and the many times tighter pockets. What many of us may not realize is that you actually need to aim the ball a bit differently for certain shots. Usually, a big table comes with a red circle cue ball. This cue ball weighs in at approx 5.5oz. The Aramith cue ball for the Valley bar tables weigh approx 5.9oz. And, if you're playing on a Dynamo table or with older balls, your cue ball could be oversized and even heavier than 5.9oz. This .4oz is at least a 7% window for error. 7% may not seem like much, but when we are referring to a mere 2.25inch diameter, the slightest mis-aim by a fraction of a millimeter can cause us to miss the shot.

(red circle cue ball)

(Aramith magnetic Valley cue ball)

What I like to say is, "You get more 'action' with a red circle cue ball than with a bar ball." This means, the same amount of english used for the same shot, with a red circle cue ball reacts more effectively than with a heavier cue ball. Therefore, when playing with a red circle cue ball, you will want to practice shots where you are using english to pocket the ball; "throw shots" as they are often referred to. If you have the opportunity to use both cue balls together, set up the same shot, using the same english and notice how much more the object ball reacts when using a red circle cue ball. The only way to get used to this difference is by practicing with both, and frequently.