I have a 4 pin table

[micmacmoc]

Hello. Micmacmoc here in Mevagissey, Cornwall (near England). I recently bought a 4 pin table. Its a narrow one, Sams of Hoddesdon. The slate is ok, needs refelting but is playable. I have been working on it to clean it up. Lovely glossy mahogany under several decades of muck. It only has six balls. Is this correct for a narrow 4 pin? The previous owner gave me a set of rules with the table but they seemed rather made up and made for far too easy play. Is there a set for narrow 4 pin tables?

Far too easy to play, huh ?

Sounds like you will soon be ready to take part in the annual East Anglian Open (next March).

These are the set of rules we all follow:
www.sdbbl.co.uk/page/rules.html

Yes, six whites only and one red are used for 4-Pin, with 4 mushrooms guarding the high value holes.

My colleagues (in Crawley) have made a rough assessment that 4-Pin is three times as difficult to play as 3-Pin and that the scores obtained reflect this: i.e. 1k = 3k; 2k = 6k; 3k = 9k; 8k = 24k etc.

[micmacmoc]

I meant using the rules the previous owner went by were too easy! He has a larger diameter 10" D from which he says non break shots can be taken. Don't like that at all so playing breaks from the spot and other shots from the 'proper' D. I will invest in a new set of balls next. Getting a cue for my birthday. 50 next month so approaching middle age.
Any cue advice anyone?
Will go by your rules so i can get my eye in. Would love to play some experienced 4 pin players having only ever played 3 pin before. Thanks all. Stew in meva.

[doug]

Have a look at the Peradon cue website. My wife bought me lovely one piece cue from here and as it was custom made, length and weight etc I have found it excellent.

Doug

Well, a 10" diameter D would be considered excessive ! The largest I've seen has been around 10cm.

'D' types is an interesting topic to explore.........

For "off-the-spot" 3-Pin (played in the Channel Islands) a token round D of 1.5" diameter is employed (which prevents memory loss over having to play everything from the white spot).

For normal 3-Pin the maximum diameter used is 3".

On bespoke narrow tables, a brown leather D seems to be standard, which seems to have more length than width (echoing the fit of the table, I suppose).

Re: your last paragraph, that is the same boat that most of us were in when Norwich staged the First East Anglian Open three years ago: 4-pin Winter Leagues only exist in Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambs(Wisbech) and Northants(Wellingborough). The Norwich league has been in existence for less than 10 years and Wisbech and Wellingborough are in serious decline.

So really if you want to test yourself against "experienced 4-Pinners" you would have to visit our friends in Sudbury, Suffolk.

[daveuk1]

We are always up for a challenge at the Bay Horse in Sudbury and always welcome anyone and every one.

The entry forms for next years four pin open will be put up next month, although we already have a few names down.

Dave

[chrishaynes (R.I.P.)]

Hi Dave, add. Chris haynes,mick Reilly,Gareth dell and peter Payne to that list then, Eastbourne are coming again!!!!!!;