Dead spot on a cushion or possibly cloth related!

[vjmehra]

I've had a table for around 3 months now and typically would break off sending the red towards the left hand 50 pocket and the white to the right hand one.

This had been working out fine, except in the last month or so, what was a simple shot has become very difficult to play, however if I switch sides and play the red into the left hand pocket, with the white going into the right one it seems fine.

So I'm trying to work out what's happened here:

Could the hot weather have affected the cushions (but if so, why only one side)?
Could a dead spot have developed on the cushion (seems unlikely as the rubbers are brand new, although the reaction sort of suggests this is the case)?
Could the cloth be (not visibly, but perhaps un-noticeably) more worn on one side, which is enough to make the shot impossible (by playing the natural angle without any side I mean)?

It could of course be my cueing and whilst its far from perfect, I feel it is almost certainly the table here.

I do brush the table regularly, but is there anything else I should be doing and can anyone think of any reason why this might have occurred?

Finally, one more thought, is it just that new cloth slides more and as I've effectively used one side of the table more, the new cloth 'slide' has decreased more quickly there?

If that is the case, then is it normal to put a bit of side on the cue ball when playing the break shot? Previously I was able to hit the natural angle and just put a bit of top on, which is a much easier way to play if possible!

Any thoughts are appreciated (oh and apologies if you feel this is in the wrong section, I thought it was probably table related, hence I put it here, but of course please feel free to move if you disagree mods/admin).

[Chris_Sav]

You don't say which hole is missed on the break and on which side. It's normally the white coming across in front of the fifty hole.

Putting LHS on the break and RHS on the one-up is a normal and expected part of the game.

Is the table level? an uphill table towards the back would make the break more difficult.

Unlikely you have any problem with the table, cloth or cushions in a short term change. The only sudden change likely to cause a change in direction of the bounce is a part of a cushion coming unstack or a screw pulling out. Is it a Jelks or a Sams table?

First thing I would check is whether the D and red ball spot are in a direct central line through the 100 and 200 holes. A red spot slightly to the right would give your symptoms. Try playing the break with the red ball just off the far side of the red ball spot, i.e. increasing the distance slightly between the balls gives a better angle. There is half an inch leeway in red ball spot position.

Just a start to see how you get on.

[vjmehra]

Aug 15, 2018 8:27:27 GMT Chris_Sav said:

You don't say which hole is missed on the break and on which side. It's normally the white coming across in front of the fifty hole.

Ah, apologies, you are indeed correct, I did mean the white!

Putting LHS on the break and RHS on the one-up is a normal and expected part of the game.

Ah, I was wondering that, it just struck me as odd that I never had to previously (and still don't cutting the red the other way), but I'm guessing thats just the new cloth.

Is the table level? an uphill table towards the back would make the break more difficult.

It seems to be, or at least as level as I can get it. Very little roll, infact it only seems to roll when coming off the back cushion, so that might be due to a combination of the napped cloth and accidental side!

Unlikely you have any problem with the table, cloth or cushions in a short term change. The only sudden change likely to cause a change in direction of the bounce is a part of a cushion coming unstack or a screw pulling out. Is it a Jelks or a Sams table?

Its a Jelks, but I don't believe any part of the cushion is loose (definitely nothing obvious, it feels very much attached in all places).

First thing I would check is whether the D and red ball spot are in a direct central line through the 100 and 200 holes. A red spot slightly to the right would give your symptoms. Try playing the break with the red ball just off the far side of the red ball spot, i.e. increasing the distance slightly between the balls gives a better angle. There is half an inch leeway in red ball spot position.

The spots are aligned correctly, however you are correct, when I moved the red up about 5mm past the current red spot, I can play the shot I used to play (i.e. pot the red in the left hand 50, white in the right hand one) with the natural angle and a bit of top.

However, given you said having to play with side is normal, its probably more beneficial to me to keep the spot where it is and just get used to playing with a bit of left hand side if I want to play the shot!

Just a start to see how you get on.

Much appreciated, you have helped a great deal, from what you say its very likely not the table, so I'll just practice and adjust how I play the break shot!