Any narrow tables in the South East?

[jelly]

I've decided to enter the upcoming EA open despite having never played 4 pin, nor played on a narrow table! Might be a long shot but does anyone know one of any narrow 4 pin tables in or around Surrey or Sussex, or have an idea of where the nearest one would be?

Thanks!
Joe

[dillon]

I don't know of any but I am am sure the mystery 'zeds' member could help. In the meantime may I suggest that you borrow some snooker or pool balls and practice with those on a standard table? This will offer the appropriate adjustment in scale to suit your needs. Has this helped?

[taffy]

hey Joe!

I heard you shot your old lady now.......

sorry! there is one in a pub darn sarf and Zeds/Tommo will be along soon to say where. he did tell me in a PM but damned if i can see it.

Just take the 200 pin and stick it in front of the 100 hole and the other 2 infront of the 50s and have a go on a standard table then mark a dot halfway between the back of the D on the leatherette and to the edge of the 200 hole. the spot has to be halfway. a pencil mark will fade after 2-3 weeks which is ideal coz you're in control of when you let it fade away again. it'll be 30-50mm ahead of your 3-pin spot. then remember that the value of the 10 and the 30s swops to 30s and a 10.

a wide table is all any of us have. your break shot on the day will be with the object ball going just about in the 20 instead of the corner pocket to allow the cue ball to go in the 50 pocket.

what can you practice? well definately the break shot is totally the same and look to get 70 off each break shot (white/cue in the 50 and red in the corner 10=20 and a total of 70) and adjust it on the day. I have a video or 3 on youtube which in open play - not just the break shot - will give some hints.

it is about V'ing the balls, getting the red in the middle pocket (30 counts 60) and flushing balls off the top cushion.

cheers

Taffy

A good summary there from Taffy, though I wouldn't recommend watching his videos unless for their soporiphic effect ! (The break shot he demonstrates to such good effect won't be on on the narrow tables).

Apart from one narrow table in Chichester, which is a bit far to go even for me, you may still find a rickety old one in the Fox at Bucks Green, near Rudgwick. I keep meaning to check it out, but am usually too much in a hurry when I drive past.

The one I actually played, and recommended, was in the Hope at Carshalton, but the pub has been partially closed and the table put into storage while an ongoing massive refurbishment takes place, extending into the car park.

[jelly]

Thanks! I might try and make a trip to the Rudgwick one, that's not too far from me.

I was interested to read in the 4-pin rules that the "one up" rule seems very different from the 3 pin, in that it states you may not play "The same break shot more than three times in succession" - so as far as I can tell, you can keep on doing break shots as long as you reverse it every 3 shots! Someone tell me if I've got that totally wrong!! But maybe on narrow tables that's so hard to do that it never happens???

Hey Joe -

If you and the other Nomad fancy a trip to Crawley some time over the Christmas period I can give you a quick crash course which is the best way to familiarise yourselves with such a radically different version of the game.

It won't be on a narrow table but you'll get the general idea.

Rgds,

Zeds

[taffy]

Dec 20, 2018 23:11:46 GMT jelly said:

Thanks! I might try and make a trip to the Rudgwick one, that's not too far from me.

I was interested to read in the 4-pin rules that the "one up" rule seems very different from the 3 pin, in that it states you may not play "The same break shot more than three times in succession" - so as far as I can tell, you can keep on doing break shots as long as you reverse it every 3 shots! Someone tell me if I've got that totally wrong!! But maybe on narrow tables that's so hard to do that it never happens???

at the Northampton 'National' Open in May that becomes a slight issue because that is played on the National wide tables. but Nigel Senior sometimes appears to like to do three the same way, then leave one short, clear it up and carry on on the same side. I know that he will do both ways but sometimes you get it wrong. there is a good reason for this and that is that you spend so much time knocking and whacking pegs that the idea is to be mustard going one way and not expect to conquer both ways without learning the hard way. it was similar 20 months ago at Sudbury, the last year of the wide tables at Sudbury 2017.

I have a lot of respect for those that conquer one form of the sport and are still prepared to see what they can do with this version. it makes fools of all of us at some point. Nigel's opening game last May resulted in a score of 600, a loss to a lady player with 1,500.

but it really brings on your open play game.

cheers

Taffy

[jelly]

Ah that all makes a lot of sense now! Thanks!

[stevehale]

We normally have a proper good beer up at the Bay Horse in sudbury before the tournament on the Friday where we play silly billiards on a narrow table, a lot of players come down and make a bloody good weekend of it all. Just an idea?