Current Conditions

#1 · February 2, 2018, 7:34 pm

Quote from DVS147 on February 2, 2018, 7:34 pm
Hi guys. A bit long this but worth a read and generally interested on opinions of players on this subject? Having personally played in the league for 10 years, I have noticed a rapid change in conditions and sadly it's for the worst.

George Mitchell quite rightly touched on this previously at an AGM.

1. All players/teams should brush, block and iron tables prior to a tie, league or matches. Too many don't on purpose to hinder a player yet it's a game of etiquette so there should be no excuses. It's called sportsmanship.

2. I can offer good advice. Cloths......they need brushed, BLOCKED and ironed. Most never use the block!! Brush and iron actually damages cloths and makes them bobbly. If you brush you MUST block or it ruins cloths totally!! A block over is better than a brush and iron....which is pointless, and no use, just damages cloths as the nap is no longer straight. The more they are cleaned the better they will run and in time play beautifully....saving clubs MONEY on recovers! Maintenance is massive on tables.

3. Clubs like to buy hard wearing cloths but for an extra £50 can get 6811 Strachan Gold which, if looked after will last just as long yet play better and not go bobbly.

4. Balls. Using either Aramith Tournament Balls or Tournament 1g balls as some teams are using antique, old ball sets. Hazelhead invested and now many people are seeing a big difference going there!!

I do realise it's not the Cruicible BUT, we should do our best endeavours to make what we do have as good as we can. You hear people talk and say, hate this club, that club etc or its horrible there, I'm not looking forward to my match and things....well if these things are done the experience is better for EVERYONE involved, and will help produce better snooker which in turn makes people want to play more AND enjoy it more!! Win win surely. If people are willing to use handicaps and to such an extent as we are then surely players deserve to play on the best conditions that can possibly be supplied. It's not fair or sportsmanship to intentionally do 'things' to jeopardize a player as the game should be played in the correct spirit and the player who is better at snooker in that match, be the winner. Great to see Country Club being proactive to try and fix this and also Gary at Oldmachar for his efforts. It's no coincidence that, when done the tables at Oldmachar play fast and nice. We at the 22club also do ours for matches and it runs beautifully with barely a roll off found!

The next time a ball rolls off on you, was it just the cloth not being done?? 9 times out of 10....it will be.

Don't forget I'd like this on a personal note, but also for everyone else's enjoyment. Do it and see the results.

Best regards,

Marc Davis

Hi guys. A bit long this but worth a read and generally interested on opinions of players on this subject? Having personally played in the league for 10 years, I have noticed a rapid change in conditions and sadly it's for the worst.

George Mitchell quite rightly touched on this previously at an AGM.

1. All players/teams should brush, block and iron tables prior to a tie, league or matches. Too many don't on purpose to hinder a player yet it's a game of etiquette so there should be no excuses. It's called sportsmanship.

2. I can offer good advice. Cloths......they need brushed, BLOCKED and ironed. Most never use the block!! Brush and iron actually damages cloths and makes them bobbly. If you brush you MUST block or it ruins cloths totally!! A block over is better than a brush and iron....which is pointless, and no use, just damages cloths as the nap is no longer straight. The more they are cleaned the better they will run and in time play beautifully....saving clubs MONEY on recovers! Maintenance is massive on tables.

3. Clubs like to buy hard wearing cloths but for an extra £50 can get 6811 Strachan Gold which, if looked after will last just as long yet play better and not go bobbly.

4. Balls. Using either Aramith Tournament Balls or Tournament 1g balls as some teams are using antique, old ball sets. Hazelhead invested and now many people are seeing a big difference going there!!

I do realise it's not the Cruicible BUT, we should do our best endeavours to make what we do have as good as we can. You hear people talk and say, hate this club, that club etc or its horrible there, I'm not looking forward to my match and things....well if these things are done the experience is better for EVERYONE involved, and will help produce better snooker which in turn makes people want to play more AND enjoy it more!! Win win surely. If people are willing to use handicaps and to such an extent as we are then surely players deserve to play on the best conditions that can possibly be supplied. It's not fair or sportsmanship to intentionally do 'things' to jeopardize a player as the game should be played in the correct spirit and the player who is better at snooker in that match, be the winner. Great to see Country Club being proactive to try and fix this and also Gary at Oldmachar for his efforts. It's no coincidence that, when done the tables at Oldmachar play fast and nice. We at the 22club also do ours for matches and it runs beautifully with barely a roll off found!

The next time a ball rolls off on you, was it just the cloth not being done?? 9 times out of 10....it will be.

Don't forget I'd like this on a personal note, but also for everyone else's enjoyment. Do it and see the results.

Best regards,

Marc Davis

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#2 · February 2, 2018, 11:53 pm

I agree with you mark, we all have clubs we hate going to because of the table conditions but what's the cost of a block if it's going save money on the cost of a cloth. We are lucky at the transport as we have an agreement with the club that the team get back £1 for every £3 that we put in the metre and this is what is used for the up keep of both tables. Lenny purchased new rests, brushes and a block for the tables. He even managed to pick up what your dad described as brand new steel block cushions and this year both tables will be recovered and hopefully new lighting.

We take pride in looking after our tables, not just for us but for everyone who comes in to play snooker be it members or other teams on a Tuesday.

Well done to the country club for putting on a race night to raise funds to fix there 2 kitchen tables as well maybe other clubs could do the same if needed and am sure as a snooker league we could all purchase tickets to these nights and help the club's we all moan about have great tables.

Also I wonder if we could find out how many clubs don't have blocks and see if the committee can do something to help them like they did with the offer of match balls.

Regards

Gav

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#3 · February 3, 2018, 8:34 pm

After having my game with Jamie tonight i hope you have a successful race night.

#4 · February 4, 2018, 1:39 pm

Well said Marc and Gavin

As was mentioned by Marc, I’ve brought this up at AGM ( twice, with old committee and new )

I’ve been playing in the league for 20+ years!, I’ve always done table before every match I’ve ever played, it’s common decency, etiquette, unfortunately it isn’t reciprocated back by the vast majority of my opponents!!

i will propose at next AGM that is does become a rule, punishable by a loss of frames ( or something similar )

Marc and other guys that travel to play at events out with Aberdeen will know the table conditions that are close to TV tables are plentiful elsewhere and make a huge difference, so surely this isn’t asking much!!

#5 · February 9, 2018, 9:49 am

As a previous committee member I really found this interesting.

Have a thought on what effect all this is having on your current one!!!

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#6 · February 10, 2018, 7:01 am

I must be clueless.

#7 · February 11, 2018, 7:02 pm

A comment by mr Oaten after his game v Raymond Gardiner. Your within your right to make such a statement because that tables are beyond a joke but what else can we do? We are trying our best to get a successful race nite in order to get the tables done for a 3 rd time in 3 years we simply can’t do anything else other that re cloth them. Any one got any better ideas other than get new tables feel free coz any help would be appreciated.

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#8 · February 13, 2018, 7:44 am

The slates need aligned and put a Strachan 6811 Gold cloth on and all will be good. Currently you have thick bar pool table cloth on I think. Great to see you guys sorting it! Well done. Your tables are actually good, just the cloth and you will be flying!!

#9 · February 13, 2018, 12:52 pm

Let’s hope so Marc because we want people/ players to enjoy playing at our club and that certainly has not been the case over the last few years. We just need a successful race night and a quality table fitter fingers crossed.

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