Why Do Diamond Tables Bank Shorter?

[oldschool1478]

Thanks for the diagram - very informative.

Here's how I aim 1-rail kicks on the GCs I usually play on. They normally go long, so I aim at the diamond on the rail to compensate (instead of the "equal angle" spot on the cloth in front of the diamond). It's self-adjusting for different angles (more adjustment for wider angles, less for steeper angles) and scary accurate on these tables.

pj
chgo

(Yellow lines are the "equal angle" reference; white lines are the adjusted aim.)

Very interesting Patrick!
Your system is sort of the reverse of mine, but works equally as well, even on my diamond!?

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Very interesting Patrick!

Hope it's helpful.

By the way, as you probably already know, your mirror system works for finding the equal-angle reference tracks for multi-rail banks too (although it's harder to visualize).

pj
chgo

View attachment 22627

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Another mirror system visualization.

pj
chgo

View attachment 22819

 

[oldschool1478]

Damn Patrick!
That's exactly what I've been interested in lately.
How does it predict cushion/cloth/friction
changes to angle? Or do the rails cancel each other out?
Did you do the diagrams? If not can you link?

Those three rail kicks work on my Diamond weather I shoot
diamond to rail gutter or gutter to diamond. I think they are
parallel to each other. Great to be able to sight them either way!

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Damn Patrick!
That's exactly what I've been interested in lately.

Cool - glad to help.

How does it predict cushion/cloth/friction
changes to angle? Or do the rails cancel each other out?

It doesn't predict those effects; it's only a tool to find "equal angle" reference tracks. For instance, that corner-to-corner 3-railer has to be aimed (without side spin) about a half diamond longer than shown (at least on the tables I usually play on).

Did you do the diagrams? If not can you link?

I did 'em - I've got a collection of diagrams I've done over the years. Lots of 'em have been posted on Dr. Dave's website - here's another one from there that fits into this conversation.

pj
chgo

View attachment 26211

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Those three rail kicks work on my Diamond weather I shoot diamond to rail gutter or gutter to diamond. I think they are
parallel to each other. Great to be able to sight them either way!

They are parallel to each other, but I hadn't noticed until you pointed it out. Thanks for the tip!

pj
chgo

 

[oldschool1478]

Well, here's the thing.
I know those are for reference but on my table they actually
work as drawn, including rail contact points.
I think the Diamond (blue) rail,cushion,angles,etc. make this
mirror system work, where other tables do not.

My bottom line....If my table banks short....I'll take it.
I can't tell you how many times I hear people say
"You can't bank by the diamonds on the rail. You just have to feel it."

Diamond tables are diamond friendly.

 

[beatle]

all tables are. you just have to find that speed that correlates with the diamonds on that table. or make the adjustment for what you want to do.

as a bad analogy, its like stopping your car. it may have a stopping distance of say 100 feet. but on different road conditions you may get more or less and have to hit your brake harder or softer.

 

[phil dade]

Thank Old School and Patrick. Good information and sort of a refresher as to when I was first tipped off to the spots on a wall in a pool room .