Short, true or long: reading the table
No two tables play the same. On one, every route comes up a little short; on another, the ball runs long off every cushion. Good players read the table in the first few shots and adjust.
What short and long mean
A table plays long when the cue ball comes off the cushions at a wider angle than expected, so it travels further along the table before the next cushion. It plays short when the angles come out narrower. A true table plays the angles you expect.
What changes it
- The cloth. New, fast cloth lets the ball slide and keep its spin; worn or damp cloth grabs it.
- Humidity and heat. A damp room slows the cloth; that's why carom tables are heated.
- The cushions. Their rubber, height and age change how much they grip the spin.
- The balls. Clean, polished balls slide more than dirty ones.
How to adjust
Notice which way your misses go. If routes come up short shot after shot, aim the first cushion a little longer, or add a touch more running english; if they run long, the opposite. Speed changes it too: firmer shots shorten the angles off the cushions.
Choose shots that work on any table
The best shots score whether the table plays a little short or a little long. A two-way shot or a route ending on a big ball has room on both sides. A shot that only scores on a true table is a gamble on the table, not just on your stroke.