How does an increase in humidity and temperature affect how a table plays?

With more humid conditions, the following changes occur:

  1. Sidespin “takes” more on the rails (i.e., the ball “bites” more due to increased friction). This is also the case with warmer temperatures.
  2. Draw shots are more difficult due to increased “drag” (due to the cloth playing “stickier” with increased sliding friction).
  3. The pockets play “tighter” because rebound is “shorter” (and rail-induced spin “takes” more) off the pocket facings.
  4. The cloth plays slower (because of increased rolling resistance), and sidespin wears off faster. Although, warmer temperatures tend to make the cloth play faster.
  5. Banks go “shorter” (due to more friction). This is also the case with warmer temperatures.
  6. The CB can hop off the cushions more (and this delays post rebound curve, making the effective bank angle even shorter).
  7. The cushions can play bouncier and faster (since the nose of the cushion grabs the balls more).
  8. The balls can throw more (see ball condition effects), and there can be more cling/skid/kick (because the balls tend to get more dirty and hold chalk residue more).
  9. Swerve happens sooner, so net CB deflection (the combined effects of squirt and swerve, or squerve) will be less.

Here are some demonstrations by Poolometry, showing how humidity and temperature affect different types of shots, especially banks:


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