How does an increase in humidity affect how a table plays?
With more humid conditions, the following changes occur:
- Sidespin “takes” more on the rails (i.e., the ball “bites” more due to increased friction).
- Draw shots are more difficult due to increased “drag” (due to the cloth playing “stickier” with increased sliding friction).
- The pockets play “tighter” because rebound is “shorter” (and rail-induced spin “takes” more) off the pocket facings.
- The cloth plays slower (because of increased rolling resistance), and sidespin wears off faster.
- Banks go “shorter” (due to more friction).
- The CB can hop off the cushions more (and this delays post rebound curve, making the effective bank angle even shorter).
- The cushions can play bouncier and faster (since the nose of the cushion grabs the balls more).
- The balls can throw more, and there can be more cling/skid/kick (because the balls tend to get more dirty and hold chalk residue more).
- Swerve happens sooner, so net CB deflection (the combined effects of squirt and swerve, or squerve) will be less.
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