dents around the rack area...?

[racer rx]

I have some minor dents around the rack area... I play mostly 9 ball...
Do I have to break softer? Now do I have dents in the slate table or could it be some dents or wear in the Simon's 860 I have.

[mmorri12]

Do you "tap" the balls to set them before breaking? I know that actually puts a minor indentation for the balls to rest in so they do not move.

[Sid]

The dents are most likely in the cloth. It comes from the force of the break and the impact of the head ball. When the cue hits the head ball, it is forced down at first because the rest of the balls are holding it up for a split second. This will eventually cause a dimple in the spot and or the cloth. I have redone tons of tables and have never (that I can remember) seen the slate dimpled at the head spot.

Another thing might be the build up of chalk under the cloth at the head spot. Over time, chalk, dirt or anything else that has filtered through the cloth might get pounded into the slate by the head ball on the break. Over time this will build up on the headspot on the slate and when you do a recover, you will have to scrape it off as it has been constantly pounded into the slate for a long period of time and will start to look like it is actually a bump in the slate with a hole in it. This is mostly a problem on bar boxes or other tables that have had lots of games played on them. I have rarely seen this on home tables.