The Pool/Billiards Topic

[David in FL]

A thread for the cue sport enthusiasts.

I know we have some pretty serious players here, and likely many more that enjoy the game casually.  In my experience, most golfers are better than average pool players having well developed hand/eye coordination and a somewhat intuitive feel for geometry and physics as they relate to each.

Anything goes.  Equipment, rules, league/tournament play, poolrooms, etc...

 

I’ve been playing since I was 12 or so.  I play in one serious league and one “kiddy” league.  The latter is just an excuse to get out one night a week, but fun nonetheless.  It’s also a little refreshing to play with some guys who think I’m a pool stud, rather than with those who know otherwise.  I’ll play just about any game, but 9-ball or 10-ball are my favorites.  9’ tables over bar boxes, given the choice.   As with golf, after all this time, you’d think that I would be better, but alas...   

Like golf, I enjoy the occasional tournament and have long ago gotten over any issues with getting beat by people much better than I am.  Like golf, I do find that tournament play and pressure improves my every day play significantly.  A $5 game of 9-ball with buddies doesn’t cause much stress compared to playing a highly ranked player with dozens of people watching.

Finally, because as in golf, we love our gear, my Chris Nitti custom...

 

Edited May 15, 2020 by David in FL

[Vinsk]

I had a decent McDermott back in the day. Think it was a ‘Stinger’ series. Unfortunately it was broken in a rather entertaining bar brawl in Texas. I played a lot in my 20’s....been a long time. I remember watching Mosconi vs Fats on TV. 

[David in FL]

  On 5/15/2020 at 4:15 PM, Vinsk said:

I had a decent McDermott back in the day. Think it was a ‘Stinger’ series. Unfortunately it was broken in a rather entertaining bar brawl in Texas. I played a lot in my 20’s....been a long time. I remember watching Mosconi vs Fats on TV. 

Expand  

McDermott still makes a pretty damn good cue.

Like several top production cue makers, made in Wisconsin!

[billchao]

I used to love playing pool and I was terrible at it. I think I played twice in the past three years.

[Vinsk]

  On 5/15/2020 at 11:15 PM, billchao said:

I used to love playing pool and I was terrible at it. I think I played twice in the past three years.

Expand  

You’d probably do better if the felt was thick, wet and torn up.😀

[billchao]

  On 5/15/2020 at 11:38 PM, Vinsk said:

You’d probably do better if the felt was thick, wet and torn up.😀

Expand  

Maybe stick a tree on the table, too. Then I'd be right at home 😜

[iacas]

Bob Dzuricky Cues | NSLog();

---

The Weblog of Erik J. Barzeski

My cues (just one photo for here, more at the link above):

[nevets88]

Is 9 ball what most people play? Or 8 ball? I lived in Canada for a bit so I like snooker. It was weird coming back to the smaller tables. 

[billchao]

  On 5/16/2020 at 12:32 AM, nevets88 said:

Is 9 ball what most people play? Or 8 ball? I lived in Canada for a bit so I like snooker. It was weird coming back to the smaller tables. 

Expand  

I prefer 9-ball. I used to watch some snooker but never played it.

[saevel25]

  On 5/16/2020 at 12:32 AM, nevets88 said:

Is 9 ball what most people play?

Expand  

I tend to prefer 9-ball. Just a faster game. If there are three people we'll play cut throat. If we have four then we do 8-ball with teams. 

[David in FL]

  On 5/16/2020 at 12:23 AM, iacas said:

Bob Dzuricky Cues | NSLog();

---

The Weblog of Erik J. Barzeski

My cues (just one photo for here, more at the link above):

Expand  

Bob makes a nice cue!  
 

Good to know that you helped with the AZB site too!   

  On 5/16/2020 at 12:32 AM, nevets88 said:

Is 9 ball what most people play? Or 8 ball? I lived in Canada for a bit so I like snooker. It was weird coming back to the smaller tables. 

Expand  

I just got in tonight from playing snooker.  Great game, and enormously difficult.  Many times more so than pool on a 9’ table!  It’s tough to find tables though.  A 12’x6’ table takes up a LOT of room!

For perspective, the guy shooting here is 6’1” tall.  The tables next to it are full sized 9 footers...

 

Edited May 16, 2020 by David in FL

[TN94z]

I used to play some but haven't in years. I am currently building a shop and plan on putting one in the shop along with a golf sim

[billchao]

  On 5/18/2020 at 3:44 PM, TN94z said:

I used to play some but haven't in years. I am currently building a shop and plan on putting one in the shop along with a golf sim

Expand  

I'd love to have a shop where I can install a pool table and a golf sim, too. Just wouldn't know where I'd put any tools 😜

[commishbob]

Many years ago I played four or five nights a week. I was single and living in an apartment complex in Houston at a time when some of the apartment clubhouses were hot nightlife spots. I had a Balabushka cue (replica, not original) and my late brother and I made up an almost unbeatable rotation (and drinking LOL) team. I got married and settled down and barely played after that. My brother kept at it. He later converted a garage into a pool room. I haven't played in years.

[David in FL]

  On 5/19/2020 at 12:11 AM, billchao said:

I'd love to have a shop where I can install a pool table and a golf sim, too. Just wouldn't know where I'd put any tools 😜

Expand  

Honey, I’m going out to work in the shop...  

  On 5/19/2020 at 1:53 AM, commishbob said:

Many years ago I played four or five nights a week. I was single and living in an apartment complex in Houston at a time when some of the apartment clubhouses were hot nightlife spots. I had a Balabushka cue (replica, not original) and my late brother and I made up an almost unbeatable rotation (and drinking LOL) team. I got married and settled down and barely played after that. My brother kept at it. He later converted a garage into a pool room. I haven't played in years.

Expand  

It’s not quite “like riding a bike”, but it’ll come back to you if you give it a chance...  

[commishbob]

  On 5/19/2020 at 1:55 AM, David in FL said:

It’s not quite “like riding a bike”, but it’ll come back to you if you give it a chance...  

Expand  

Probably so. It would be hard to convince my wife to go along, though. She was never a fan of the places I played (other than my brothers house) 😉  Heck, I wasn't a fan of some of those places myself. It would have to be at a Dave and Busters or something like that.

[Bonvivant]

Bummer I caught this so late in the evening. I'll have a nice photo dump tomorrow with cues and tables, and some stories to go along with perhaps.

[David in FL]

  On 5/19/2020 at 3:22 AM, Bonvivant said:

Bummer I caught this so late in the evening. I'll have a nice photo dump tomorrow with cues and tables, and some stories to go along with perhaps.

Expand  

I was wondering where you were!  

Edited May 19, 2020 by David in FL