i want to practice pool

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paultex

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
hello, i would like to get back into pool but i need to practice. Im willing to move where ever. I been out of the loop for almost 2 decades. It seems maybe North Carolina is a good place? Maybe you guys can help, Im all ears.

Wanted: cheap area to live, pool halls or a pool hall with a monthly rate deal to practice or an hourly deal or what ever. It would also be nice to be around an area with lots of good players, tourneys and action as well?

Maybe asking too much? thanks
 
Bavafongoul

Bavafongoul

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
California Offers a Lot .....but

There's lots of pluses to California but the biggest drawback is the overall cost of living......I think the south east is the way to target yourself.

Matt B.
 
The8reader

The8reader

does this help! haha
Silver Member
Fargo nd has two big pool halls now with lots of local tournements and many across the state that are big. And Minneapolis mn is only a couple hrs from here.. cheap to live here to.. lots of places that take no rent for first month. Many one and two bed that only cost 400 or so a month.. lots of jobs.. only thing that sux is the cold.. but that keeps the trash inside or out of the state.. for the most part
 
ChopStick

ChopStick

Unsane Poster
Silver Member
paultex said:
hello, i would like to get back into pool but i need to practice. Im willing to move where ever. I been out of the loop for almost 2 decades. It seems maybe North Carolina is a good place? Maybe you guys can help, Im all ears.

Wanted: cheap area to live, pool halls or a pool hall with a monthly rate deal to practice or an hourly deal or what ever. It would also be nice to be around an area with lots of good players, tourneys and action as well?

Maybe asking too much? thanks
Click to expand...

Move to a place with a room big enough for a Diamond ProAm. Forget practice at the pool hall. Too many ballbangers stepping on you. Pool halls are not for pool players anymore. They are places for people to hang out and get drunk.
 
P

paultex

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
ChopStick said:
Move to a place with a room big enough for a Diamond ProAm. Forget practice at the pool hall. Too many ballbangers stepping on you. Pool halls are not for pool players anymore. They are places for people to hang out and get drunk.
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yes i thought of the house route too, lock myself up for a year and eat, sleep, drink pool. Maybe even document the whole thing. I could call it journey into hell or something... but i am sincerely considering the challenge. I will explore all options and then make a decision.
 
M

maha

from way back when
Silver Member
go make a trip and find out what rooms are like now. nothing like a few decades ago. you may find yourself out of place there. only a few rooms left that have the players that are fun and gamble and are places fun to hang out.
phoenix area has a lively action and a couple good rooms and is reasonably cheap.. and smoke free if you are interested in your health.
 
Celophanewrap

Celophanewrap

Call me Grace
Silver Member
Now, we're just talking here, but if it we're me and I had the option of anywhere I might be looking at this from a slightly different angle. I think you can probably find adequate tournament play in just about any city that you might consider, action might be a different matter but more.on that later. My first thing is I'd want to be somewhere that I felt good, I play so much better when I feel better so I'd go somewhere warm so Fargo is out, I'd have to pick a warm area. I could visit the colder places during the summer so the summers would be full of action and road tournaments.
I'd look for a place I could put my own table in, personally, like everyone I have nights that I don't sleep or that something has kept me out way late and I have been known to hit a few racks anywhere between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM, having my own table has been great for late night therapy. So "my own table" considered, another part my criteria to consider would be facility. The place I go would need to have some rooms where I'd find other players of course, but in stead of looking for a room with the the monthly deal.you're looking for I might look for a metroplex that had an athletic club, and I don't mean a Balleys or a 24 Hour Fitness. Here in Denver there is the Denver Athletic Club. In addition to the pool, weights, hot tubs and such, there was also a billiard room. It's been a while since I was a member, but back then there was no shortage of available action. Good action, these guys first, were gentlemen and in places like that you don't welch. Gold Crowns, Snooker, Billiards, it was a very nice room. If an athletic isn't available you might look for a golf club with a similar facility but to do that you'd really need to also be a golfer or you could be dissed in quick order. I would think that parts of Florida, Louisana, or Southern California would do nicely for what you're looking for. I have heard that Florida would be the most cost effective but I don't know for sure. First thing, find somewhere where you are comfortable or all the practice in the world won't matter
 
Katipunan

Katipunan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Move to P.I.

paultex said:
hello, i would like to get back into pool but i need to practice. Im willing to move where ever. I been out of the loop for almost 2 decades. It seems maybe North Carolina is a good place? Maybe you guys can help, Im all ears.

Wanted: cheap area to live, pool halls or a pool hall with a monthly rate deal to practice or an hourly deal or what ever. It would also be nice to be around an area with lots of good players, tourneys and action as well?

Maybe asking too much? thanks
Click to expand...

Move to the Philippines for a year. All of the above you are asking is available there. You will definitely get action everyday then return to the US and apply all the skills you have acquired. The best practice is getting action, it mentally strengthens your game instead of locking yourself in a room with a pool table playing the ghost and running drills day in day out. Just my two cents.
 
P

paultex

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Allen Brown said:
Where are you living now? In Texas?
Click to expand...

I was but now close to state line in new mexico. I worked oil field for past 3 years. Nearest pool hall is hours away. Rent is not cheap in these areas (oil field prices lol) just in case i went the home table route.

Katipunan said:
Move to the Philippines for a year. All of the above you are asking is available there. You will definitely get action everyday then return to the US and apply all the skills you have acquired. The best practice is getting action, it mentally strengthens your game instead of locking yourself in a room with a pool table playing the ghost and running drills day in day out. Just my two cents.
Click to expand...

Yes, i thought of that option as well, I know its viable.

By the way, I agree with you 100% that "action" is a key component if you want to reach the highest levels (or simply get better). However, alot can be said about practicing.......HARD PRACTICING. Ultimately, practicing makes you a better player. You can simulate tremendous pressure "practicing". Ive spent a quarter of my life gambling (pool and cards) so i'm not too worried about the action aspect. But like i said, youre 100% right, nothing replaces tough action.

But i just want to say this, If a novice player locked himself in a house and practiced correctly and watched alot of good pool videos (very important too) for 10-12 hours a day, one year straight (probably impossible lol).......can anyone deny that person would be a very good player?

Anyway, didnt mean to derail, lots of good suggestions i already thought of but the tough one is finding out about where the good places are, only players can tell me this, not google, i tried lol........thats why i posted here.

So far i'm leaning towards the one year dungeon sentence, something about the challenge interests me. Phillipines or a move to the south is a close 2nd.

Thankyou ALL for the replies so far, its really helped.
 
fastone371

fastone371

Certifiable
Silver Member
The only short coming I see to the home table is adjustment. You must be able to adjust to different tables, different sizes, speeds, cushions, etc.. if you want to be competitive. I practice a lot on my table which is a 9' but all of our leagues and tournaments here are played on bar boxes. Some are very fast Red Label Diamonds, some are very slow Valleys with backed cloth. Its a huge difference between the 2.
 
Allen Brown

Allen Brown

Pool Whale
Silver Member
Paul, is this your first time here? Do you have any video of you playing.....and Im guessing that, since you have spent a lot of time in pool halls gambling, you know your way around the table at least a little bit. Whats your name and what pool halls did you grow up in?
 
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paultex

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
fastone371 said:
The only short coming I see to the home table is adjustment. You must be able to adjust to different tables, different sizes, speeds, cushions, etc.. if you want to be competitive. I practice a lot on my table which is a 9' but all of our leagues and tournaments here are played on bar boxes. Some are very fast Red Label Diamonds, some are very slow Valleys with backed cloth. Its a huge difference between the 2.
Click to expand...

yeah thats a strong point for sure. I think no matter what, the adjustments will have to be made (i got a cool nick varner story to tell). But yeah, playing on one table for a year straight doesnt give you any adjustment or experience to draw from in different venues. Ive Had that problem before with too much "practice" on 1 table. If i did decide to go the dungeon route, i would look at it as a 2 year deal, 1 year by myself to really straighten my game out and build a strong foundation, then another year of seasoning my game in different environments.... Just some thoughts or a game plan i should say. I may or may not be right in my assessments but the final decision will be one im comfortable with.

Allen Brown said:
Paul, is this your first time here? Do you have any video of you playing.....and Im guessing that, since you have spent a lot of time in pool halls gambling, you know your way around the table at least a little bit. Whats your name and what pool halls did you grow up in?
Click to expand...

Yes this is my first time here. No video of me playing. I got out of pool over 20 years ago. I played mostly in north bay california. I was ranked semi pro in the local handicap systems "USPPA" and "NPL" which if im not mistaken (NPL) was invented by Bob Jewitt? At my peaks, i was clearly on my way to being a strong player but they were always short lived because of life circumstances. I would go into modes of practicing alot and playing tourneys and finding winnable action but then i often found myself playing for the rent money......very stressful. I can honestly say when it was hill-hill for the rent, i broke and ran out every time. But i can honestly say ive choked too in key situations in tourneys and cash games and got drilled as well.....who hasnt?

But let me say this, when i say "strong player", that is still not pro level......and then theres world class, the creme of the pros. So thats the level i made it to, just under strong players. The strong players i remember were dee holtz, he owned executive billiards. Al the plumber. Another strong player was Pat stratton. There were a few asian guys in frisco, a guy named Han, he was strong. Then there were guys like billy ray, jack madden. Another guy was mark haddad "the snake". Then there was phillipino gene, he was really good, i played most of these guys at one time or another for money or tourneys. Another guy was eskimo joe, very good player. At my best, these guys would struggle to give me the 8 ball but it would still be 50/50 i'd say. Paul brienza was another guy i remember, he was more pro level i believe.

Any way, thats where i stood and it was brief. And also, most of these guys would have a very tough time beating a pro and would certainly get drilled playing world champs.
 
B

bdorman

Dead money
Silver Member
At the rate pool halls are closing it would be insane to move somewhere based on having a good pool hall nearby. Every "Another Pool Hall Closing" post on AZBilliards is accompanied by comments about how well the pool hall appeared to be doing and surpise at its closing.

If you're up for it, the Philippines is probably where you'd learn/improve the most in the shortest amount of time.
 
S

Scott Lee

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
paultex said:
By the way, I agree with you 100% that "action" is a key component if you want to reach the highest levels (or simply get better). Not necessarily! There are several top pro players who do not gamble. However, alot can be said about practicing.......HARD PRACTICING. Ultimately, practicing makes you a better player.Again, not necessarily! You would need direction and coaching to achieve superior goals, the way you're talking about! You can simulate tremendous pressure "practicing". Ive spent a quarter of my life gambling (pool and cards) so i'm not too worried about the action aspect. But like i said, youre 100% right, nothing replaces tough action.

But i just want to say this, If a novice player locked himself in a house and practiced correctly and watched alot of good pool videos (very important too) for 10-12 hours a day, one year straight (probably impossible lol).......can anyone deny that person would be a very good player? Yes, that can be denied. Without the right kind of practice, a way to measure your results, and a sounding board from a professional instructor/coach, you might not achieve anywhere near the success you're striving for!

Anyway, didnt mean to derail, lots of good suggestions i already thought of but the tough one is finding out about where the good places are, only players can tell me this, not google, i tried lol........thats why i posted here.

So far i'm leaning towards the one year dungeon sentence, something about the challenge interests me. Phillipines or a move to the south is a close 2nd.

Thankyou ALL for the replies so far, its really helped.
Click to expand...

Gambling, by itself, does not make you a better player...it only makes you a better gambler. Real improvement comes from immersion with great players (for an extended period of time), and/or serious dedication and disciplined practice, with the direction of a good teacher.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
 
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paultex

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
cool nick varner story

Same year nick beat grady matthews in reno open final on tv. Nick always visited executive billiards at that time of year because he was friends with dee holtz......and travelling is what world champs do:)

Any way, me and a couple other guys went to a mexican bar where they had a small tourney. I got knocked out and watched a guy named ricardo playing my friend some last pocket 8ball on a bar box. My friend was out matched, so him and his partner, who was a stake horse, immediately grabbed me as i was the better player than my friend. Well, this ricardo guy, turns out was a specialist at this game, i wasnt. He stepped it up a notch against me and i had no chance. We were playing 50 a game and called it quits.

.......but wait, lets get nick! we'll show 'em!

So we go to the hall and grab nick, he brought his stick, he played ricardo same game, same bet, same bar box.

The place was pretty crowded, blaring mariachi band loud as hell. It was pretty surrealistic. We were the only white guys in there, only a few watching the game on the side, nobody knew nick, not even ricardo.

Nick wasnt doing so well. He was losing more than winning, then he started getting a little pissed which means really pissed for a guy like nick. Lets face it, nick is 100lbs of soft spoken demure wet sponge. I dont think nick knew what hit him, the game, the environment, the LOUD music. He had this razor thin cut on the 8, it was froze to the rail, he loaded that cue ball with extreme low outside english and fired it HARD. The 8ball hugged the rail about 6 inches and fell short of the hole by 6 inches lol. At that point, i didnt feel warm and fuzzy about our chances.

Like i said, he was visibly pissed, so much that shortly there after, he had this long straight shot on the 8 where he had to jack up to shoot it. 8 wasnt hangin, it was in the middle of the table, nick shot it so hard that the 8 hit dead center back of the corner pocket and flew across the room! Then nick stands next to me, never said a word before mind you, and says in that heavy drawl, "THESE ****ERS!!!" lmao.

Nick didnt win.

The real funny part was the whole ride back and nick and the stake horse, they both went 50/50, trying to figure out how much they both lost......."no that ownlee mayks us hundred n fiftee loozerz"......lol

Needless to say, ricardo and a money crew came to our pool hall the next week. We had a bar box there too. They played 100 a game and nick destroyed him. Beat him out of a 1000 i think.
 
9andout

9andout

Gunnin' for a 3 pack!!
Silver Member
Celophanewrap said:
Now, we're just talking here, but if it we're me and I had the option of anywhere I might be looking at this from a slightly different angle. I think you can probably find adequate tournament play in just about any city that you might consider, action might be a different matter but more.on that later. My first thing is I'd want to be somewhere that I felt good, I play so much better when I feel better so I'd go somewhere warm so Fargo is out, I'd have to pick a warm area. I could visit the colder places during the summer so the summers would be full of action and road tournaments.
I'd look for a place I could put my own table in, personally, like everyone I have nights that I don't sleep or that something has kept me out way late and I have been known to hit a few racks anywhere between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM, having my own table has been great for late night therapy. So "my own table" considered, another part my criteria to consider would be facility. The place I go would need to have some rooms where I'd find other players of course, but in stead of looking for a room with the the monthly deal.you're looking for I might look for a metroplex that had an athletic club, and I don't mean a Balleys or a 24 Hour Fitness. Here in Denver there is the Denver Athletic Club. In addition to the pool, weights, hot tubs and such, there was also a billiard room. It's been a while since I was a member, but back then there was no shortage of available action. Good action, these guys first, were gentlemen and in places like that you don't welch. Gold Crowns, Snooker, Billiards, it was a very nice room. If an athletic isn't available you might look for a golf club with a similar facility but to do that you'd really need to also be a golfer or you could be dissed in quick order. I would think that parts of Florida, Louisana, or Southern California would do nicely for what you're looking for. I have heard that Florida would be the most cost effective but I don't know for sure. First thing, find somewhere where you are comfortable or all the practice in the world won't matter
Click to expand...
WOW!!! Can I nominate CELOPHANE for "THE MOST CONSIDERATE POST OF THE YEAR"?
AZ is so warm and fuzzy now....
Wait. How about a JB thread? Haha
 
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