What Best Describes Your Attraction to Pool?

Good question and hard for me to answer. I think I like the aesthetics of it because there are so many different subtle bits of beauty, I like the stress relief of being able to focus on the game and let go of the rest of the world, and I love the never-ending offer of mastery of something that will never be mastered. Glad to see you back Jenny!
:p
 
I've posted this before on AZB, but it's worth another reading. It's the best thing I've ever read about the appeal of the game of pool.

Playing Off The Rail, by David McCumber, Random House, 1996.

This book contains my favorite passage about pool. It has been hanging on my bulletin board ever since the book was published. I hope some of you enjoy the passage as much as I do. It's from pages 276-277. It is the author's thoughts while watching Tony Annigoni's 9-3 9-ball masterpiece over Johnny Archer.

"Tony broke, and made two balls, and I could see the table unfold in my mind, and I knew he could see it even better, and would run it. As he made the shots I was overpowered by the beauty of this game, at once immutably logical, governed by physical inevitabilities, and at the same time infinitely poetic and varied. This game at its best, as it was being played before me, had the transcendent power of a Handel chorus.

I thought about what an impressive mental exercise it was for Tony, after a miserable session against an unremarkable player two hours earlier, to reinvent himself so completely. It was a question of heart, a gathering of everything stored inside a man, a refusal to fall after stumbling. It was a very rare thing for a player to take such advantage of the game's intrinsic quality of renewal, the fresh start with each match, each rack, each shot. Nothing pharmaceutical could ever exceed the jolt of bliss that comes with the self-mastery that sort of play entails: knowing the ball is going in, knowing the cue ball is going to stop precisely where you willed it to, knowing that the next shot is going in too. I thought of Willie Hoppe, running an astonishing twenty-five billiards in an exhibition in 1918, seeing all those rails and angles and spins and caroms in his head like presents waiting to be opened. It was no accident that Hoppe was the most disciplined and controlled player of his era. Power over the cue ball, over the object ball, is power over ourselves. It is the sweetest irony that pool has gathered the reputation of being a game for louts and idlers, when, to be played well, it demands such incredible discipline of movement, of thinking, of emotion."​
 
I enjoy the mental aspect of the game more than anything. I can sit for hours and read books, articles and AZ forums. Then comes the fun of trying to implement/perfect what I have learned and the

I'm also very content driving to Reno during the bar table championships and watching for hours on end. I guess I am just as much a fan of the game as I am a player.
 
Nothing like winning a game that looked like it was lost and always trying to improve
to the next level.

BTW - welcome back Jam
 
  • Like
Reactions: JAM
It's just a game.

Pool is just a game. But it's physics, it's geometry, it's a little bit of math, and a whole lot of english (all high school subjects). It's simple, yet complex. Watching a ball roll and hearing it drop, there's a beauty to that. The sounds of the game, the equipment....it's all fascinating. Sometimes it's not even about winning, it's about just playing. It's just a game. But it's a game for life. That's why I love it.
 
For me, the single most attractive aspect of pool is how close amateurs and pros can come together in this game. By that I mean it's not at all uncommon for a guy like me to enter a large tournament and possibly end up in a match with a well known pro. AND, if the stars are all lined up correctly, it's not totally unthinkable to walk away with a win. How many other sports offer that? Can a weekly softball player ever hope to end up in the batters box against a Randy Johnson? Or a pick up game basketball player ever find him self competing against the likes of Lebron? It happens in pool all the time, and more often than many would believe, guys like Earl, Charlie W., Johnny and others lose in some early round match to some no namer that just happened to have a great day with all the rolls.
dave
 
part of it for me is

the zone. and not just being in it, but searching for it.

its the competition with myself. ultimately i am deciding if i win or loose. (i wish i would finally decide to win more)

how the game is this incredible social boundary equalizer. white collar, blue collar, rich, poor, race, creed color. i play and meet people because of pool i wouldnt normally due to social circles.

the really addictive parts for me:
the sound, look, and feel of everything involved with the playing of the game.
there's something soo hypnotic about the level of concentration and focus on those well lit bright, shiny, primary colored balls against the backdrop of a dark room. the blackness in the back of the pocket. those images have such a sharp contrast and burn into you. i can see it any time i close my eyes.

when its so quiet you can actually hear whitey rolling on the table up to that soft click that drops a ball into a pocket, then that satisfying click-clang into the ball return and then it rolling down to that thud when it hits the carpeted box.

the cerebral-ness? of every rack being it's own unique puzzle waiting to be solved combined with physical ability to do it. Shooting at your very best is using everything between your ears and at the same time every shot your using every part of your entire body

the pure joy of hitting something just to watch it move and interact with the other balls and cushions on the table.

the fact those things about pool can take my mind off almost anything else.
 
Last edited:
It is

evolutionary magic waiting to be experienced. It reels you into its world and gets into your blood forever. Smooth as a lover sometimes, rough as a rumble at other times, the excitement forever drifting in and out of your life.
 
Well last week I went to practice. Upon coming back my fiancee' asked if it went well. I said yes. She then asked who I played and I told her no one....I just played alone. She looked at me weird and said, "you mean to tell me that you played for six hours by yourself?!?!" I said yea....still don't understand what was so weird about that. She said I have a sickness.

I guess you could say I have a sickness then.
 
JAM said:
Whether you're a pool enthusiast, railbird, industry member, social shooter, tournament soldier, weekend warrior, professional player, hustler, gambler, or a lemonade man, there must be something about pocket billiards that keeps you coming back for more. :)

In the year 2010, pool just isn't a good spectator sport, attracting large masses of viewers, whether on TV, Internet, or in person. This is unfortunate but true. :frown:

Of course, there's exceptions to this school of thought. Some may enjoy partaking in a little side action on the outcome of a match, and others may have enough spare time in their lives to sweat pool for long durations, as that's what some pool races/matches end up being, especially the ahead games. :grin-square:

Watching abbreviated pool on TV isn't much fun when portions are cut out, but that's how it is on TV. Matches are edited because the media people, like ESPN, think it's just too much content to hold the attention of mainstream viewers. :D

It would be interesting to find out the demographics of the pool culture, at least as it pertains to the readers of AzBilliards discussion forum. I'm not sure how statistically significant it is or what the plus/minus ratio is. :embarrassed2:

If I've left out a category and you want to describe the reason you like pool, please share! :p
Click to expand...

I hate money and I am a masochist.

Actually, I like the idea of reducing my world to just the table and controlling the balls. I like making inanimate objects do my bidding and the thrill of victory when I do that AND it's against another person for money.

I like that when I am really in the zone the rest of the world falls away. And I like that this can happen in any number of places from the finest pool room to the dingiest bar. I don't need a membership, special clothes, to be in shape, or the right skin color or gender, I just need a decent cue and an opponent.

That's what attracts me to pool. That's it's universal and personal.
 
the attraction to pool?

The escape from the world to what REALLY matters; the click of the balls, the colors and the green expanse, the shots that no one has ever seen but you saw them yesterday and you can't wait to show everyone!, the pleasure and the rhythm and the sweat as you pace around that immense world of probability and fantastical expectation, the feeling of playing with your best friend for 10 years and not knowing that he even had a wife! because it's part of that other world, the one that isn't as real or exciting or important as this one, the feeling of having your pockets stuffed with cash, the dangerous and insane shots you pulled off with everything on the line swirling in your head as you throw the mountain of money on the bed and relive every glorious moment! the quiet times when you are all alone in the pool hall practicing a shot, the sun streaming through the window, passersby looking in, not realizing that you've discovered something about the game that blows your mind, that will revolutionize the pool world! And that's just the turmoil undergone on Monday in this fantastic love affair.

...it took me like 3 min to type that....LOL
 
Last edited:
the sickness

gunzby said:
Well last week I went to practice. Upon coming back my fiancee' asked if it went well. I said yes. She then asked who I played and I told her no one....I just played alone. She looked at me weird and said, "you mean to tell me that you played for six hours by yourself?!?!" I said yea....still don't understand what was so weird about that. She said I have a sickness.

I guess you could say I have a sickness then.
Click to expand...

amen. lol that's the truth
 
Kid Dynomite said:
Jennie,

You know me very well! I had limited success as a Junior playing such greats as Dennis Hatch, Max Eberle, Charlie Williams & others. I realized early on that pro pool could not support me accordingly and I had to pick up some college books. Now, I work and play once a week and a major tournament once a year.

So, I am not a road hustler! I am not a rail bird! I am not a pro! I guess I am a weekend warrior and proud of it. Plus, my kids appreciate my sacrifice and career decisions that keep me at home right where they need me.

Its kind of hard to walk away from something when you are so close to its highest level. I like most of us pool players, believe that world championship level play is just around the corner and one lesson or one cue/equipement change away. Just stay away from the a$$ weights and tennis tape. Earl the pearl debunked those myths for us. Thanks Earl! Your the greatest!!!!!!!

Kid
Dynomite
Click to expand...

LOL! Hey, Kid, what's happening! :)

Well, I think you know you made the right decision. There is no future in pool as a profession, especially in the year 2010. Look at the United States' representation at the World Cup. Who can afford to go, unless you have a corpulent stakehorse or a sponsor? How many American players have that? I can count them on one hand. The payouts in pool don't lend themselves to playing pool professionally on a regular basis.

As I am sure you're aware by now, there's something to be said about having a high-quality roof over your head, a home you can be proud of. Sharing your heart with somebody you love is also what life is all about, much more so than money, though money helps. ;)

Some players won't ever experience the security in life you have now. Believe me, living out of a suitcase sucks. It took me many years and six figures to understand that. Charlie, Dennis, and Max chose a different direction in life, and that's okay for them. People have a right to choose different priorities in their lives. Pool for them may be a greater priority than a family lifestyle.

I'd rather be you than Earl Strickland, Kid. I don't care how many championship titles Earl has. They don't pay the bills, and the lifestyle of a professional player does not complement a family lifestyle. Worst of all, when you die, the funeral parlor may be empty. :sorry:
 
Last edited:
I love pool. Okay? Those who have known me my entire life realize that pool is a part of my being.

For me, the best part of my life when I enjoyed pool the most was when I was playing at my local neighborhood tavern or playing on the Busch league. I was a pretty spiffy player at one time, rated 6 out of 7 on the rating scale.

At my neighborhood hangout, I used to really enjoy beating my pool foes. We had a group of us that met every day at the tavern. We'd play for a buck or a brewskie. It wasn't about the money or the free beer. It was about that almighty win. There was no better feeling than sinking the 8-ball and looking at the expression on the other guy's face, the agony of the defeat. LOL! :D

Even today, I don't mind sweating an all-night action game in one-hole, but that's me. I understand pool, all games of pool, and I enjoy hanging out with pool peeps. We are a unique culture.

Professional pool over the last decade seems to be a case of history repeating itself, from what I have been told and from what I have experienced. You can't get ahead in pro pool financially speaking. If money is not important and the high of playing top-level pool is, then, by all means, pro pool is where it's at.

The U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, the $25,000-added at Joss/Turning Stone events, Derby City Classic, and Super Billiards Expo are some pool events that I have experienced and enjoyed immensely. As a social shooter, these pool extravaganzas are the nuts, the cream of the crop. For the pro player, it's just another pro tournament. For the railbird like me, it's a place to meet friends, hang out, and jaw-jack. For the pro players, it's business.

I guess what I am trying to say is I love pool for fun and not as a means of income. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the leagues are where it's at, BCA, APA, TAP, and any other that allows social shooters a place to gather, hone their skills, and be competitive. Regional tours like Joss, Jacoby, Viking, Seminoles, Blaze, Predator, Tiger, Planet Pool -- [I'm sure I'm leaving some out] -- are great competitive events that don't bust the bank. That's my take on pool today, which is subject to change if my counterpart ever wins a big one. :wink:
 
Dead Stroke

After a long stressful day at work, walking into my favorite pool hall and this follows:

Breaking and then it happens. The next thing I remember is sitting back down to get a sip of what else, a cold COORS. The guys at the table say nice run. I say, I ran that rack? I don't remember any shot except the last one. Guess what? My stressful day is forgotten. It's happened more than once. Total concentration. Many peolple have told me that I am a different person when I get on the table, oblivious to reality. Dead Stroke, love it!
 
I'm an addict, if I knew why I could stop..everyone that's posted pretty much touched on the reasons I play..I can't wait for the weekends to show up..me an my freinds play from Friday night until Sunday afternoon..I have a table at home, so most nights we don't call it until 3-4 in the morning..my kids are grown now..they come home an shoot around a little with me too..I enjoy every minute of their company..I would have never made it as a pro..knew this 25 yrs ago, hasn't stop me from trying to play my best yet. At this very moment I am waitting for a friend to pick me up, we're going down town to play some one pocket..maybe he will win today.

All of you have a safe 4th of july
 
JoeW said:
1. A personal challenge to become the best I can with out regard for what others think.
2. A complicated problem that requires physical and mental skill.
3. A long term goal and all the learning that is required to achieve that goal.
Click to expand...
That describes the challenge aspect of it for me too. Pool is a great lifelong project.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top