Where is the best spot in america to play pool?

[CocoboloCowboy]

Shocking, I know! Imagine a rating system in pool where better players have to win more games/give up a spot to weaker players. Crazy, right?

I think you missed my point, so I will make it a little clearer. Friend was RATED a 9 under the old system, now it is an 8. But he is like an A- Player. When he went from an 8 OLD SYSTEM to a 9 Old System he said the number of event open to him were few.

Most of the Events in PHX are geared to keep the better player out. So under the old system a 9,and New system an 8 has a GLASS CEILING to deal with.

JMHO but than i have lived here 13 years, and what the games being played but a few on the committee to shall we say manipulate a system for their own good.

 

[jason]

if it snow's there-its off the list.

Vegas is WAY off the list, i'm here the past week, but i'm sick of it here. 20 years in and out of Vegas in enough, i hate it here, the pool scene is as good as I ever saw in the past 20 years, too bad its got good since I left.

I'm in LA the past 2 months and its a joke, 20,000,000 people and 30 lock smiths with ZERO gamble, Damn shame too, and they have $$$ too, thats what makes me sick. they wont flip a coin for $100 but will play $100/pool-wow that shows lots of gamble-NOT!!! If they took a chance they might win something I got my nose open, come bust me, but dont stick me up. But they take no chances and never make scores, they grind on each other for pennys. Just more than the table time, which might be high stakes else where. I never seen anything like it in 26 years. They will throw $$ in the fire at a casino knowing they got the worst of it, but wont bet anything on pool. What ever I cant fix their problems.

I used to drive from N Ca to La and make $$ from 86-90, Bobs Billiards in Anaheim, Varsity billiards, and other rooms that are gone, now there are no new rooms and little action, nice guys to chat with, but man to find a game thats close to being fair is just gone.

I need some new grass under my feet,

any ideas?


thanks


Fatboy:smile:

Even though Chicago is cold in the winter time, there isn't a better city in the summer. Unfortunately all pool is pretty much dead in the summertime anywhere you go. The pool scene in Chicago isn't great either IMO. The growth of the city and recent laws have made it difficult for the large footprint of pool tables.

Where ever you go, I'm sure you will fit in better is you leave the Bentley in LA and either get a Ford or Chevy. I think the places that support pool the most are blue collar towns. I don't know the scenes, but it sounds like areas of Texas and Florida, Phoenix, Atlanta are the hot spots. If you really want action, you might seriously consider the Philippines.

Good Luck finding what you are looking for.

 

[Spider1]

I think you missed my point, so I will make it a little clearer. Friend was RATED a 9 under the old system, now it is an 8. But he is like an A- Player. When he went from an 8 OLD SYSTEM to a 9 Old System he said the number of event open to him were few.

Most of the Events in PHX are geared to keep the better player out. So under the old system a 9,and New system an 8 has a GLASS CEILING to deal with.

Uhh...: there are more average/lower skilled players out there, so there are more tournaments available to them. This happens everywhere pool is played?

JMHO but than i have lived here 13 years, and what the games being played but a few on the committee to shall we say manipulate a system for their own good.

Well I am not sure what this even has to do with the thread, as tournaments and ranking systems are only one part of the pool scene in any area. And again, it isn't like arguments over rankings/handicaps don't happen everywhere in the country.

Out of curiosity, in those 13 years, how many valley tournaments have you played, and how many visits to actual pool halls have you had?

 

[RunoutJJ]

Heard a lot about the Houston area. Anywhere else??? Maybe NYC :smile:

 

[JoeyA]

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to have to find out if this is his nickname. I've been doing some interviews lately and his name came up, so before I can relay a few pool tales about him, which are juicy BTW, I want to dig up some more data. It's so hard to find data about pool peeps unless it's by word of month.

I did hear that he was from Metairie originally.

I think his nickname was "Tenneco" because at one time in the past, he worked at a Tenneco Gas Station. Walter went on to become a highly successful insurance salesman and then opened his own company. He made lots of money in the insurance industry and gambled a lot of it away. I was his sparring partner for years. The only way he could make great scores was to play me and lose for days on end and when he could finally start beating me some of the time, he was ready to bust the pool room (and did this on more than one occasion.)

Walter was just as happy gambling at pool as he was gambling in the casino. I never saw Walter take a drink of alcohol on all the years I was around him.........

JoeyA

 

[Fatboy]

fat boy, i believe will still have pool players. the sad thing is that we dont have people willing to sweat their bets anymore. think about this, years ago you had the bookies in the pool room. you had the drug dealers in the pool room who had tons of cash to piss away. they were all there because they had beepers and needed to be close to a pay phone. now, we all have cell phones. no need to hang in the pool room, barber shop whatever. you get my point. now you have people who play pool but have no cash. fifty dollar one pocket is good action here in b more all day long. just my thoughts. thanks paul

I miss the drug dealeers, pimps, bookies. I remember those days, hell I played the 5 ball under my current speed and could go to SoCal and make $$, then go to HardTimes and blow it all back trying to get better, then back to different room to get pumped up again.

The past few years I lived in Vegas full time and when I'd go to Ca I'd take a break from pool, so I wasnt clear on how it is there, I know there is action in Sal's room, but I cant drive over a hour and play(my back cant fade that) I'd have to get a room etc.

the guys in LA are cool, I just re-read my post and didnt make that clear I like them, but I like people I gamble with too. I know pool is dieing in the west coast, Vegas was never great. Best Billiards is a great room here for sure in Vegas.

I want to live somewhere new that has a good pool scene. Sacramento is ok, but I lived there. I'm just board with CA/NV. In Nov i'm going to Brazil-I'm gonna see whats up there.


thanks for al the replies, i'm gonna keep looking at this thread and follow up on some spots. I really want a change, i lived in Ca/Nv long enough.

 

[Fatboy]

People don't have money to Gamble in California, as the place is too expensive to live, and the State is almost Broke.

California has lots too many job to the countries Off Shore, Mexico, South America, and other States that are friendly to business.

they have pleanty of $$$, i'm there, I see it. they just wont bet. Or will only play if its a lock. The state being broke has ZERO to do with pool action. resteraunts that are $150/person are packed every nite. There is tons of $$$, and no gamble.


I made more $$$ in Phx than any where back in 91-93, it wasw soft action and guys would bet, take a chance for $50. you cant get a guy to take a chance for $10 in Ca. I'll play anyone for $10 heads up-always havve always will. it makes me sick to see guys who are much stronger players than me not willing to bet $10 when I know I cant win. I told a guy "If I win we dont move the coin, if you win you win $10, you cant lose" he still wouldnt play me. Now you tell me how much heart that is? I just wanted the pressure-it was a no win game-he was scared. I played one guy $10/game lost 10 games I said bet $20/game I'm stuck 10 games, he wouldnt raise the bet, i had zero chance to win. Why play? What happened to those people?

If its worth doing its worth doing for $$$.

 

[Fatboy]

Thanks for input? I will add a RATING SYSTEM that penalizes the better players, as they become better.

That rating system is why I robbed everyone there I played, they were all bragging about their rating, soon as I got the number on them, i'd play. Its a big neon sign that invites stronger players to get a read on weaker ones. They were so proud of their rating they would brag about it, for some reason I was always a point weaker I'd tell them. "But I'll give it a go anyways, tails", meanwhile I was 1-3 points higher or I didnt play. I'd go down every 3 months so nobody would really remember me. I was under the radar, unlike today.


best

Fatboy

 

[Fatboy]

I think you missed my point, so I will make it a little clearer. Friend was RATED a 9 under the old system, now it is an 8. But he is like an A- Player. When he went from an 8 OLD SYSTEM to a 9 Old System he said the number of event open to him were few.

Most of the Events in PHX are geared to keep the better player out. So under the old system a 9,and New system an 8 has a GLASS CEILING to deal with.

JMHO but than i have lived here 13 years, and what the games being played but a few on the committee to shall we say manipulate a system for their own good.

it makes perfect sense from a biz stand point to penalize the stronger players, in biz you have to cater to your largest market, there are 100 weak players for every strong player. I'd rather piss off one strong player and have 100 weak guys happy. And make the strong player a house pro. Look at APA leagues they dont care how people play as long as they play, and who is collecting the most $$$? cater to the masses not the elite. Business 101.

 

[Underclocked]

If you don't mind hot and humid, Louisiana seems like the place to be nowadays. I base that opinion solely on my readings but it seems clear enough to me.

 

[mnb]

it makes me sick to see guys who are much stronger players than me not willing to bet $10 when I know I cant win. I told a guy "If I win we dont move the coin, if you win you win $10, you cant lose" he still wouldnt play me. Now you tell me how much heart that is? I just wanted the pressure-it was a no win game-he was scared.

maybe some of those players dont want to give you "lessons" that cheap.

You said you're going to Brazil. How about the Phillippines?

 

[Fatboy]

maybe some of those players dont want to give you "lessons" that cheap.

You said you're going to Brazil. How about the Phillippines?

It aint a matter of lessions, i aint that weak of a player, The game wasnt that far off, I'm just not used to wet tables so I lose the handle on the rock sometimes. its the principal, I can play a champion any time I want and do often.

I am gonna check out the PI, thailand too. I like the eye candy in Brazil much more, I'm not into Asian chicks at all, zero. But I'm not moving anywhere looking for that anyways, I have a great girl. I wish the USD$ wasnt so damn weak right now, that makes it risky to move out of America 100%, I'd have to keep my feet in 2 countries America and where ever else I move, I perfer to stay gone if I do move out, but right now thats not possible.


If a person moved to Australia 5 years ago and then back here, you would have doubled your net worth, right now you might lose 25% of everything.

 

[cueandcushion]

No geographical suggestions. I believe the game of pool has similar problems of finances, perception, saturation, disinterest all over the country. Some places are just worse or better than others. Some of it is generational, but mostly basic economics. Pool used to be a middle class game, much of the working middle class has been disappearing for decades, its now a low income class game. Most players just don't have the disposable income anymore. Sad, but the state of pool is just a reflection on the state of our country in general.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Out of curiosity, in those 13 years, how many valley tournaments have you played, and how many visits to actual pool halls have you had?

More than you have fingers and toes to count on between 2005-2009. I pretty much since than have maybe played in maybe 5 or 6 tournaments because of health problems. Every time I think about going out to play in another tournaments, I think about the drive, cost, poor pay out, dealing with drunks, and last being up all night for next to nothing, and stay home and watch TV.

Hell I have a community room with 29 Gold Crown III’s within a mile, and a third walk of home. Get to play there 5-7 days a week, who need the aggravation.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

That rating system is why I robbed everyone there I played, they were all bragging about their rating, soon as I got the number on them, i'd play. Its a big neon sign that invites stronger players to get a read on weaker ones. They were so proud of their rating they would brag about it, for some reason I was always a point weaker I'd tell them. "But I'll give it a go anyways, tails", meanwhile I was 1-3 points higher or I didnt play. I'd go down every 3 months so nobody would really remember me. I was under the radar, unlike today.


best

Fatboy

I am sure you could return to PHX, and find the same "fish" willing to give you their pay check, as the bars are full of those who think they are great, and will to show you how great they are.:smile:

 

[Cuemaster98]

New york is not a bad scene for a few good games. We have some classy room in Manhattan to play (Society and Amsterdam) and some good action rooms (Soho in Manhattan, Skyline in Brooklyn). Master in Queen was the best but unfortunately it's now closed. If you want actions, you'll be able to find your fair shares here. There are certainly a handful of guys here that comes to mind that's always looking for action.

Duc.

 

[Fatboy]

New york is not a bad scene for a few good games. We have some classy room in Manhattan to play (Society and Amsterdam) and some good action rooms (Soho in Manhattan, Skyline in Brooklyn). Master in Queen was the best but unfortunately it's now closed. If you want actions, you'll be able to find your fair shares here. There are certainly a handful of guys here that comes to mind that's always looking for action.

Duc.

I'm thinking about the NYC/Miami loop, forget snow, i cant take that at all.

I gotta do something I'm not happy at all.

 

[Fatboy]

I am sure you could return to PHX, and find the same "fish" willing to give you their pay check, as the bars are full of those who think they are great, and will to show you how great they are.:smile:

LOL i'm past that these days(hopefully forever), :smile:

 

[Spider1]

More than you have fingers and toes to count on between 2005-2009.

Weird, I played my share of tournaments in the valley during that time and was even working at a pool hall and never ran across you. Where did you play these tournaments at?

Hell I have a community room with 29 Gold Crown III’s within a mile, and a third walk of home. Get to play there 5-7 days a week, who need the aggravation.

I can understand that for sure. But not everyone has the luxury of a subsidized senior rec center to play in, so you shouldn't be so harsh on pool halls who have to exist in the business world, and things they do to stay in business, like offering beer or having b+c tournaments. Common sense really.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

How about Texas?

Dallas/Ft Worth area and close to Houston. Lots of huge tournaments and I hear they can step up to gamble.

You're still close to AZ and NM or even OK for some decent travel for the action.

anyway my 2 cents.

if it snow's there-its off the list.

Vegas is WAY off the list, i'm here the past week, but i'm sick of it here. 20 years in and out of Vegas in enough, i hate it here, the pool scene is as good as I ever saw in the past 20 years, too bad its got good since I left.

I'm in LA the past 2 months and its a joke, 20,000,000 people and 30 lock smiths with ZERO gamble, Damn shame too, and they have $$$ too, thats what makes me sick. they wont flip a coin for $100 but will play $100/pool-wow that shows lots of gamble-NOT!!! If they took a chance they might win something I got my nose open, come bust me, but dont stick me up. But they take no chances and never make scores, they grind on each other for pennys. Just more than the table time, which might be high stakes else where. I never seen anything like it in 26 years. They will throw $$ in the fire at a casino knowing they got the worst of it, but wont bet anything on pool. What ever I cant fix their problems.

I used to drive from N Ca to La and make $$ from 86-90, Bobs Billiards in Anaheim, Varsity billiards, and other rooms that are gone, now there are no new rooms and little action, nice guys to chat with, but man to find a game thats close to being fair is just gone.

I need some new grass under my feet,

any ideas?


thanks


Fatboy:smile: