Chinese Documentary about pool players

I play with a lot of Chinese/Taiwanese players and they're all, to a man, hopeless. Not sure why. Either way, there's gold in china for coaches.
 
I've played a ton of pool throughout Shandong province as well as Beijing.

Unlike the U.S., pool is THRIVING in China. In Beijing, there's prob 10 pages (at least) of billiard room listings in the phone book.

Pool players are also highly respected. Maybe it's the sheer number of people there; but, there are a LOT of super players.

Snooker is huge there. In fact, most 9' tables have snooker-cut pockets. Let me tell you a lil' somethin' --- those tables play TOUGH. That said, there are people in every single room (tons of rooms) that run out like GOD on those tables.

While we shutter at the thought of 4.5" or 4.25" pockets with flat facings --- that's cake compared to the majority of the tables in these rooms. They're so tight if you hit a shot down the rail (at any speed), it'll likely not go. They hit them a certain way to get them to go, but I never mastered the technique.

The guy I played my last day there was Pan's snooker coach. I thought I was faring well against their middle-range snooker players until I played this guy. This guy walked into the pool room dressed like Nick Faldo walking off of Augusta National (custom pants, tailored shirt and dressed to the nines) and everyone made way and pulled up a chair.

He was the #1 snooker player in the province (of 100 million people). I've never seen anyone pocket balls like this guy. If this guy gave a shit enough to travel to the U.S. --- trust me --- I couldn't imagine him missing on our tables (any make/model).

In short, China's talent pool might be the deepest on earth (Philippines included). Some of the locals invited me and this guy out to dinner and wouldn't allow us to pay --- very classy people.

Dave
 
TheThaiger said:
I play with a lot of Chinese/Taiwanese players and they're all, to a man, hopeless. Not sure why. Either way, there's gold in china for coaches.
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You aren't playing with any of the good ones then. Yeah there is gold IF you speak Chinese. If not then forget it.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
I've played a ton of pool throughout Shandong province as well as Beijing.

Unlike the U.S., pool is THRIVING in China. In Beijing, there's prob 10 pages (at least) of billiard room listings in the phone book.

Pool players are also highly respected. Maybe it's the sheer number of people there; but, there are a LOT of super players.

Snooker is huge there. In fact, most 9' tables have snooker-cut pockets. Let me tell you a lil' somethin' --- those tables play TOUGH. That said, there are people in every single room (tons of rooms) that run out like GOD on those tables.

While we shutter at the thought of 4.5" or 4.25" pockets with flat facings --- that's cake compared to the majority of the tables in these rooms. They're so tight if you hit a shot down the rail (at any speed), it'll likely not go. They hit them a certain way to get them to go, but I never mastered the technique.

The guy I played my last day there was Pan's snooker coach. I thought I was faring well against their middle-range snooker players until I played this guy. This guy walked into the pool room dressed like Nick Faldo walking off of Augusta National (custom pants, tailored shirt and dressed to the nines) and everyone made way and pulled up a chair.

He was the #1 snooker player in the province (of 100 million people). I've never seen anyone pocket balls like this guy. If this guy gave a shit enough to travel to the U.S. --- trust me --- I couldn't imagine him missing on our tables (any make/model).

In short, China's talent pool might be the deepest on earth (Philippines included). Some of the locals invited me and this guy out to dinner and wouldn't allow us to pay --- very classy people.

Dave
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We were in Beijing last year for the China Open. Concurrently they had an amateur even on the 8-Ball tables you describe. One of the amateur women ran out like water on that table and could have easily won the 9 ball event on regular tables. She said she wasn't good enough.
 
Shane Sullivan said:
Notice the chevrolet logos in the back of the pool room. Why they sponsor over there and not here?
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I see you meant the Chevy logos at the big event. Yeah, over here the bigger companies get into the sponsorship but again it's not known what the exact deal is.
 
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It's interesting that you say the 9 footers over there have snooker pockets... I've had the idea lately that if people want to eliminate runouts in the professional game, we need to switch to either larger tables, snooker pockets, or even both. I think the reason why snooker is so popular is because you never know when the player is going to miss.
 
wontonny said:
It's interesting that you say the 9 footers over there have snooker pockets... I've had the idea lately that if people want to eliminate runouts in the professional game, we need to switch to either larger tables, snooker pockets, or even both. I think the reason why snooker is so popular is because you never know when the player is going to miss.
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Not all the 9 footers have snooker pockets.

In the north they play 8 ball on 9ft tables with snooker cloth and pockets with regular sized balls. The cues are hybrid pool/snooker cues. They also play a lot of snooker. In Beijing it's hard to find places with "American" style pool tables. In Shanghai there are around 2000 pool rooms I hear and many with both styles of tables.

In Xiamen where I live there are about 100 pool rooms and the only places you find the tables with snooker pockets is street side pool rooms and in front of stores and in some hotels. The vast majority of rooms here are regular poolrooms with regular pool tables.

Most of the bars which cater to foreigners here have one nine foot table in them, regular American pool tables. I have only seen ONE bar table here and they wanted $1.50 a game to play on it - with three sides blocked.

Actually in China there are three major games, Snooker, Chinese 8-Ball, Western Pool (9 Ball, 8 Ball, 14.1)

And many players like to play 3-5-7 the Taiwanese carom game with three object balls on a pool table.

Also the snooker pockets don't eliminate runouts. I saw people running the table in 8 ball on those pockets like it was nothing.
 
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how's the hong kong scene? i'd love to visit family out there one day...been twice (1988 and 2000) but now that i'm older (28) and play pool, i think a tour of China would be pretty cool. the only drawback is that i kinda look like pei wei :\

JB Cases said:
Not all the 9 footers have snooker pockets.

In the north they play 8 ball on 9ft tables with snooker cloth and pockets with regular sized balls. The cues are hybrid pool/snooker cues. They also play a lot of snooker. In Beijing it's hard to find places with "American" style pool tables. In Shanghai there are around 2000 pool rooms I hear and many with both styles of tables.

In Xiamen where I live there are about 100 pool rooms and the only places you find the tables with snooker pockets is street side pool rooms and in front of stores and in some hotels. The vast majority of rooms here are regular poolrooms with regular pool tables.

Most of the bars which cater to foreigners here have one nine foot table in them, regular American pool tables. I have only seen ONE bar table here and they wanted $1.50 a game to play on it - with three sides blocked.

Actually in China there are three major games, Snooker, Chinese 8-Ball, Western Pool (9 Ball, 8 Ball, 14.1)

And many players like to play 3-5-7 the Taiwanese carom game with three object balls on a pool table.

Also the snooker pockets don't eliminate runouts. I saw people running the table in 8 ball on those pockets like it was nothing.
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RealLive said:
how's the hong kong scene? i'd love to visit family out there one day...been twice (1988 and 2000) but now that i'm older (28) and play pool, i think a tour of China would be pretty cool. the only drawback is that i kinda look like pei wei :\
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Hong Kong has a few pool rooms, mostly snooker halls. If you go you have to go to Joe's. And I forgot what the other place is that I went last time but it was ok as well. There are several HK residents who post on AZB who can fill you in. Blowfish is one of them.
 
I watched this video and as always I could not get beyond how nice all the tables are! Rails were lively and the cloth was spectacular nothing even close anywhere near where I am located....
 
Quesports said:
I watched this video and as always I could not get beyond how nice all the tables are! Rails were lively and the cloth was spectacular nothing even close anywhere near where I am located....
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In general the pool tables are kept in good condition. Especially at the rooms where the good players are. Balls are cleaned after every session and if there is a long session they are switched for clean ones. Tables are frequently cleaned after each rental.

The tables are not always perfect but they are kept in pretty good shape. Really depends on where you go though. Some places are kind of ratty.

The house cues are generally two piece cues which would sell for between $50 and $150 in the USA. Most of the time they are well maintained with good tips on them.
 
I would love to go and work in China and teach snooker and pool. think i best learn to speak Chinese, maybe the asian girl i'm playing pool with next week our date can work out and i can get Chinese lessons and hey see you soon John :)

On another note i might be coaching in China for 2 weeks in April, Mr worldppa is trying to sort something out for me.
 
JB Cases said:
Not all the 9 footers have snooker pockets.

Actually in China there are three major games, Snooker, Chinese 8-Ball, Western Pool (9 Ball, 8 Ball, 14.1)

And many players like to play 3-5-7 the Taiwanese carom game with three object balls on a pool table.
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How is Chinese 8-Ball played... is that the version of caroming the object balls off the cue ball?

How is 3-5-7 played?
 
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