Bar or Pool Hall League pool

Cornerman

Cornerman

Cue Author...Sometimes
Silver Member
Both server alcohol. Both allow smoking (in Florida, no food). Both have the same level of duffers. Which would you choose to play in league?

For me, I haven't played in league for 2 years, but am considering a return. I've been asked to play in two leagues, one of each of the above.

The bar is nearby, it's a big time smokey dive. The tables are 8' Valleys (yes 8' not 7') but they use a red circle Aramith for league night. The pockets are generous and the table is mostly level. The big catch is that it is a traveling league and sometimes the matches are at a pool hall

The pool hall (a different pool hall) is 30 minutes away, has 9' Big G's with bucket pockets. It's not as smokey and the tables are positioned nicely.

Right now, I'm favoring the bar for several reasons. And the biggest one is probably that for those that know me, I'm a dive bar type of guy. In other words, the choice for me isn't about stellar pool. And for me, that's okay.

Freddie <~~~ sorry to disrupt the board with yet another league scenario
 
I'd probably opt for the bar, only because it's closer to home.

But the key determinant is which one has the most fun people/poolplayers?
 
Where are the chicks?

Who has the best scenery? Where are you going to be more comfortable.
 
I'd opt for the pool hall.
Bigger tables and less smokey would win out for me.

Koop - would probably do both if I could!
 
Cornerman said:
Both server alcohol. Both allow smoking (in Florida, no food). Both have the same level of duffers. Which would you choose to play in league?

For me, I haven't played in league for 2 years, but am considering a return. I've been asked to play in two leagues, one of each of the above.

The bar is nearby, it's a big time smokey dive. The tables are 8' Valleys (yes 8' not 7') but they use a red circle Aramith for league night. The pockets are generous and the table is mostly level. The big catch is that it is a traveling league and sometimes the matches are at a pool hall

The pool hall (a different pool hall) is 30 minutes away, has 9' Big G's with bucket pockets. It's not as smokey and the tables are positioned nicely.

Right now, I'm favoring the bar for several reasons. And the biggest one is probably that for those that know me, I'm a dive bar type of guy. In other words, the choice for me isn't about stellar pool. And for me, that's okay.

Freddie <~~~ sorry to disrupt the board with yet another league scenario
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Dive bar every time. Escape the Pool hall divas and their drama.

Don't get me wrong, I love pool halls. They're just better places to visit than they are to make your "home".
 
Neither.

Cornerman said:
Both server alcohol. Both allow smoking (in Florida, no food). Both have the same level of duffers. Which would you choose to play in league?

For me, I haven't played in league for 2 years, but am considering a return. I've been asked to play in two leagues, one of each of the above.

The bar is nearby, it's a big time smokey dive. The tables are 8' Valleys (yes 8' not 7') but they use a red circle Aramith for league night. The pockets are generous and the table is mostly level. The big catch is that it is a traveling league and sometimes the matches are at a pool hall

The pool hall (a different pool hall) is 30 minutes away, has 9' Big G's with bucket pockets. It's not as smokey and the tables are positioned nicely.

Right now, I'm favoring the bar for several reasons. And the biggest one is probably that for those that know me, I'm a dive bar type of guy. In other words, the choice for me isn't about stellar pool. And for me, that's okay.

Freddie <~~~ sorry to disrupt the board with yet another league scenario
Click to expand...

Neither. I've contracted serious health problems from second hand smoke, and I choose to live a few more years...
 
I play in both. I find the same type of people in either. The only difference I have found in the two is that the poolhall has slightly better equipment. And......by staying in-house, you can find out which table/tables are better than the others and try to get there early enough to get on one.

Maniac
 
I just got into a league for the 1st. time in nearly 20 yrs. I did so because it is an individual in house hall league.

If I were you I'd join the hall league & then stop off at the bar on the way home. That sounds like the best of both worlds for you.:wink:
 
supergreenman said:
Ok, you didn't mention they had diamond tables at the pool hall.....

For that I'll put up with the Divas
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LOL!!! I go there to play on the Diamonds. But the leagues are on the Big G's.

And it is definitely nice at the Crooked Cue, no doubt about it.
 
Totally biased answer, I grew up on big G's and nonsmoking, and don't drink. So the pool hall.

Pretending for a second none of that were true, I'd still want a pool hall. League is often a roiling mass of drama. Drama in bars somehow seems to go worse than drama in pool halls.

I'm guessing if you're a pretty strong player, you're gonna look like a hero on simonis and big pockets, while the 8ft barboxes may equalize things a little more.
 
CreeDo said:
Totally biased answer, I grew up on big G's and nonsmoking, and don't drink. So the pool hall.

Pretending for a second none of that were true, I'd still want a pool hall. League is often a roiling mass of drama. Drama in bars somehow seems to go worse than drama in pool halls.

I'm guessing if you're a pretty strong player, you're gonna look like a hero on simonis and big pockets, while the 8ft barboxes may equalize things a little more.
Click to expand...

Interestingly enough, I was at yet another pool hall yesterday (we have several in the St Pete/Clearwater area that have a lot of league traffic) and it happened to be league night was just starting . As the players rolled in, I realized that if I were to choose league drama with two teams in a bar vs league drama of 10+ teams in a pool hall, it was painfully obvious which one I'd choose.

And coincidentally enough, one of league's top shooters was sitting outside by himself muttering... "f*cking league drama...."

"And I kid you not" - Anito Kid

Freddie <~~~ ran out the door and headed for the bar!

P.S. - I actually headed to Salt Rock Grill in Indian Shores, FL and had the bacon-wrapped scallops with fettuccine at their bar. It needs to go with something else other than their creamy sauce.
 
After I go in there, one of the waiters would be talking to the chef...
"Yeah, some guy is asking us to just skip the scallops and wrap the bacon around more bacon?? Can we do that?"

Can't fault your reasoning... thinking about it, the actual bar league players were fine when I played in one... it was the other people at the bar that made it over the top.
 
No smoke

My parents owned a dive bar for 52 yrs. Love em. Live in Iowa and we have no smoking now. The pic of the guys at the bar makes me realize how nice it is not to breath the smoke.
 
Grimm Reaper said:
My parents owned a dive bar for 52 yrs. Love em. Live in Iowa and we have no smoking now. The pic of the guys at the bar makes me realize how nice it is not to breath the smoke.
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I hear ya. When they changed the laws in Massachusetts to no smoking, I didn't think much of it. Then to come to Florida where they still smoke even if they serve microwaved food (they can't in prepared food restaurants/bars I think ), it's a bit of the wrong old school idea. I'd rather not be surrounded by the smoke, but unfortunately, it's here.

Freddie <~~~ cough, cough, gag, gag
 
I'd take the pool room. Crooked Cue is very nice.
I played in the travel league in that area for a couple years, and it was a pain in the butt sometimes to travel to some of the places. I enjoyed all the different atmospheres.

There was some tough league action as well in that area.

Plus at Crooked Cue you may see an action match on the Diamonds at any time, and/or practice on them yourself before or after league. And bust Donny.
 
I drive over an hour about 2x a week just to practice at the Crooked Cue. I love that place.....I play if someone want's to play and don't get caught up in any drama but I am not in a league yet either.
 
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